Caulfield, Saturday 8/10
Conditions - Soft
Race 1
5- PRINCESS DUHALLOW
3- KINGS GAMBIT
2- HEURISTIC
This is a debutant race with no exposed race form so we are looking at trials to try and get a gauge here. PRINCESS DUHALLOW has had 2 trials now and one of them was a win when she was well held. She potentially has more to give which is encouraging. KINGS GAMBIT is the opposite, he was asked to respond in his recent trial, which he did and he picked up to run over the top of the field. We have seen that he can respond when asked to do so under pressure. HEIRISITC is the runner who has gained the most market support early, in a race like this that can be a very good signs out potential.
Race 2
2- OLD FLAME
7- JIMMY THE BEAR
4- PURPLE SECTOR
OLD FLAME brings in some strong form lines from NSW into this. He has a super record already early in his career. He has had previous success when he gets to 3rd up into a prep, but clearly is at his best over this distance (6:4-1-0) and should have the extra class above this field. JIMMY THE BEAR has had a small let up and resumes here, prior to the let up he was in super form when he was in the placings in all his last 6 runs, and 4 of those were wins. He is strong over the 1400m and maps for a nice run. PURPLE SECTOR was 2nd to the fave 2 starts back, and then 2nd behind a horse who dead heated in a group 1 last week. That is strong enough form lines for this.
Race 3
8- HELL HOUND (VALUE OF DAY)
3- NANAGUI
1- SEE YOU IN HEAVEN
HELL HOUND won his 1st 2 career starts before a spell. On debut he put in a particularly strong effort nearly breaking the track record. When resuming he was 7th but only 1.7L off the winner and he had to contest with a wide barrier that day. Drawn much better here and should get an easier run, expecting he can be a big improver. NANAGUI has now won 2 starts in a row. That includes a last start win against a few who she meets again here. If she finds space again off a hot tempo, she could catch them late. SEE YOU IN HEAVEN looks massive overs in this. While she seemed disappointing 1st up. She looked the same 1st up last prep before she came out and won a few strong level 2yo races. She has a wide barrier and will need luck but she is better than a $30-$40 shot.
Race 4
4- TRIPLE MISSLE
3- PRINCE OF BOOM
2- FRANKIE PINOT
TRIPLE MISSILE is resuming and is undefeated from his 3 other career 1st up runs. He goes well over this trip and will travel on a soft track. He will need luck from the wide barrier but has shown to have a good level of toughness which should see him fight this out. PRINCE OF BOOM hasn’t looked to have found his best form since arriving here from Queensland but he put in a much improved effort here 2nd up. He is 3rd up here today and will appreciate a wet track. FRANKIE PINOT needs to be included, especially if rain comes and the track gets to a heavy. He relishes the heavy going and has a (4:2-1-1) record when 1st up. Could end up being well placed and over the odds.
Race 5
4- DESERT ICON
2- PERSAN
8- POINT NEPEAN
DESERT ICON was disappointingly scratched at the barriers last start, but he has been in super form apart from that. He is proven over this trip and from barrier 1 he should push forwards and find a soft run up on speed likely behind expected leader Point Nepean. If he gets it soft enough, he is in strong enough form to out stay them. PERSAN was 3rd behind DESERT ICON last start, but it was an impressive run and now he rises up in trip and he is the proven stayer of this trip. He has a good record over this distance and at this track. POINT NEPEAN maps to be the leader of this race, he will look to push forwards and then take control of this race. He faded 1st up due to a hit tempo, but now 2nd up he will likely be better off here.
Race 6
1- PAULELE
4- ZOUSTYLE
6- IN THE BOAT
Hard to look past favourite PAULELE here today. He was well supported last start in a Group 1 and that was at the Moonee Valley track where he wasn’t well suited. He still flashed home late which is encouraging given he rises to the 1100m here today that is going to be ideal. Only bad luck beats him. ZOUSTYLE was 3rd in the Group 1 Moir Stakes last start, he took up the lead and was only run over late. This is slightly easier than that race and he is also drawn closer to the inside so should get to the lead without much trouble. Fitter now and is the one to catch. IN THE BOAT should also appreciate being 2nd up and fitter here. He will also look to push forwards and be close to the lead. Runs well here at Caulfield.
Race 7
7- ANAMOE (BEST OF THE DAY)
1- ZAAKI
2- IM THUNDERSTRUCK
ANAMOE is the best horse in this race and deserves to be the short price fave. He may have been lame after last start but don’t believe the injury is as bad as originally thought and he will be here at his best. There looks like there will be a very hot tempo in this and I think that just suits him to sit off the leader and he picks them up late. ZAAKI should improve from the last start, he felt pressure from Alligator Blood and didn’t respond well to it and then did a lot wrong in the straight. Think he will push forwards again and put the pressure on others. IM THUNDERSTRUCK has a small query at this trip. He may be better back at the 1600m, but if the tempo is as hot as expected, he may be well suited to run over them late.
Race 8
2- BERKELEY SQUARE
3- GOLDEN MILE
1- TIJUANA
BERKLEY SQUARE has showed he can be very adaptable in running, he can win from the front or has the turn of foot late to win as well. Like that as it gives him plenty of options in running. His finish last start was super impressive weaving through traffic. The rise to 1600m really suits. GOLDEN MILE is the current race fave, expect he will look to push forwards again. He was vulnerable late over the 1400m last start, but he should get it soft enough here from barrier 5 which gives him a chance to be stronger late in the piece. TIJUANA was an impressive winner last start over the 1600m trip. Like the fact he is proven at the mile. He was 0.3L off BERKLEY SQUARE when they met 2 starts back, if he gets it soft enough up front he can run away with this.
Race 9
5- I WISH I WIN
9- GENTLEMAN ROY
12- NONAME LANE
Another favourite that looks to hard to look past. I WISH I WIN has put on 2 super performances here in Australia. The last start was particularly impressive as he run down a very good horse after finding a lot of trouble in the straight. He rises to 1600m which will suit and shouldn’t be bothered by the wide barrier as you expect he will get back in running. Has the extra class above this field to win this. GENTLEMAN ROY maps to find a leading position quite softly from barrier 4. He is super consistent and has a good record over the 1600m (6:4-2-0). If he gets it soft enough up forwards he can run away with it. NONAME LANE is on the quick back up after winning Sundays Seymour Cup. That was after he won the Listed Balaklava Cup and he is in super form. He should find the leading position softly and will carry a very low weight. Has a super record over this distance and should at least give a good sight at a big price.
Race 10
3- ZAPATEO
11- ANOTHER AWARD
7- ANCIENT GIRL
ZAPATEO is the class runner of this field. She goes well here at this track and gets ideal conditions. She has been going super this prep and looks to have a class edge over most of these. ANOTHER AWARD was finishing off well when finishing 4th here 1st up. He generally improves deeper into preps and 2nd up here today. He was 4th in a group 1 last season, so has the form the be capable at this level. If he finds clear running space late he is a big threat. ANCIENT GIRL appears over the odds for mine. She is undefeated in here other 2 career starts when 1st up and is drawn softly with early speed so she should get a gun run. She can figure in this at a big price of she gets it soft enough up front.