Race 1 - 12:15pm AEDT
Listed Inglis Debutant Stakes (1000m)
Another fresh field of juveniles will step out for the first on Caulfield Guineas Day and not a single runner harbours exposed form. At publish, the Mick Price & Mick Kent Jnr-trained Rock Of Kryptonite is the $4.80 favourite in betting. Rock Of Kryptonite is by Fastnet Rock, out of Kryptelon.
These early season two-year-old races are not for me and I
am happy to watch.
No Bet
Race 2 - 12:50pm AEDT
Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m)
Rox The Castle has been a model of consistency this time and
looks well placed to return to winning form at Listed level. The Castledale gelding
recorded consecutive wins, including the Listed Tontonan Stakes at Flemington
two back, before placing behind the smart Admiral’s Joker here a fortnight ago.
He’s rock-hard fit and will enjoy a 2kgs drop in the weights from his last
appearance.
2 Units Rox The Castle
Race 3 - 1:25pm AEDT
Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m)
Living Gabby returned to the races with a stunning performance
to beat the fit Exhilarates at The Valley a fortnight ago and will only improve
into this race on Caulfield Guineas Day. The I Am Invincible filly has boasted good
ability throughout her short racing career so far, but she appears to have returned
to the races a far more furnished prospect this time, and this looks another
terrific target for her.
4 Units Loving Gabby
Race 4 - 2:00pm AEDT
Group 3 Bass Strait Beef Steaks (1200m)
Meryl mustered an impressive performance to finish sixth at
long odds in the Group 1 Moir Stakes last time out and will relish what is a
big drop in class at Caulfield on Saturday. The Epaulette mare was a strong and
consistent performer last time in and has continued to improve with each effort
of a decent spell this time. Dean Yendall has options in transit from barrier 2
and the horse is up to winning at a price.
1.5 Units E/W Meryl
Race 5 - 2:35pm AEDT
Group 2 Ladbrokes Herbert Power Stakes (2400m)
A genuine Melbourne Cup contender always comes out of this race and we are set for another quality edition of the Ladbrokes Herbert Power.
Prince Of Arran was simply outstanding last spring and he looks
well placed to record a win on his Australian return. The Charlie Fellowes-trained
gelding ran a bolter for third in this race first-up last year but remained
somewhat under the radar after the contest given Yucatan’s enormous win. He subsequently
won the Group 3 Hotham and placed third in the Melbourne Cup. The $8 on offer
at publish could prove to be over the odds.
2 Units E/W Prince Of Arran
Race 6 - 3:10pm AEDT
Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m)
Flit has stripped fitter for two starts this time and looks
as though she’ll be perfectly suited to the mile in the Thousand Guineas. The daughter
of Medaglia D’oro has recorded one win and three minors through only five career
starts and is drawn ideally, with Hugh Bowman engaged to ride.
Group 1 winner Lyre is another horse that will take
improvement into her fourth campaign assignment and is up to winning at an
each-way price ($7.50 at publish). The Lonhro filly has form around some good
horses this time and is drawn to receive the run of the race.
2 Units Flit
1 Unit E/W Lyre
Race 7 - 3:50pm AEDT
Group 1 Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m)
The Ladbrokes Stakes is looming as the race of the day,
perhaps even the carnival so far at Caulfield on Saturday and there is a case
to be made for nearly every horse.
Avilius strode back into the winner’s stall when he made
like work of a talented field in the Group 1 George Main last time out and will
only be better fourth-up and out to 2000m. The Pivotal gelding has been a standout
for the in-form Godolphin stable for more than a year and I can’t find a reason
why he can’t win again.
Dream Castle will have his first Australian run in this race
and looks a touch of overs at a double-figure price. The Frankel gelding won
each of his first three starts when resuming last time, including the Group 1
Jebel Hatta at Meydan. His fresh record is strong, and 2018 Caulfield Cup
winner Patrick Cosgrave has travelled out to ride him.
3 Units Avilius
1 Unit E/W Dream Castle
Race 8 - 4:30pm AEDT
Group 1 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m)
Queensland raider Alligator Blood puts an unbeaten record on the line in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas and looks capable of winning again. Granted, the All Too Hard gelding has often stepped out in substantially weaker company than he finds here but produced a big effort to win the Prelude a fortnight ago and is at peak fitness for this race. Ryan Maloney retains the ride and getting out to a mile does looks ideal for the horse.
2 Units Alligator Blood
Race 9 - 5:10pm AEDT
Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m)
The Toorak Handicap is generally a wide-open contest and
that is certainly the case with $7 the field on offer at publish.
Fierce Impact will enjoy good improvement into this race
second-up and looks a winning chance at around the $10 mark. The Deep Impact entire
has continued to improve with every preparation since arriving in Australia,
and just missed beating Kolding in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie when resuming this
time. With that horse having gone on to win the Epsom, I’m confident the form will
stack up in this race.
2 Units E/W Fierce Impact
Race 10 - 5:45pm AEDT
Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m)
Trekking will contest the Schillaci Stakes second-up on
Saturday and looks well placed to send us home a winner. The Street Cry gelding
returned to the races in career-best form last time in; winning three of his five
starts including the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap. I think that he’s about at
his right price ($2.70) but wouldn’t want him a lot short.
2 Units Trekking