We’re in for a real treat this Wednesday as Caulfield plays host to a quality eight race card, headlined by the Coongy Cup.
The Group 3 feature is the last piece of the puzzle for Saturday’s Caulfield Cup, with the winner securing his or her place in the time-honoured event.
A full field will assemble and with the current favourite, She’s A Hustler sweating on a run as the fourth emergency, the $240k contest looks wide open.
The Listed Debutant stakes is the second of two back type races to be run and won on the day, as the juveniles take to the track for the first time.
The rail will be out 12m, fine conditions are expected, and you can find all of my detailed selections below, in my Coongy Cup Day preview.
LITZDEEL has performed well in both of her runs this campaign and looks ready to peak as she gets out to this trip.
The four-year-old daughter of Dundeel made her return over 1800m here before stepping out to 2000m last time, where she closed off strongly into fourth, only with only a head separating her and the placegetters.
Runner up in the VRC St Leger in April before proving superior in the Group 3 SA Fillies Classic, she’s proven herself a class mare and looks to have a bright staying future.
Blake Shinn will take the reins for Danny O’Brien and if he can slot her in and find cover early, I think she’ll be too good for them late.
| 7. Litzdeel (9) J: Blake Shinn 56kg 21×54T: Danny O’Brien |
CENTU CAVADDI has just had the two starts and looks very progressive.
A winner on debut over 1200m at Donald, the son of Ghaiyyath had no trouble stepping up in grade as he closed off strongly into third in a three-year-old Quality on Sandown Stakes Day.
Restrained to the tail off the outside gate, he travelled well and just wanted to lay in when asked for the effort but knuckled down late when shown the persuader.
He still looks very raw so there’s plenty of room for improvement and I think the rise to the mile will suit.
Blake Shinn takes over the steering for the Busuttin / Young team, and the low draw is a plus.
| 2. Centu Cavaddi (2) J: Blake Shinn 58.5kg 13T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
DEEP PLEASURE failed to figure last start, but she did have a genuine excuse, and I think she can bounce back.
Over 1400m at Caulfield the Deep Field mare looked to travelling well throughout but didn’t show her usual dash over the final part and a post-race vet check revealed a slow recovery.
She was a dominant winner when resuming at Geelong and second up over 1400m on the Hillside, she led and stuck on gamely to hold second under the 61.5kg impost.
Lightly raced, having just the six race starts, she’s put together a very tidy record and looks highly promising.
She’s fit and with a touch of luck off the wide gate, I think she’ll be right in this.
| 10. Deep Pleasure (10) Scratched: | |||
The babies step out for the first time here in the Debutante Stakes and there looks to be plenty of talent among this group.
I’ve settled on the Godolphin filly LADHAR, who lines up off two recent jump outs.
A daughter of Exceed And Excel, out of Blue Diamond Stakes winner Lyre, she looks very professional, and I like the way she extended strongly late in her most recent heat.
Craig Williams will do the steering for Anthony and Sam Freedman.
| 7. Ladhar (7) J: Craig Williams 56kg T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
JUST LIKE GABY kicked off her campaign with a determined victory over 1000m on the Sandown Hillside and she looks well placed to repeat that performance.
The Ciaron Maher trained mare showed plenty of talent in her first two preparations but was very raw and gave the impressive she’d continue to improve with racing.
She put together back-to-back wins last time in around the Valley but just looked to have come to the end of her prep when failing to figure at stakes level.
She’s returned in fine order and whilst she does rise in grade, she’ll certainly appreciate the 3.5kgs drop in the weights.
The winkers go on, and she draws to get all the favours under Tom Stockdale.
| 14. Just Like Gaby (2) J: Thomas Stockdale 55.5kg 168×1T: Ciaron Maher |
ZAMBARDO is doing everything right and lines up here up looking to make it four straight wins.
Prepared by the Price / Kent team, the former Kiwi has just had the five race starts and looks a smart stayer on the rise.
Placed in his two runs in his homeland before crossing the ditch, the four-year-old was unlucky not to have won when resuming over the mile on the Lakeside but was quick to atone.
A maiden winner on the Pakenham synthetic in August, he then proved too good over 1728m at Sale and his latest victory on the Hillside was dominant.
He does rise in grade but drops 3.5kgs and is sure to appreciate stepping out to 2000m.
| 7. Zambardo (5) J: Ethan Brown 57kg x2111T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
WOOTTON VERNI hasn’t been far away at his past two starts and looks nearing a win.
The former French galloper just had the two runs last preparation, in what was his first on Australian soil and given time, he looks to have settled in well.
He finished off strongly over the mile at his second up outing and last start, up to 1800m on the Hillside, he again finished off nicely behind Charterhouse and subsequent Group 1 Might And Power winner Globe.
The winkers have been added, the rise to 2000m looks ideal and barrier six should see him afforded every chance under Damian Lane.
| 10. Wootton Verni (4) J: Damian Lane 55kg 5×854T: Chris Waller |
SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET was doing his best work late when resuming over 1200m the Valley and he’ll relish the rise to 1440m here.
Settling back in the field, he was behind a wall of horses approaching the home turn and charged home late to claim second, beaten only a head.
With five wins and two second placings from nine career starts, he’s working through his grades with ease and the form around him is solid.
Fitter for that first up run, the rise to 1440m looks ideal and the inside draw should see him settle with striking distance under Logan Bates, who takes 2kgs off.
| 5. Sunshineinmypocket (1) J: Logan Bates 60kg 721×2T: Ciaron Maher |