The G1 Blue Diamond Stakes. The G1 Oakleigh Plate. Black Heart Bart goes around in the G1 Futurity Stakes. Not to mention Winx in Sydney and the G1 Chipping Norton Stakes.
As Big Kev used to say - "I'm excited!"
As Big Kev used to say - "I'm excited!"
Who's Hot?
Craig Williams is the leading rider at Caulfield over the last 12 months and he's ridden a treble at the last two Saturday meetings here. At the previous metro meeting on Australia Day he could manage only a paltry double.
He has a stack of rides at The Heath tomorrow but the best look to be Fuhryk (Race 4 No. 2), Catchy (Race 7 No. 11), I Am A Star (Race 8 No. 15) and Silent Sedition (Race 9 No. 2).
CAULFIELD
*** At time of publication the track was rated a Good 3. The forecast was for a partly cloudy day with a slight chance of drizzle in the morning. ***
Oakleigh Plate (Group 1, 1100m, handicap)
Current Sportsbet market
*** There are no early scratchings ***
Extreme Choice is unbeaten in two runs fresh and unbeaten in two runs at Caulfield including the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes on this day last year. He does already boast a win over older rivals after he bolted in (below) last September in the G1 Moir Stakes giving Heatherly and Wild Rain wind burn in the process. He's going to have to concede weight to some seasoned older horses here and no 3-y-o has won this race since 2010.
Hellbent has three wins and a second from six tries at the 1100m but he's been a costly conveyance of late. His last win was at this track and trip but that was much easier company than he'll meet here. He's drawn out and will get back so he's going to need luck. The one thing he will get here that he's missed at his last two runs is a solid tempo up front which is what he needs.
Fell Swoop has had his last two fresh runs here at the Caulfield 1100m and finished an unlucky second in this race last year and third to Star Turn and Malaguerra in the G2 Schillaci Stakes last Spring. At the end of that prep he was on the heels (below) of Malaguerra and Spieth in the G1 Darley Classic. The form from those last two races is clearly holding up.
I Am A Star has just 50kg here and I loved the last start effort in the G2 Rubiton Stakes when she split Super Cash and Chautauqua. She'll have to overcome barrier 17 but six of the last 10 winners drew double digit barriers. She has two wins and a second from four tries at the trip and her last three runs against older horses in good company have been solid. The last 3-y-o filly to win this race was Miss Kournikova in 2001.
Sheidel can race on speed and jockey Joao Moreira should get a lovely passage from the good draw. She has four wins and a second in five runs at this distance as has two wins and a second from three appearances at this track. Flamberge won this race last year (below) beating Fell Swoop and Heatherly. He has seven runs at this track and trip for three wins and two placings. He wasn't far away in the G1 Lightning Stakes last week. El Divino maps nicely with just 50kg from barrier two. He'll get more pace here than he did last start and hopefully he can settle a bit better in the run. He's not the worst here on his prior run behind Tivaci. Kaepernick has ability but the barrier draw has done him no favours. He trialed well and his last two first-up runs were at 1100m for a win in the Listed Ortensia Stakes last May and a narrow third to Takedown in the G2 The Shorts in the Spring. Wild Rain has four wins and four seconds from 10 runs at 1100m and she should get the gun run from the inside gate. She was dismal first-up but last campaign she was only a length and a half off Extreme Choice in the G1 Moir Stakes and meets him 6kg better here.
Thermal Current has only won once in 11 starts here but it was last time out in the Listed Adams Stakes which is the same path Shamal Wind took en route to winning this race two years ago. He won't know himself with just 53kg because it's the lightest weight he's carried for a long time. Faatinah was too bad to be true first-up and he does drop 7.5kg here. He did split Our Boy Malachi and Lankan Rupee in the G2 Caulfield Sprint last Spring. Ocean Embers has three wins from four starts at Caulfield including two at this trip. One of those came third run in last campaign. Two starts later she finished fourth to Star Turn, Malaguerra and Fell Swoop in the G2 Schillaci Stakes. That is her only "blemish" here to date. The barrier is dreadful.
Guard Of Honour has early speed and just the 50kg but he'll need it from the wide draw. He's chased home some handy types at his last two starts and he's done it carrying big weights. Missrock had her last start in the G1 V.R.C. Oaks but at her first two fresh appearances she won a Listed Debutante Stakes at 1000m and a G3 Percy Sykes Stakes at 1200m. Shakespearean Lass will be on-pace early but whether she 's never won at this distance and her Caulfield record is average. Miss Promiscuity had an average Spring Carnival but if she can bounce back her Caulfield 1100m form (8:3-2-1) is super. Aegean Sea has had one run here for a narrow second in the Listed Alinghi Stakes at this distance but she's hard to recommend. Ready Sunshine last won in a $42K BM75. He's currently $201 and still under the odds.
