There are four black type races on the program at Caulfield this Saturday afternoon including the Group 2 P.B Lawrence Stakes which has attracted a good field of quality horses.
Our full 2021 P.B Lawrence Stakes Day Preview can be viewed below.
Race 1 - 12:05pm
Benchmark 84 Handicap (1700m)
So You Assume could not have been much more impressive when winning at The Valley last start over 1600m by four lengths.
The four year old mare is a progressive type of horse who has now won two of her last three and although this is the first time she has stepped out beyond 1600m, her fitness and class should take her a long way.
2 Units So You Assume
Race 2 - 12:40pm
Open Handicap (1600m)
This is a very tricky field to try and assess but I am happy to take on the favourite High Stranger at the current price.
Inverloch won put in a couple of ordinary performances before a freshen up but the seven year old won the Wagga Cup over 2000m before that.
His recent trial win was impressive at Cranbourne and at his best, he can give a race like this a shake.
1/2 Unit E/W Inverloch
Race 3 - 1:15pm
Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m)
Dirty Thoughts was not beaten far first up in a benchmark 78 down the Flemington straight and was then no match at Listed level at Morphettville.
She will appreciate the step back in class for this assignment and she gets in very well at the weight with just 55.5kg.
2 Units Dirty Thoughts
Race 4 - 1:55pm
Mark Mazzaglia Handicap (1100m)
The fourth race of the day is named after one of our own, Mark Mazzaglia, who has been involved in not only our company for a long time but a stalwart of the racing industry for the best part of half a century.
Damien Oliver produced a great ride when he took the shortcut on Plaquette when scoring by a head at this track and distance three weeks ago.
This race does not seem any harder than that one and she is again one of the leading chances in the race.
Awapuni Princess is a horse on the rise having won three times in nine career starts and been unplaced just twice.
She produced an enormous win at Caulfield last start when coming from last on the turn to weave through the pack and win on the line and if she gets some pace on up front, look for her late!
1 Unit E/E Absolute Flirt
Race 5 - 2:35pm
Benchmark 84 Handicap (1400m)
It’s difficult to line up the form of kiwi import Elephant but the lightly raced five year old comes into this race undefeated from four career starts.
It’s not necessarily the wins that I am assessing either, rather the way in which he has won with authority and the fact that he has been gelded since the last time we saw him at the races makes him an exciting prospect.
Watch betting on the day.
2 Units Elephant
Race 6 - 3:15pm
Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m)
Ingratiating is one of the most exciting colts in the country and I am very interested to see the horse in the mounting yard on Saturday as a three year old ahead of the Vain Stakes.
He won the Talindert Stakes down the Flemington straight before going on to finish second in the Blue Diamond and third in the Golden Slipper to close out his autumn campaign.
The small field suits especially considering the outside draw but he is the class colt in this race and deserving favourite.
2 Units Ingratiating
Race 7 - 3:55pm
Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m)
A good field of returning three year old fillies line up in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes over 100m including Peter Moody’s talented one Gimme Par.
The Redoute’s Choice winner Najmaty is another exciting young filly that will line up and she will be a little bit more forward than the horse mentioned above with three trials leading into this first up assignment.
The daughter of I Am Invincible will travel the Melbourne way of going for the first time but if she handles that okay, her class will carry her a long way in this event.
2 Units Najmaty
Race 8 - 4:20pm
Group 2 P.B Lawrence Stakes (1400m)
Streets Of Avalon was as tough as always when he resumed with a narrow defeat in the Bletchingly Stakes over 1200m here at Caulfield two weeks ago.
He has a good record over 1400m at Caulfield and the last time he was seen here he won the Group 1 C.F Orr Stakes in February.
Will be fitter for the run and will take a good one to go passed him.
4 Units Streets Of Avalon
Race 9 - 5:10pm
Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m)
Full respect for La Mexicana who is a very good young mare with a good record but I’m looking a bit wider in the last.
Away Game has been an exceptionally consistent galloper, usually against her own sex, and she was rewarded for a good winter campaign when she won the W.J Healy Stakes on the final day of the carnival.
She will bring in residual fitness from that campaign and she has proven she can perform well after a freshen up in the past.
1 Unit Each Way Away Game