We’re truly into the serious stuff now, and Group 1 racing is back in session at Caulfield!
Owing to its position on the calendar, the Memsie Stakes remains one of the most highly anticipated races of the year and a bumper field has been confirmed for the 1400m weight-for-age feature.
Cult hero Pride Of Jenni will step out alongside the likes of Mr Brightside, northern raider Antino and the in-form Gentleman Roy, and this will be our first real indication as to who we should follow into the season’s headline races.
With several other key black type feature races on the program, I’ve done the form and returned my complete 2024 Memsie Stakes Day tips below.
Race 1 - 12:05pm
Benchmark 84 Handicap (1400m)
Lovazou has recorded three wins from as many starts back from a break and rates as a key winning chance again in the first on Memsie Stakes Day.
Lovazou was too good for them in Class 1 company at Ballarat in June, and she has since recorded eye-catching and consecutive wins at this track and trip.
In peak order, she need only hold her form to be in the finish again.
2 Units Lovazou
Race 2 - 12:35pm
Stow Robotics Handicap (1400m)
Craig returns from a short break on Memsie Day and finds himself in a very winnable race.
Craig is yet to miss placing in five career starts, winning two times and ending his most recent campaign a credible third in the Silver Bowl Final at Flemington.
He has won on fresh legs previously and gets into this race well, particularly after drawing barrier 3.
2 Units Craig
Race 3 - 1:10pm
Evergreen Turf Handicap (1800m)
Rise To It only just missed at her latest and gets the chance to go one better at Caulfield on Saturday.
Rise To It was nothing short of outstanding last time in, but she is yet to strike in four runs back from a break this time.
That being said, each run has been a noticeable improvement on the one that preceded it, and she was only half a length behind Star Vega at Flemington last time out.
Jamie Kah sticks, and I can’t find a reason why the horse won’t be in the finish.
2 Units Rise To It
Race 4 - 1:45pm
Quayclean Handicap (2000m)
This looks a great race for Young Werther.
The multiple Group 1 placegetter hasn’t been seen at the races since late June, but he turned in some typically good efforts in black type company throughout that campaign, and he was last seen finishing a head second in the Tatt’s Cup.
He’s a winner at this point of his preparation previously and gets the notable advantage of Blake Shinn in the saddle this week.
1 Unit Young Werther
Race 5 - 2:20pm
Group 3 Vale Black Caviar (1100m)
Also known as ‘The Heath 1100 Stakes’, this is the first black type race on the 2024 Memsie Stakes Day program and represents the next target for in-form sprinter, Recommendation.
Having turned in some fine performances during his autumn prep this year, the Shalaa gelding absolutely blew them away in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes over this route last month, and he backed that up with another easy win in the Bletchingly last time out.
He has a fitness edge over this lot and is my best bet on the program.
5 Units Recommendation
Race 6 - 2:55pm
Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m)
There is a case to be made for a few of them in this quality edition of the McNeil Stakes including Stay Focused, who I have put on top.
Stay Focused stamped himself as one to follow by winning easily on debut at Geelong back in January, and after only just missing in the Blue Diamond Prelude C&G, I thought he was excellent off a wide run into fifth in the Group 1 Blue Diamond.
He’s reportedly furnished into a stronger horse ahead of his three-year-old campaign and clearly, he races well fresh.
3 Units Stay Focused
Race 7 - 3:30pm
Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m)
There is no doubt that she will improve off whatever she does in this race, but Skybird is a very classy type and she looks a touch of overs in my opinion in Cockram Stakes betting ($9 at publish).
Skybird has been outstanding for the Mitch Freedman yard since debuting, winning Group 2 features in each of her two campaigns to date and finding form around some classy sprinters.
She has won fresh previously, and she’ll just need some luck in running after drawing the carpark.
2 Units E/W Skybird
Race 8 - 4:10pm
Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m)
Jimmy The Bear boasts a key fitness edge over many of his major rivals in the Heatherlie and it looks a lovely feature race for him.
Jimmy The Bear has proven to be a good and reliable horse for the Patty Payne yard for a couple of seasons now, and he added the Mildura Cup to his CV most notably this time, while he was just over a length behind the winner in the Group 2 PB Lawrence last time out.
That performance would be good enough to see him right into the finish again.
2 Units Jimmy The Bear
Race 9 - 4:45pm
Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m)
The first Group 1 feature race of the Melbourne Spring Carnival has arrived, and we’ll get to see some of the season’s most exciting prospects in action!
Pride Of Jenni, Mr Brightside, Antino; they all have claims, but a horse that is undoubtedly over the odds in Memsie Stakes betting in my opinion is Pinstriped ($16 at publish).
Pinstriped has always hinted at Group 1 ability and has picked off plenty of nice races in his own right, while he returned to action with a nice run for second in the PB Lawrence at this track and trip.
His second-up record is excellent, he’s proven here, and we can have something on each way.
2 Units E/W Pinstriped
Race 10 - 5:20pm
Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m)
Another Wil resumes in a winnable race on Memsie Stakes Day.
The Street Boss gelding enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence last time in, winning each of his first four runs back, including the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude, before ending his prep a credible seventh in the Doncaster Mile.
He’s unbeaten fresh, Jamie Kah takes the ride and with luck from the wide draw, he can stamp his Spring Carnival intentions.
3 Units Another Wil