Ten races make up the Caulfield Winter Series Day program this Saturday, June 29th.
The rail will be set out a whopping twelve metres around the entire course for the meeting, while the generally fine weather around the Caulfield area this week has seen the track rated in the Good (4) range (at publish).
Check out my thoughts on every race and complete Caulfield Tips below.
Race 1 - 11:20am
2YO Handicap (1000m)
Blue Renegade is yet to turn in a poor performance and rates as a key winning chance again this week at Caulfield.
The Blue Point colt has recorded two wins and as many second placings from four starts and hit the line more than two lengths ahead of his rivals at Sandown last time out.
He’s hard fit and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
2 Units Blue Renegade
Race 2 - 11:50am
Benchmark 84 Handicap (1100m)
It’s a rise in class, but I thought that Luna Cat was excellent at Sandown last time out and she can go on with it at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Puissance De Lune mare finished five lengths behind the winner here at Caulfield when resuming earlier this month, but she enjoyed big improvement into her eye-catching effort in a BM74 a little over a week ago.
With further improvement, something like this does look the next logical target.
1 Unit Luna Cat
Race 3 - 12:25pm
Become An MRC Member Handicap (2000m)
There’s a case to be made for a few of them in this 2000m handicap, including Golden Crusader.
Golden Crusader dusted off the cobwebs with a fair effort to finish sixth, beaten a little over two and a half lengths inBM74 company earlier this month, while he kept on coming into second behind Hard To Cross at his latest.
Fitter third-up, the rise in trip suits and he’ll be further benefitted by Celine Gaudray’s claim.
1 Unit Golden Crusader
Race 4 - 1pm
Whisky, Wine & Fire Handicap (2000m)
Kapakiri turned in a competitive performance when fresh and looms as a key winning chance at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Kermadec gelding was excellent last time in, recording three-consecutive wins most notably, highlighted by a dominant performance in BM78 company and over the 2000m at Randwick.
His fresh performance behind a fit and impressive Franz Josef earlier this month was full of merit, and he’ll only improve for it and getting back out to his pet trip.
3 Units Kapakiri
Race 5 - 1:35pm
3YO Fillies Handicap (1200m)
This is another open race with plenty of winning chances engaged, but Paradise City has been knocking on the door, and I think she gets a great chance here.
Paradise City returned to action for a lovely win in BM70 company at Sandown, and while the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes proved to be a bridge too far in April, she’s turned in some fine performances since.
She’s hard fit this week, the 1200m suits and she has options in running from the rails draw.
2 Units Paradise City
Race 6 - 2:15pm
Lamaro’s Hotel Handicap (1200m)
I’m happy to give Extratwo another chance at Caulfield this week.
Extratwo’s form earlier this prep was excellent and included a couple of lovely wins at The Valley, while she also notched a lucrative victory in the VOBIS Gold Distaff here in April.
She was freshened into a fair effort at HQ last time out, but I’m confident that run will have brought her right back on, and she clearly loves racing here.
2 Units Extratwo
Race 7 - 2:55pm
IVE Handicap (1440m)
Alectrona takes winning form into this contest and looks well placed to make it two in a row.
The Team McEvoy-trained filly has hardly turned in a poor performance since debuting, but her fresh effort in BM64 company out at Swan Hill was her best to date.
With natural improvement, from the good draw and a small weight, something like this looks well within her abilities.
2 Units Alectrona
Race 8 - 3:30pm
3YO Handicap (1000m)
Fleetwood has recorded two wins from as many runs back from a break and looks a great chance for the hat-trick on Saturday.
The Encryption gelding was an easy winner at the midweeks up in Sydney last month, and he franked that effort at Randwick last time out, beating home the likes of The Black Cloud.
Fitter third-up, he’s my best bet on the program.
4 Units Fleetwood
Race 9 - 4:05pm
Marshall White Quality (2000m)
This is a nice race for Pounding and he steps out this week in peak order.
The Group 1-placed galloper is yet to strike in five runs back from a break, but he has been a noticeable improver at each of his last two and was good behind Cadmus last time out.
He’s in peak order, 2000m is ideal and I don’t think he’ll be offered a better opportunity to win in Saturday metro company.
3 Units Pounding
Race 10 - 4:40pm
Race Replays Handicap (1440m)
Chorlton Lane is a galloper in form, and he looms as the one to beat again in the last at Caulfield on Saturday.
Chorlton Lane returned to action to record an easy win over fit gallopers like Extratwo out at Bendigo in April, while he was last seen repeating the dose in another BM84 right here at Caulfield.
He’s been kept up to the mark with a trial since that race and is well placed again.
3 Units Chorlton Lane