Caulfield will play host to this week’s midweek metropolitan meeting with eight races to be run and won on the Heath.
The track is currently rated a good 4 and with a few showers expected on the day, we could be looking at possible a downgrade to the soft range.
We’ve had a close look at each event and our detailed Caulfield preview and racing selections can be found below.
Race 1 - 12:25pm AEST
SPORTSBET GET ON EXTRA PLATE MAIDEN SW F&M (1500 METRES)
Street Lark has been placed in both runs to date and she looks an improving type.
The runner up on debut over 1300m, she travelled well throughout and charged late to go down by only the barest of margins.
Up to 1400m last start on the Sandown Lakeside, she just wanted to race a keen in behind the leader and was left flat footed when the sprint when on but picked up strongly late.
The rise to 1500m will suit this daughter of Castelvecchio and Blake Shinn goes onboard.
1 unit – STREET LARK
Race 2 - 1:00pm AEST
MRC FOUNDATION GALA MAY 8 PLATE 2YO SW (1000 METRES)
Wiltshire Square returns from a break.
A daughter of Wootton Bassett, the filly has been placed in three of her four starts, all of which have been at stakes level.
Solid to the line in both the Listed Merson Cooper and Blue Diamond Preview, she then contested the Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude where she again stuck on gamely despite racing three wide without cover.
Sent to the paddock after failing to figure in the Blue Diamond Stakes, she returns here off an impressive jump out win.
Ethan Brown will take the reins for Ciaron Maher and she’s sure to find this easier than what she’s previously contested.
1 unit – WILTSHIRE SQUARE
Race 3 - 1:35pm AEST
TOBIN BROTHERS CELEBRATING LIVES HANDICAP BM65 (1200 METRES)
Catahoula was beaten only narrowly when resuming on the Sandown Hillside four weeks ago and she strips fitter for the outing.
The Hawkes trained mare looked to have the race in her keeping 100m out but in the bob of heads to the line, the leader kicked back to edge her out right where it counted.
She has won second up previously and looks ideally placed staying at BM64 level.
Whilst she has only won the two races, she’s continued to perform well at a slightly stronger grade and has proven herself very capable.
Shinn stays aboard and with the added fitness, I think she’ll prove too strong for them.
1 unit – CATAHOULA
Race 4 - 2:10pm AEST
FEED HANDICAP BM70 (1800 METRES)
Dillinger is shooting for three straight wins and looks well placed to do so.
He just found the 1400m too short when resuming at Ballarat but relished to rise to the mile second up as he let down strongly over the final part to score easily.
Out to 1800m here last time, the Zoustar gelding was again strong to the line and showed plenty of fight to hold the fast-finishing Oxford Blue.
He gets the advantage of the inside draw and with the rise in the weights, the team have elected to claim, securing Jaylah Kennedy to do the steering and take 2kgs off.
1 unit – DILLINGER
Race 5 - 2:45pm AEST
HYLAND RACE COLOURS HANDICAP BM70 (1600 METRES)
Changing Colours is racing well and looks ready to peak out to the mile at her third run back.
A daughter of The Autumn Sun, the mare has yet to miss a top three spot in six race starts and the form around her is solid.
She found the line well when resuming over 1200m on the Lakeside and last start, after settling well back, she charged home down the outside to get within half of length of eventual winner, Pariah Pearl.
She drops back in grade, she’ll relish the rise in trip and draws to enjoy a kind run throughout under Ben Melham.
3 units – CHANGING COLOURS
Race 6 - 3:20pm AEST
MORE PLACES HANDICAP BM64 3YO FILLIES (1200 METRES)
Queen Katrina was in a league of her when saluting at Kyneton last start and she looks to have plenty of upside.
The Written Tycoon filly was just collared late on debut after shooting for home at the top of the straight, and with natural improvement, she proved far too good last time, kicking clear to score by a length after being eased down over the final part.
This is obviously tougher but she looks more than up to it.
Blake Shinn takes the mount for the Price / Kent team and if they can overcome the tricky gate, I think she’ll be hard to beat.
1 unit – QUEEN KATRINA
Race 7 - 3:55pm AEST
QUAYCLEAN HANDICAP 3YO BM64 (1000 METRES)
Biancelli returns to the races.
Unbeaten in two race starts, the daughter of Cosmic Force has done everything right and she lines up here ready to go off three jump out wins.
She made her debut at Ballarat back in November, where after settling in behind the leaders, she gave a good kick to pull away at the top of the straight and score comfortably.
Up to metropolitan grade at her following outing, she took up the running around Moonee Valley and showed plenty of heart to kick when challenged, again scoring by just over a length.
Her recent jump out performances show she’s come back in top order with a bit of luck off the wide gate, I think she can maintain her unbeaten record.
1 unit – BIANCELLI
Race 8 - 4:30pm AEST
RACE REPLAYS HANDICAP BM70 (1000 METRES)
Grand Larceny resumes.
The half brother to Everest winner, Yes Yes Yes has shown plenty of talent in his seven career starts and he looks very progressive.
A winner at his second race start, he then put in a couple of average performances but bounced back last campaign to make it back to back wins in impressive fashion.
Given an easy time of things in two recent jump outs, he’s worked to the line well and looks ready to go.
Blake Shinn jumps aboard for team Hawkes and he’s set to receive all the favours from gate two.
1 unit – GRAND LARCENY