Caulfield Preview – Saturday 16th December

Caulfield plays host to Victoria’s major metro meeting this Saturday with 10 races on offer. 

We’ve run the rule over the entire meeting and offer our best bets below! 

Traffic Warden is down to race at Randwick, but if he heads here instead I think he’ll prove very hard to beat.

If that isn’t the case, I’m looking the way of Express Yo’self, a filly by Alabama Express that ran well fresh in the a Stakes race a fortnight ago where she was only run down over the final 200m.  

The soft conditions made it tough that day, but she did gain some admirers finishing within a length of Eneeza. Jye McNeil in the saddle is also a big plus.  

1 Unit Traffic Warden, 1 Unit Express Yo’self 

Alhambra Lad realls appeals here on the quick backup.  

The Proisir six-year-old was unlucky not to run a place last week at Ballarat, held up for a run around the 600m mark after stalking the pace for most of the race.  

He gets out to his preferred trip where he’s a perfect three-from-three now, and with a dry deck expected, this should be the ideal setup. 

1 Unit Alhambra Lad  

It’s hard to ignore Fullproof’s unbeaten record over the mile, one that he added to a fortnight ago when winning at The Valley by 1.5 lengths as the short-priced favourite.  

The Lonhro four-year-old also beat Sirius Black to claim his maiden at Pakenham three back, form that has been franked with that same horse going on to win at The Valley earlier in the spring.  

Rhys McLeod sticks, and barrier 6 should afford the pair a well-timed run coming off the speed.  

1 Unit Fullproof 

Runing By has found it tough to win since claiming her maiden on debut last year, but she did hand in a pleasing effort when runner-up to Waltz On By two back in the Bendigo Guineas.  

Her first-up run at Sandown three weeks ago was equally full of merit, taken back early before unleashing to finish a length second under the same jockey.  

Out over further and back to her own sex, she looks capable of going one better.  

1 Unit Running By  

Is It Me gets in well with the claim coming off a narrow win over further at Cranbourne a few weeks ago.  

The son off Iffraaj will carry only 0.5 kg extra for his troubles, while he’s also proven himself over this journey winning by a whopping seven lengths on debut last year.  

Drawn a similar wide gate to his latest effort, this shouldn’t prove any tougher. 

1 Unit Is It Me 

Tricky race with a few worth taking seriously.

Commander Harry was slow away first-up at Kyneton before making up some decent ground in the run home at The Valley three weeks ago over the mile.  

He’s looked in need of the run in both starts, but is suited out 2000m now third-up. Like others, a firmer track suits, and he should get a good crack at them late if Jamie Mott saves something for the finish.  

1 Unit Commander Harry  

Veecee has gone up a big price for a gelding that has a serious class edge over most of these.  

The Capitalist colt hasn’t done a ton of racing since winning on debut in January, but he did hold his ground in for second in the Chairman’s Stakes before looking a little out of his depth at Group 1 level.  

The option to bypass the wet track last week at Ballarat suggests the Maher and Eustace team think he’s ready to win, and although the favourite looks hard to beat, I’m happy to have something on each way.  

1 Unit E/W Veecee 

Tasman Park can be a tricky horse to follow, but he almost always runs well – as we saw a couple of weeks ago when he finished 2.5 lengths second to the impressive Jimmysstar.  

The Moroney-trained four-year-old missed the money once from five starts last time in work, while he also gets in well with the claim carrying 59.5kg. 

With genuine excuses in the run home last time out, we should see another big effort from this in-form five-year-old. 

1 Unit Tasman Park  

Our Redente comes back a level after contesting the Doveton Stakes over shorter a fortnight earlier.  

Only lightly-raced for a five-year-old, Jerome Hunter’s gelding made up a stack of ground after blowing the start, caught wide at one point where he missed out on a win in a diving finish.  

Based on that, he has big room for improvement and looks a genuine chance to add to his second-up record.  

1 Unit Our Redente  

Tricky race to end with a case to be made for most.  

Jungle Jim is worth forgiving on his first-up effort at Cranbourne, rolling forward to land on speed where he likely spent too much petrol from a three-wide position.  

His efforts over this trip can’t be underestimated though, winning well at Sale three back following two solid efforts at Headquarters prior.  

Back on a dry track, we should see him bounce back. 

1 Unit E/W Jungle Jim