Caulfield Preview – Wednesday January 15th

Only seven horses will contest the first at Caulfield on Wednesday; a maiden race for three-year-olds and upwards. I can’t find an angle I am particularly keen to pursue, and I will be waiting until Race 2 to open my account for the day.

No Bet

Feign will enjoy a drop in class when she steps out in the second at Caulfield on Wednesday, and I think that she will take a power of beating. The Robbie Griffiths-trained filly broke her maiden when resuming at Sale in late October and has performed well in tougher grades in the wake of that performance; finishing fourth in BM70 company at Flemington two starts back, most notably. She’s rock-hard fit and drawn to receive a lovely run.

1 Unit E/W Feign

Only five of the confirmed ten starters in the third at Caulfield on Wednesday have raceday experience, but I thought that Amateurish looked a horse of ability on debut and there doesn’t appear to be as much depth in this contest. The Godolphin-trained filly stepped out on the straight at Flemington on debut and while she did get a little lost, she managed to hit the line well to finish a length and a half fifth. I’m eager to see what she can do at Caulfield, with the benefit of that experience.

2 Units Amateurish

Prism has returned some competitive efforts in decent races since debuting and looms as a live chance of winning the fourth at Caulfield. The All Too Hard mare took a couple of runs to tune up when resuming but scored a smart win at Moe third-up and has since placed fifth in BM70 company at The Valley and third at this track and distance last time out. This is a drop in class from her last appearance and she will have the benefit of claiming apprentice Lewis German aboard.

2 Units Prism

This race is shaping as one of the better contests at Caulfield this week and a horse like Raven’s Blaze looms as a live chance of winning. The Tony Noonan-trained mare finished three lengths from the winner when resuming over 1000m at HQ in December and only just missed after mustering a smart turn of foot at The Valley last time out. I like that she’s being kept at 1000m and she arguably won’t be offered a better opportunity to win in metro company.

1 Unit E/W Raven’s Blaze

Neurotic is another horse that has continued to improve with racing this time in and with even luck, she can return to winning form this week. The Nicconi mare clearly needed the run when she tailed off to finish twelfth at Ballarat when resuming but has since placed third BM64 & BM70 company at The Valley. This race is no harder, and she looks ready to peak in condition.

2 Units Neurotic

Maozi was fair to the line after copping a check when resuming at The Valley in late December, but she is a filly that tends to enjoy sharp improvement with a run under her belt and will take beating in the penultimate at Caulfield on Wednesday. The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained three-year-old found form around some quality gallopers last time in and hasn’t missed at this point of her preparation previously. She’s drawn ideally in barrier 6 and has been charged with carrying only 54kgs.

2 Units E/W Maozi

The last looms as an interesting contest, particularly as it will feature the Australian debut of Wentwood. Wentwood is yet to step out in a race less than a mile in length, but he has form around some outstanding horses in Europe and beat last year’s Melbourne Cup second-favourite Constantinople in April. He is clearly an excellent type and I am happy to have something on first-up.

2 Units Wentwood