A huge day’s racing at Caulfield on Saturday with the running of three Group 1 races, headed by the $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) for the two year olds. A capacity field of eighteen slick sprinters will line up in the Group 1 $500,000 Clamms Seafood Oakleigh Plate (1100m) while the weight for age horses will go around in the Group 1 $500,000 italktravel Futurity Stakes (1400m). The remainder of the nine race program is balanced out with three Group 2 races, the $200,000 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m), the $200,000 Ladbrokes Caulfield Autumn Classic (1800m) and the $200,000 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) and two Group 3 races, the $150,000 Ladbrokes Zedative Stakes (1200m) and the $150,000 Mannerism Stakes (1400m).
Feature Races
All race times are local Melbourne times
Race 7 – 4:45pm Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m)
Caulfield trainer Mick Price has done an outstanding job to have the two favourites for the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m). Price will saddle up the unbeaten Extreme Choice who currently heads the market order at Ladbrokes at $3 and the second pick Flying Artie at $4.40. Champion Melbourne jockey Damien Oliver had the pick of the two colts and stuck with Flying Artie after they combined to win the Group 3 $200,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) at Caulfield on February 13. Oliver also rode Extreme Choice to a dominant four and a half lengths win in the Group 3 $150,000 Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield the previous week but is happy to let Craig Newitt take over the reins on Saturday. But both two year olds have been handicapped by a wide barrier with Extreme Choice drawing thirteen in the original draw of sixteen plus three emergencies while Flying Artie drew even worse at seventeen. Price also has the filly China Dream who drew barrier fourteen. Adelaide filly Samara Dancer was also impressive in winning the Group 2 $200,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) for the fillies and should get the run of the race the race from barrier five. The Tony McEvoy trained Concealer ran second to Samara Dancer, coming from well back in the field and will appreciate the extra distance of the 1200m. Trainer David Hayes has trained the winner of the Blue Diamond Stakes on five previous occasions and will team up this year with co-trainer Tom Dabernig with three runners, Valliano, Highland Beat and Zamzam.
Race 6 – 4:05 Group 1 $500,000 italktravel Futurity Stakes (1400m)
The Group 1 $500,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m) is top heavy with quality with eight of the eleven runners all saluting at Group 1 level. The Nigel Blackiston trained Suavito is looking for back to back Group 1 wins after taking out the $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 13. Sauvito beat Group 1 winners Hucklebuck, Turn Me Loose, Rebel Dane, Boban, Stratum Star and Trust In A Gust in the C.F. Orr Stakes and they will all be lining up again in the weight for age Futurity Stakes. While Myer Classic winner Politeness is coming off a first up second in the Group 2 $200,000 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on the same day.
Race 8 – 5:22pm Group 1 $500,000 Clamms Seafood Oakleigh Plate (1100m)
There will be no place for the faint hearted when the gates open in the Group 1 $500,000 Oakleigh Plate with a capacity field of eighteen to contest the helter skelter of the 1100m sprint. Speedster Heatherly will appreciate jumping from gate two after showing a clean set of heels for a very impressive all the way five and half lengths win in the Group 2 $200,000 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on February 13. Katelyn Mallyon was aboard in the Rubiton Stakes and will ride the Lonhro filly again. The form surrounding three year old Keen Array is looking good after he finished second to Japonisme in the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington during the Melbourne Spring Carnival. The Chris Waller trained Japonisme ran right up to his Spring form, beaten a head and a head when third to Chautauqua in the Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington last Saturday. Sydney co-trainers Peter and Paul Snowden will have two runners with Dothraki and Bounding with mixed luck in the barrier draw. While Bounding has drawn reasonable at eight, Dothraki will start form the extreme outside gate. There is also sure to be plenty of pace on in the early and middle stages, setting it up for the backmarkers.
Supporting Races
Race 1 – 1:00pm Listed $120,000 Mornington BMW Cup Prelude (2000m)
Old stager Tuscan Fire was back in the winner’s circle last start, even though he had to share the spoils with fellow dead heater Radical, in the Summer Championship Final at Caulfield on January 26. Tuscan Fire and Radical are set to clash again in the Listed $120,000 Mornington BMW Cup Prelude (2000m). The David Hayes and Tom Dabernig trained Tashbeeh is racing in fine form with two wins and a third from his last three starts while stablemate, nine year old Extra Zero, will appreciate the drop back in class after running sixth in the Group 3 $150,000 T.S. Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield on February 13.
Race 2 – 1:37pm Group 3 $150,000 Ladbrokes Zedative Stakes (1200m)
The three year old colts and geldings are set to clash in the Group 3 $150,000 Ladbrokes Zedative Stakes (1200m) with last start Manfred Stakes winner Puritan one of the main chances again. The Peter Moody trained Bassett has a perfect two from two first up record and will be having his first start since finishing third in the Group 3 $200,000 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival. Mogador was tested out at Group 1 level during the Spring for a fifth to Japonisme in the $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington and the Lonhro colt also has a good first up record of two wins and second from three attempts.
Race 3 – 2:12pm Group 2 $200,000 Polytrack Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m)
The Group 2 $200,000 Armanasco Stakes (1400m) for the fillies sees the return to the race track of Group 1 winner Pasadena Girl. The Peter Moody trained filly will be having her first start since running fourth to Jameka in the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival and is certain to make her presence felt. Mossin’ Around from the John Thompson stable is racing in consistent form with a win and three placings from her last four starts and Egypt has to be considered among the chances again going on her last start second in the Group 3 $150,000 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington.
Race 4 – 2:47pm Group 2 $200,000 Ladbrokes Caulfield Autumn Classic (1800m)
The Darren Weir trained Mahuta just keeps on winning and is the one to beat again in the Group 2 $200,000 Ladbrokes Caulfield Autumn Classic (1800m). Mahuta made it six wins on the trot when he lasted to score a narrow win in the Group 2 $200,000 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 13. Flying Light recorded a well-deserved win last start, leading all of the way in a 2040m three year old Handicap at Moonee Valley on January 23 while Tally from the John O’Shea stable is the winner of his last two starts but will find this tougher than his latest victory in a three year old BenchMark 70 Handicap at Moonee Valley on February 12.
Race 5 – 3:25pm Group 2 $200,000 Crown Golden Ale Peter Young Stakes (1800m)
The Group 2 $200,000 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) looks a fairly open race with several runners coming off unplaced runs in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 13. Happy Trails and Fawkner are two that fall into that category after finishing tenth and fourteenth in the C.F. Orr Stakes and get their chance for a better performance. Bow Creek will also be better suited here after finishing thirteenth in the C.F. Orr Stakes. The Lee and Anthony Freedman trained Our Ivanhowe will be having his first run back since running tenth to Prince Of Penzance in the 2015 Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington and has a good first up record.
Race 9 – 6:00pm Group 3 $150,000 Premier Signs Mannerism Stakes (1400m)
Melbourne Cup winning trainer Darren Weir has a strong hand in the Group 3 $150,000 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) with Tuscan Sling the best of his three runners. Weir will also saddle up restricted class mares Distant Dreams and Felicienne. Tuscan Sling is chasing a hat trick after winning the Listed $120,000 Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on December 26 and the Group 3 $150,000 Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 13 beating her Mannerism Stakes rivals Azkadellia, Choose and Wawail who finished second, third and fourth. The Ciaron Maher trained Azkadellia will appreciate the step up to 1400m after catching the eye with a strong finishing burst from back in the field to be beaten half a length last start.