Caulfied Race 8 - Memsie Stakes (Saturday 4:40pm)
The winter chills are behind us as we look forward to Spring racing filling our television screens and hopefully our pockets as well. The first Group One of the season arrives this weekend so our weekly racing column is back a preview of the feature race of the day, the 1400m Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
The 11-horse field is a fantastic line up with quality all the way through the race, including six Group One winners. The questions come over preparation, the ground and the speed in the race. It looks like there will be a decent tempo set with the likes of Sweet Idea, Moment of Change and Messene likely to press forward.
The money is speaking for Messene, a Group 2 winner who looks suited by the 1400m run. Finished second in the 1200m Missile Stakes with a solid run, but did have every chance to win and just couldn’t pull through. Does have a good second-up record.
Favouritism has gone the way of Boban, a horse we’ve loved to back here on Before You Bet. Boban missed the start completely in the Missile and was then stuck in traffic before rattling home for fourth. With a good record in Melbourne, including a win in the Moonga Stakes over the same track/distance, Boban will be tough to beat, but the question is will Boban be able to skirt around such a quality field from the back?
Happy Trails has slipped through us in a number of big races but his showing in Morphetville just wasn’t impressive enough to have here. Silent Achiever is another of our favourites, and a quality Group One winner, but things will probably be a little quick first up over 1400m so we’re happy to wait for a better spot.
Closer to the mark should be Puissance De Lune. An absolute champ, but did look to be wanting further after the first up run in the PB Lawrence. However he got caught three-wide in that run and certainly wasn’t disgraced. With a better barrier draw, PDL should be able to take a sit and be within distance to make a run if his preparation is good enough.
Verdict: Messene had every chance in the Missile and wasn’t good enough. If Boban jumps well, he will be hard to stop but the price looks short, while Puissance De Lune is a champ that shouldn’t be discounted from a good barrier. However our money is going with Moment of Change who appears best suited in terms of preparation, distance and weights. MOC has never missed a place a Caulfield or over 1400m and with 3kgs off the run in the Regal Roller, he looks primed for this one.
1st Moment of Change ($9 at Tom Waterhouse)
2nd Boban ($4 at Bet365)
3rd Puissance De Lune ($13 at Bet365)
Take note: The above tips are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always bet responsibly. Happy punting!