Locky's SelectionsFell Swoop has had his last two fresh runs here at the Caulfield 1100m and finished an unlucky second in this race last year and third to Star Turn and Malaguerra in the G2 Schillaci Stakes last Spring. At the end of that prep he was on the heels (below) of Malaguerra and Spieth in the G1 Darley Classic. The form from those last two races is clearly holding up.
I Am A Star has just 50kg here and I loved the last start effort in the G2 Rubiton Stakes when she split Super Cash and Chautauqua. She'll have to overcome barrier 17 but six of the last 10 winners drew double digit barriers. She has two wins and a second from four tries at the trip and her last three runs against older horses in good company have been solid. The last 3-y-o filly to win this race was Miss Kournikova in 2001.
They are the only runners likely to start at single figure odds but six of the last 10 winners returned $16 or better including four of the last six so it's time to look at the longer priced hopes.
Thermal Current has only won once in 11 starts here but it was last time out in the Listed Adams Stakes which is the same path Shamal Wind took en route to winning this race two years ago. He won't know himself with just 53kg because it's the lightest weight he's carried for a long time. Faatinah was too bad to be true first-up and he does drop 7.5kg here. He did split Our Boy Malachi and Lankan Rupee in the G2 Caulfield Sprint last Spring. Ocean Embers has three wins from four starts at Caulfield including two at this trip. One of those came third run in last campaign. Two starts later she finished fourth to Star Turn, Malaguerra and Fell Swoop in the G2 Schillaci Stakes. That is her only "blemish" here to date. The barrier is dreadful.
Guard Of Honour has early speed and just the 50kg but he'll need it from the wide draw. He's chased home some handy types at his last two starts and he's done it carrying big weights. Missrock had her last start in the G1 V.R.C. Oaks but at her first two fresh appearances she won a Listed Debutante Stakes at 1000m and a G3 Percy Sykes Stakes at 1200m. Shakespearean Lass will be on-pace early but whether she 's never won at this distance and her Caulfield record is average. Miss Promiscuity had an average Spring Carnival but if she can bounce back her Caulfield 1100m form (8:3-2-1) is super. Aegean Sea has had one run here for a narrow second in the Listed Alinghi Stakes at this distance but she's hard to recommend. Ready Sunshine last won in a $42K BM75. He's currently $201 and still under the odds.
BEST
5. Sheidel
DANGER
2. Fell Swoop
FOR EXOTICS
3. Extreme Choice
15. I Am A Star
1. Flamberge
8. Wild Rain
OTHER G1's
Black Heart Bart looks the obvious selection in the G1 Futurity Stakes but if there is to be an upset Turn Me Loose (Caulfield Race 5 No. 2) could be the one. His last run when second in the G1 Orr Stakes was his best effort for some time and with the two runs under his belt expect him to strip even fitter here. If he gets another soft lead like last time - and there's every reason to expect he will - he will prove hard to get past. He won this race (below) last year.
In the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes I'm picking Property (Caulfield Race 7 No. 1) because I just feel good barrier draws are crucial for immature 2-y-o's in high pressure races. I concede there are other chances like Catchy, Pariah, Jukebox, Formality and Tulip but I just think this guy will get the better run. His last two wins have been really professional and I loved the way he chimed in at the furlong last start and kept savaging the line. I know Catchy thrashed him on his debut but she had the advantage of race experience.
OTHER BETS
Siegfried (Doomben Race 5 No. 6) won at this track and trip last start and I loved the way he dived through late when he didn't have a lot of room. He looks to have come back in great order this prep with two wins and a narrow fourth at the Gold Coast on Magic Millions Day. I respect Cylinder Beach but he has to concede 5.5kg, he'll be giving away a start, he's eight weeks between runs and dropping back from the mile.
Humidor (Caulfield Race 6 No. 9) gets one more chance. He flashed home from last to just miss stablemate Burning Front here a fortnight ago in the G3 Carlyon Cup in a sit-and-sprint affair. He will have a fitness edge on most of his rivals here and this Darren Weir-Damian Lane combination is becoming quite formidable. The downside is he's been backed like he's Phar Lap.
Silent Sedition (Caulfield Race 9 No. 2) made good ground last start at Caulfield on a day when the track looked a bit leader-ish to me. She was the only horse all day to break 11 seconds for her final 200m in a race where Prussian Vixen led all the way. Her previous start here was on Caulfield Guineas Day last October when she was narrowly beaten by Sheidel in the G3 Northwood Plume Stakes when conceding her a kilo.
Good punting!
