Caulfield, Saturday 9/7
Conditions - Soft
Race 1
1- SEVEN SISTERS
13- TAPIN THREE
5- PINNACE
Lent the way of SEVEN SISTERS for this based on the fact that she has had race day experience and is resuming for her 2nd prep here. She has drawn inside so should find an on speed run softly. TAPIN THREE is a well bred filly who is on debut. She has run well in 2 jump outs and looks set for a strong debut. One to watch for market moves. PINNACE comes from a sharp stable and will have taken benefit for having had the last start run over this track/distance.
Race 2
8- THE GENERAL
15- DARALINA BELLE
6- WHIPCRACKER WAY
THE GENERAL drops in class from his last start here over the track/distance. He will be the likely leader and the one they need to catch. He is drawn inside so expect he finds that lead softly. DARALINA BELLE has placed in both runs so far this prep and should be peaking in fitness. She is right down at the lighter end of the weights and will be suited to the expected wet conditions. WHIPCRACKER WAY is always a consistent runner, he is dropping in grade for this now and thrives on soft track conditions. Only thing against him here is the extreme outside barrier, so will need luck.
Race 3
3- ALVERDUN
1- TEEWATERS
2- BIGOLINO
ALVERDUN won a similar race to this last start at a similar grade and over the 2000m trip. He has been in super form this prep and looking for 3 in a row now, will give a good sight to this. TEEWATERS is resuming straight to the staying trip 2000m. Think it’s fair to say we didn’t see him get to his best last prep but prior to that he was placed in the Group 1 Vic Derby, if he finds that form he would be capable. Lightly raced BIGOLINO has won 3 of 4 career starts and has been building nicely. Gets to a staying trip for the first time and this is his biggest test yet.
Race 4
12- IMPULSAR
6- EAGLEMONT
1- FALLS
IMPULSAR was impressive winning on Aus debut, he seems the type that should appreciate rising out to a staying trip now. Expect that this pace will have good speed, so he should get a nice sit in behind them and if he handles the trip, can run them down late. EAGLEMONT can mix his form, but his best would be good enough for a race like this. He can see out the staying trip and is drawn to get a soft run on the speed. FALLS is another who is expected to be racing in the speed and should get that run softly. Only time he has raced over the 2000m he won.
Race 5
2- INUNDATION
10- PLAGIARIZED
1- JIGSAW
INUNDATION looks a really promising type with a strong future ahead. He has won 3 on the trot now and the time that he produced in his last start was impressive. He is a very short price and tough to back, but should be winning. PLAGIARIZED resumes here after 2 runs in his first prep where he managed a win. Will carry a light weight and comes from a strong stable, may be the faves biggest danger. JIGSAW pulled up with issues after his last start, had winning form prior to that run in a good grade.
Race 6
7- SIGH
4- COMMANDS THE FIELD
14- MRS CHRISSIE
SIGH is lightly raced and has won 2/2 in her career now. The visit to SA was good, she beat a few handy horses that day. Potentially there will be a lot of speed in this, may set her up perfectly. COMMANDS THE FIELD’s recent from this prep has been super consistent, she has placed in each of her last 7 starts including 1 win. Rising in class but definitely looks an EW hope based on that recent good form. MRS CHRISSIE is the current race fave. She was impressive when winning on debut and rises here in grade. She has good early speed but the query is she may need luck from an outside barrier with speed draw below her.
Race 7
3- NOT USUAL GLORIOUS (VALUE OF DAY)
12- SOMERSET MAUGHAM
9- LYRICAL LAD
NOT USUAL GLORIOUS has been in super form this prep and rarely runs a bad race, so like him in this at value. He will push forwards and should get lots of favours being drawn nicely and with a 3kg apprentice on, he doesn’t carry to much weight. The wetter the track is the more suited he becomes. Expecting SOMERSET MAUGHAM to show some improvement now he is getting deeper into the prep. Last start he only just missed the winner but endured a wide run through the race. Draws a lot softer here so should get a more economical run. LYRICAL LAD is the current fave, a consistent type who rarely runs a bad race and is proven at this level.
Race 8
4- OXLEY ROAD (BEST OF DAY)
8- MILEVA
5- ASHFORD STREET
OXLEY ROAD is a proven 1st up performer (3:1-2-0) and goes well here at the track. He looks well placed and should be hard to beat in this thanks to a good barrier which should allow him to get a soft run on speed. MILEVA is the clear danger to the race fave, she runs just as well, if not better when resuming. She goes well over the distance and draws for a soft run also. Wet ground is the question in her, but she will still figure in this. ASHFORD STREET is in super for having won his past 2 starts and 3 of his last 4 runs. This is his pet distance and if it’s wet, he becomes even better suited.
Race 9
7- MYSTERY SHOT
15- HE’S OUR BONNEVAL
8- CURRAN
Open race to close out the card, MYSTERY SHOT has drawn a horrible barrier, but he looks like he should give this a good shake. He has been contesting well this prep in this grade and he comes back in trip to a distance he has had good success at. He loves this track and distance (4:3-1-0) so expecting he can find his best today. Current race fave HE’S OUR BONNEVAL won his local debut here at the track and is 2nd up today. Can’t knock much of his form, he runs well in these conditions and over this trip, the query will be how he goes 2nd up, as sometimes the European horses can peak on a 1st up run once they arrive in the country. CURRAN a rarely runs a bad race, has recent form running 2nd to a few handy horses. He is at big odds but that is probably due to the wide barrier. Think he is a lot shorter if he gets a better draw. If he can find like he might figure.