Racing returns to Caulfield this weekend for the annual Winter Raceday, and nine races are on the program.
The rail will be set out three metres around the entire course while at publish, generally overcast conditions have seen the track rated in the Soft (7) range.
Read on for this week’s Caulfield best bets.
PROFUMO is second up and open to improvement at Caulfield.
The Home Affairs colt showed promise at the trials prior to debuting and worked home well behind the classy Aethera down the Flemington straight earlier this month.
He strips fitter for that experience and rates as a genuine each way contender again at current odds ($7 at publish).
| 2. Profumo (11) J: Jamie Mott 58.5kg 2T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Was well in the market at debut, 2nd in a small field at Flemington 2yo Hcp on June 6 over 1100m, on rain affected going; 2 len behind Aethera carrying 55kg at $4.20. Nice debut and can measure up again. | |||
NEXT STEP IOWA chases a hat-trick in Race 2 at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Brazen Beau mare returned to action with a dominant performance to get up over 1100m at Pakenham last month and repeated the dose at Mornington last time out.
This is another rise in class, but she’s got more upside, she gets into it well under the conditions and is drawn to receive every chance from a low draw.
| 12. Next Step Iowa (3) J: Dakotah Keane 54kg 34×11T: Matt Laurie | |||
| Third-up today. First-up favourite; won by 2 len at Pakenham 0 – 62 May 22 over 1100m on a rain affected track defeating Godtfred Kirk with 57.5kg at $5. Last start favourite; settled well back; won by 0.8 len at Mornington Bm66 June 8 over 1000m in heavy going defeating Honor Galore with 57.5kg at $3.80. Racing well. Progressive mare who looks well placed down in the weights. | |||
WRITTEN GLOW resumes in a nice race at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Written By filly has only made one appearance at the races so far, but she couldn’t have been more impressive on her way to an easy win over 1100m in New Zealand.
She’s trialled up well since landing in Australia and can hit the ground running in something like this.
| 7. Written Glow (7) J: Harry Coffey 54.5kg 1xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Resumes racing after a long spell. Only one run when favourite; won by 1.3 len at Taupo Mdn-Sw December 28 over 1100m on a soft track defeating Biding My Time with 55kg at $2.10. Looks forward enough after a recent trial win. Very wary given her profile, watch the betting. | |||
AMLETO takes winning form into another winnable race at Caulfield.
The Sea The Stars gelding hasn’t turned in a poor performance since resuming and was rewarded for her consistency with an eye-catching victory at Ballarat last time out.
While facing another rise in class, her condition continues to improve and the 2000m at Caulfield should be right in her wheelhouse.
| 9. Amleto (10) J: John Allen 57kg 2×231T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Recent form sound. At the latest run favourite; came from midfield and won by a neck at Ballarat Bm66 June 12 over 2036m on a heavy track defeating High Tempo with 61kg at $3.80. Before that raced on the pace when 3rd of 11 at Pakenham Bm74 on May 22 over 2000m, slow going 0.9 len behind My Roca Fella carrying 57kg at $2.45. Each way chance again. | |||
I’m happy to give GILDED WATER another chance second up this week.
Gilded Water was a model of consistency in good races last time in, winning over this route before placing in both The Bart Cummings and the Ladbrokes Geelong Cup.
His fresh effort at Sandown last month was simply too bad to be true, and after going back to the trials, something like this looks an ideal relaunch pad.
| 4. Gilded Water (11) J: Ben Allen 56.5kg 132×9T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Second-up. First-up after seven months ran last of 9 at Sandown-Hillside Bm100 on May 23 over 1800m, slow going 21 len behind Pudding carrying 57.5kg at $2.70. Previously second-up favourite; won by 2 len at this track Bm84 September 20 over 2000m defeating Unlimited with 58.5kg at $2.30. Had issues last time, his best wins this if he can bounce back. | |||
STREET ARTIST looks well placed this weekend.
He’s yet to strike in two runs back this year, but Street Artist’s condition has undoubtedly improved, and I like that he has been kept up to the mark with a nice trial since his latest start on Ladbrokes Golden Mile Day.
He’s a horse that tends to improve noticeably with a couple of runs under the belt, and while some luck in the run will be required from a potentially sticky draw, he’s certainly up to the class of something like this.
| 5. Street Artist (12) J: Jamie Mott 58kg 12×45T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. Freshened for 56 days. First-up 4th of 8 at Mornington Bm74 on April 18 over 1000m, 0.7 len behind Blue Hotel carrying 57kg at $2.05. Second run from a spell 5th of 12 at Bendigo 3yo Hcp on May 2 over 1100m, 2.75 len behind Navy Pilot with 54kg at $4.80. Profiles nicely. Great chance to atone. | |||
MADIYYA looks to find her race this week at Caulfield.
The Super Seth has improved noticeably for three competitive runs back this time and was only denied in a photo over a mile at HQ last time out.
In peak order, the small rise in trip this week should prove ideal, and she might not get a better opportunity to win than this.
| 15. Madiyya (11) J: Jamie Mott 57kg 4×432T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Form hard to fault. Last start 2nd of 13 at Flemington Bm78 on June 6 over 1600m, on a wet track; nose behind Nation’s Call with 57kg at $5. Before that 3rd of 13 at Flemington F&M Bm78 on May 16 over 1400m, head behind Naina with 59kg at $3.90. Just missed last time and gets her chance to atone. | |||
This is one of the more open races on the program and there’s a case to be made for more than half of them, including GRID GIRL.
Grid Girl returned to action with a fair effort to finish on the placegetters’ heels at Sandown last month, while she was doing her best work through the line under handicap conditions last time out.
Fitter third-up, she’s another one that just need some luck in the run from a wide alley to figure in the finish again.
| 14. Grid Girl (14) J: Damien Thornton 54kg 82×54T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. Resuming 5th of 16 at Sandown-Hillside Bm100 on May 23 over 1400m, slow going 3.5 len behind Meridius with 54.5kg at $21. Last start sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 7 at Sandown-Hillside Hcp on June 13 over 1400m, on a slow track; 2 len behind Coeur Volante carrying 54kg at $3.90. Can improve again, in the each way mix. | |||
BAZABALL REWARDED takes winning form into another nice race.
The Reward For Effort mare has been the stable star for Kelvin Southey since debuting, winning seven of 16 career starts, placing a further four times and finding form around some classy opposition.
We were with her when she struck again in BM84 company at Sandown last time out and in peak condition this week, I can’t find any reason why we should be jumping off.
| 5. Bazaball Rewarded (12) J: Jamie Mott 59.5kg 1×151T: Kelvin Southey | |||
| At the latest run ran on from midfield and won by 2 len at Sandown-Hillside Bm84 June 13 over 1000m in soft going defeating Beast Mode with 56.5kg at $8.50. The run before that tracked the speed and boxed on steadily 5th of 11 at this track in the LR Bel Esprit on May 30 over 1100m, on rain affected going; 4 len behind Hearcomesthestar carrying 54kg at $9. Very good win last time just needs to tick the 1100m box. | |||