Race 1 - 12:55pm AEDT
Bass Strait Beef Plate (1100m)
That Girl couldn’t haven’t had less luck when she was completely blocked for a run in the straight at Flemington last time out and I am eager to give her another chance in the first at Caulfield. The Phillip Stokes-trained filly finished a close-up second at each of her first two starts this time and she looks to be ready to win, fourth-up and from the good on Saturday.
4 Units That Girl
Race 2 - 1:30pm AEDT
DrinkWise Plate (1400m)
Titan Blinders has returned three quality efforts this campaign and looks up to winning a race of this quality. The Team Corstens-trained gelding recorded a lovely win when resuming at Ballarat and has since placed in a couple of tougher city races, including one at this track and distance and at this grade on Boxing Day. I like that his runs have been spaced and he’ll have the bonus of leading hoop Craig Williams in the saddle.
2 Units Titan Blinders
Race 3 - 2:05pm AEDT
Listed Neds Blue Diamond Preview C&G (1000m)
Tanker hasn’t been seen at the races since spring, but he stamped himself as a colt to follow during his short debut prep and looks up to winning the Neds Blue Diamond Prelude for colts and geldings. The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained colt was sent off a $6 shot in the Listed Debutant Stakes at this track and distance and mustered an eye-catching turn of foot to beat his closest rivals by close to three lengths. He was fair when fifth at his first attempt at the Sydney way of going (Golden Gift), and the return to Caulfield could prove the difference.
3 Units Tanker
Race 4 - 2:40pm AEDT
Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview F (1000m)
Close to half the field for the fillies Preview are on debut,
but I’ve been impressed with what the Maher & Eustace-trained A Beautiful
Night has so-far achieved and she looks over the odds at a double-figure price
($10 at publish). The two-year-old daughter of Night Of Thunder ran a credible
second in maiden company on debut at Bendigo before making a successful step up
to metro company when a smart winner down the straight at Flemington on New
Year’s Day. She’ll only improve from that effort and looks a filly capable of
progressing through the grades.
1 Unit E/W A Beautiful Night
Race 5 - 3:20pm AEDT
Lamaro's Hotel South Melbourne Handicap (1400m)
Grand Admiral did plenty wrong on debut at Echuca but still recorded an impressive win, and I think that he’ll enjoy good improvement from that experience. This looks a pretty open contest and I’m happy to have something on Grand Admiral, particularly with Craig Williams jumping into the saddle.
Grand Admiral
Race 6 - 4:00pm AEDT
Mary Bell Handicap (1600m)
Only nine horses will step out in the sixth and there is a
case to be made for most of them. I can’t find anything that I am particularly confident
in and I am happy to watch them go around.
No Bet
Race 7 - 4:40pm AEDT
Le Pine Funerals Handicap (1100m)
Propelle has been competitive without winning this time in
and looms as a live each-way chance once more on Saturday. The Ellerton &
Zahra-trained mare finished on the winner’s heels at Flemington two back before
another good effort here at Caulfield last time out saw her finish only a
couple of lengths from the winner. With even luck, I can’t find a reason why she
won’t be in the finish again.
1 Unit E/W Propelle
Race 8 - 5:20pm AEDT
Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m)
Yulong January has returned to the races in outstanding form
and looms as the one to beat yet again in the John Dillon Stakes. The King Of
Prussia gelding stripped fitter for a fair effort for fourth over 1200m at
Kyneton when resuming, but has gone on to win his four subsequent starts, each
tougher than the last. He was last seen beating a smart field to the line in over
1400m at Flemington and this does look the perfect black type race for him.
4 Units Yulong January
Race 9 - 5:55pm AEDT
MRC Thanks Fire Services Handicap (2000m)
This is a tough way to end the day from a betting
perspective and at publish, we’re faced with around $5 the field.
Chouxting The Mob was only fair to the line when resuming
for eighth here at Caulfield two weeks ago, but he is a horse that typically
enjoys sharp improvement with a run under his belt and he looks a touch of
overs at a double-figure price. The Jimmy Choux gelding was a strong and
consistent performer last time in and at one stage of his prep, recorded four
wins in succession in similar races to this one.
1 Unit E/W Chouxting The Mob