Caulfield hosts a 9-race card this weekend with the Listed Thoroughbred Club Stakes the feature race on the card.
The track is rated a Soft 6 after a bit of rain in Melbourne with the rail out 12m.
We have betting tips and comments for every race below.
CAULFIELD RACING TIPS
Race 1
Terrible race to start the card with nothing standing out. With the $7.50 odds on offer I'll have a bite at FOMO who returned from a spell with a win in BM64 grade over 1400m on Heavy ground. Should improve with the step up in distance and this is a winnable race. The value in the race could be WHITE HOUSE LADY who also returned from a spell with a win at Pakenham in maiden grade. Bred to love the wet ground and gets just 52.5kg on her back. Not an inspiring race to start!
Tip: Fomo / White House Lady EW
Race 2
This is a much better race with some good types involves and a number of chances. Pretty keen on a couple here with one of those at great odds. The first is HURSLEY who continues to race consistently well in Melbourne. Two starts ago he was luckless and last start he carried 61kg so getting the good draw today with 57.5kg on his back and Craig Williams in the saddle points to a good performance. I think a couple of the others are vulnerable so the $6 is appealing for him. ZAHSPEED looks a big winning chance here at $15. He always takes two runs to get going before peaking at his third run back from a spell. He's won two of his three races when third up and the fact that he ran 3rd last start when looking the winner and only tiring late makes me think he's ready to win today. Great stats at the distance and has a win on Soft ground. GOATHLAND is the one I'm terrified about for Team Williams. All of their runners are flying at present and it'd be no surprise to see him win this first up. OVERBERG, ANAHEIM, ODEON and SUPER HAZE others to include.
Tip: Hursley / Zahspeed EW (Best Value)
Race 3
Only two I'm interested in here. MR SNEAKY produced a huge win after coming from well back in the field last start to charge home and beat Theanswermyfriend over 1400m. That form is very strong with Theanswermyfriend then coming out and winning by nearly 5 lengths at his next start before running 2nd in Sydney. He resumes here from a 56 day let-up but that's no concern as his fresh record is good. Should handle the ground given he has a 2nd placing on heavy ground, and the only concern would be dropping back to 1200m. The main danger is COSMIC LIGHTS who is first up from a 98 day break. He's won 3 races from 4 starts when first up from a spell and his record on wet ground is also good. Has won a trial leading into this and the only query is the 59kg first up. $7.50 is a good price for him.
Tip: Mr Sneaky
Race 4
Pretty keen to take on MERRIEST today at the $4.60 price despite her last start win. She carries 3kg more than any other runner today and has a 2.5kg weight disadvantage from a 0.5L margin over Snitty Kitty last start. Add to that she's completely untested on wet ground. I think the one to be on here is SNITTY KITTY who won dominantly first up at Yarra Valley before running a bold race from out the front last start to go down by half a length to Merriest late in the race. She carries just 52.5kg today after the claim which means she gets a 2.5kg weight swing on Merriest and a 1.5kg weight swing on Moonlight's Choice. While she didn't place on Soft ground on debut, she did win a trial on heavy ground by 8 lengths leading into it so I'm prepared to give her another go on a wet track. Has the in form apprentice on from barrier 1 so she'll go straight to the front and be very hard to run down. $5.50 is a great price. MOONLITE'S CHOICE will be the hardest to hold out. Her run first up was terrific, she's undefeated on wet ground and will be much better suited here second up.
Tip: Snitty Kitty
Race 5
DOUBT I'M DREAMING looks a lock here after an extremely impressive debut in Stakes company on debut at the Valley when winning by nearly 3 lengths. Has won a trial in the meantime and he's bred to handle the wet so from the good draw he is clearly on top. INDERNILE could be a decent one at value after running 3rd to Property on debut. He ran 2nd to Doubt I'm Dreaming in the trial leading into this so is worth including at $16.
Tip: Doubt I'm Dreaming
Race 6
Good little race with a number of hopes. Going with a horse I really have time for in WISE HERO. This horse looked one to blackbook for the future with his first two career starts resulting in dominant victories before going down as the hot pot the last time we saw him. He was put out for a spell immediately after that and returns here on the back of a winning trial. Draws the inside gate here which should give him the run of the race, and if he handles the track I expect him to be there for a long way. Happy to take $5. WIDGEE TURF could be the one to test him. Resumes from a spell after a string of runner-up finishes to end the prep last time in. They were in strong races with form behind the likes of Oak Door and Fuhryk and he's another that's won a trial leading into this. Draws well and has the in-form apprentice on board. $6 available for him. The one that might be being overlooked here is LEOTIE who finished last first up but the trainer did say going into the race that she'd missed a couple weeks work and would need the run. She has apparently trialled well at Geelong leading into this and Dwyer did say she'd be much better suited second up. If she brings her best here she'll be very competitive at double figure odds. ARTIE DEE TWO will be thereabouts.
Tip: Wise Hero / Leotie EW
Race 7
There's three I'm interested in here. MISS VISTA will jump straight to the front and will be extremely hard to run down. She sped along first up and put a few lengths on them in a matter of strides before just tiring late. She should be fitter for that and if she can get across relatively comfortably from the wide gate she will be hard to run down. I think her biggest danger is MAJESTIC LASS who is first up from a spell where she also had a wind operation done. She has terrific first up form and carries just 51kg after the claim so from the good draw she can probably box seat and have the sit on Miss Vista throughout the race. She's a great price at $6. ESTAMINET could be the value.
Tip: Miss Vista
Race 8
Really keen to see this race as I'm a big fan of the two WA horses that are on debut for Darren Weir here and I'll be backing both. STAR EXHIBIT is the first of those, who most recently won the Perth Cup over 2400m. However, he's pretty handy over the shorter trips, he's undefeated on Soft ground and has won two from three when first up from a spell. The other is HEART STARTER who looked a very promising miler in the making. He's never finished outside the top 2 from four runs at 1400m and has a reasonable record first up too. With just 54.5kg he could well win this. I'm terrified on ZEBULON who I think could well blow these away. He's a seriously talented horse on his day but he's had tendon problems and has been off a long time. However, the last time we saw him he was first up for 441 days and won by 4 lengths in Adelaide so there's nothing to suggest he won't be ready to win here today.
Tip: Star Exhibit / Heart Starter EW
Race 9
FASTNET LATINA looks one of the better bets of the day here and the only concern I have is the wet track, especially as he is an American import. But he is absolutely flying with four wins from four starts in Australia, including a 3 length win in Adelaide last start. He'll carry 54kg as the jockey won't be using his 2.5kg claim but he's got a perfect draw and every chance to make it five from five here. His only danger in my opinion is CURRAGH who is set to peak at his third run back from a spell and has won three of his four races on Soft ground. Well drawn and should definitely be in the top 3.
Tip: Fastnet Latina (Best Bet)
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
