The time-honoured Bletchingly Stakes headlines an exciting nine-race program at Caulfield this Saturday, July 27th.
Apache Cat, Mid Summer Music, Vega Magic and Scales Of Justice are but a few of the names featured on the Bletchingly Stakes honour roll, and it has always been a great form race for the early features of the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Who will join the list of Bletchingly Stakes winners this weekend? You can find my thoughts on that race, and the remaining eight contests below!
Race 1 - 12:20pm
VOBIS Gold Ingot (1400m)
Dom won on debut and can continue his rise through the grades on Bletchingly Stakes Day.
The Pierro gelding turned in a decent performance at the trials prior to debuting but put the writing on the wall at Geelong a couple of weeks ago, greeting the judge almost six lengths ahead of his rivals.
With natural improvement, this looks well within his grasp.
3 Units Dom
Race 2 - 12:45pm
MRC Chairman’s Handicap (1200m)
She Smashes makes her return in a nice race at Caulfield this week.
The Brave Smash filly made three appearances during her debut prep, breaking her maiden at Pakenham before ending her campaign a credible fifth in Listed company up in Sydney.
She’s had the benefit of a trial leading up to her return and this looks a nice kick-off point.
1 Unit She Smashes
Race 3 - 1:20pm
Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap (2400m)
Breeding suggests that Tietar will relish getting out to the mile and a half at Caulfield on Saturday.
Tietar has won just one of seven career starts so far, but she has continued to improve with each appearance, and she filled the minors behind the likes of Tenniel last time out.
This looks a wide-open race, and this filly can fight out the finish.
1 Unit E/W Tietar
Race 4 - 1:55pm
VOBIS Gold Stayers (2400m)
Matron Bullwinkel gets into this race well and is ready to win.
The So You Think mare did take a couple of runs to tune up when resuming this campaign, but she’s filled the minors at each of her last two and another victory does look to be around the corner.
Ethan Brown has options from the rails draw and it really does look a perfect feature race for the horse.
3 Units Matron Bullwinkel
Race 5 - 2:30pm
Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1100m)
This is a good race with plenty of winning chances engaged, including Dipsy Doodle.
It has been more than a year since Dipsy Doodle won a run, but after finishing midfield, beaten just over a length and a half in BM72 company when resuming this time, she finished on the placegetters’ heels at her latest.
Fitter third-up and under the urgings of Ben Melham this week, she looks up to something like this.
1 Unit E/W Dipsy Doodle
Race 6 - 3:10pm
Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m)
Another open race and I thought that Steel City rated as a contender at nice odds.
Steel City is yet to strike in three runs back from a break, but there’s no doubt that each start has been a big improvement on the one that preceded it, and she hit the line to finish fourth when specked in the market last time out.
She’s drawn to receive a lovely run in transit again and any further improvement would see her into the finish.
1 Unit E/W Steel City
Race 7 - 3:50pm
Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m)
A small field of seven has accepted for this year’s Bletchingly Stakes, including popular odds-on favourite Recommendation.
Having turned in some big performances in the autumn, including a credible sixth placing in Group 1 company, Recommendation returned to action for a dominant seven-length win in the Sir John Monash Stakes here a fortnight ago.
I think he’ll win again, but he’s far too short for me at current odds ($1.45 at publuish), so I am going to select him as the winner in a quinella, with Mornington Glory running second.
Mornington Glory was fair without threatening in the John Monash, but I’m expecting big improvement for that hit-out.
Quinella: No. 2 (Win)/No. 3 (2nd)
Race 8 - 4:25pm
Benchmark 100 Handicap (1600m)
Duke De Sessa clearly needed his first run back this time to tune up, but he’s had a jumpout since that race and I am confident in plenty of improvement this week.
The Ciaron Maher-trained import turned in some nice performances last spring, placing in black type company and proving his wasn’t out of his depth in Group 1 feature races.
He has the skill and the class to figure in something like this, and this is a drop in grade from what he was last seen contesting.
2 Units E/W Duke De Sessa
Race 9 - 4:55pm
Benchmark 84 Handicap (1400m)
The Open is the one for me in the last on Bletchingly Stakes Day.
Having won each of his first three runs back from a break, The Open worked home well to finish just off the pace of horses like Baraqiel and Legio Ten here last month, before returning to the midweeks for an outstanding victory last time out.
In peak order, he’s ready to make a successful transition back into Saturday metro company.
3 Units The Open