Caulfield Racing Tips for Saturday, February 4th

Caulfield hosts a 9 race program this weekend which is headlined by the Group 3 Chairman's Stakes and Group 3 Manfred Stakes.

The track is a Good 3 with the rail out 9m and we have betting tips for every race on the card below!

Race 1

This looks a nice race for the favourite ZASORCERESS who won impressively over this distance last start to back up her eye-catching first up run. This is still only her third run for Darren Weir so there should still be some improvement in her despite rising 4.5kg in the weights. She has contested Group 1 races in the past and looks bound for better races than this later on so I'm more than happy to back her at the $2.60 on offer in what looks a good way to start the day.

Tip: Zasorceress (Best Bet)

Race 2

If HURSLEY can reproduce his run from last start at the Valley then he rates a clear top pick here. He showed absolutely nothing first up in Sydney but bounced back into form last start with the step up to 2000m, where he ran home strongly with 60kg to finish 3rd behind Big Duke. I think that is the best form line in the race and importantly he has two wins and two placings from four starts over the 2000m at Caulfield. Barrier 4 will give him every chance and he looks a good bet here. DODGING BULLETS is racing in great form and steps up to 2000m for the first time while SIR PROSPECTOR comes into this second up after a luckless first up run when caught wide all the way. He can bounce back.

Tip: Hursley

Race 3

Think this is a really good betting race. Found it hard to split CHANCE TO DANCE and ONCIDIUM RULER but I've gone with the class edge of Chance To Dance who looks to be crying out for 2400m this prep. He's on the quick back up from last weekend when he took the whole straight to hit top gear over 2000m but he was very strong on the line which indicates the 2400m is what he needs at this stage. He has run well over this distance previously - the last time he contested 2400m was when he finished 3.2L off Magic Hurricane in the Gr1 Metropolitan in 2015. Goes up in the weights here but senior jockey back on board and only 4kg difference to the minimum so I'm expecting him to go very close to winning this. ONCIDIUM RULER got given absolutely no chance last start when three-wide the whole trip over 2500m. Very significant jockey change today with Williams taking over from Jake Bayliss. The horse has never finished outside the top two over this distance and with 54kg looks the logical danger to the favourite. No surprises to see him winning. The value in the race and the best value bet of the day is SKULDUGGERY who jumps from 1800m to 2400m and also rises in grade, but this horse is flying since joining the stable. Last start he was also given no hope when settling way too far back at Sandown before charging home to finish 3rd. The rise in trip looks suitable and with 54kg on his back he could very well win this the way he's going. $14 available at the time of writing with Bet365 looks a tremendous price.

Tip: Chance To Dance / Skulduggery EW (Best Value)

Race 4

JUKEBOX looks tough to beat here on the back of his impressive debut performance at Geelong and given he's high up in Blue Diamond betting you'd expect him to be winning this. However, PERAST did win his debut by 3.5L with a further 3.8L back to the third horse, and did so in a time which was 1.79 seconds quicker than Jukebox's over the same distance. Obviously that doesn't tell the whole story but although it was only a 2YO race at Scone, his time was impressive and the second horse went on the finish within 2.5L of Teaspoon in Group 3 company in Sydney last weekend. At the prices I'm not keen to back either and would much rather watch the race, but COPPERGATE on debut for Tony McEvoy could be one at longer odds worth backing EW. This horse trialled quite impressive on January 30, when charging through the line under a strong hold. He should eat up the 1200m and from barrier 1 should get all the favours provided he jumps well. At $9.50 he is worth having something  small on.

Tip: Coppergate EW

Race 5

FORMALITY looks a key player in the Blue Diamond judging by her debut win at Werribee, which was convincing both on the eye and on the clock. She draws a touch sticky here but without a great deal of speed in the race on paper Williams may just take her to the front and ride her like the best horse in the race. ASPECT was very impressive on debut at Flemington and it wouldn't surprise me to see him do the same again here but my concern is the 1000m. I think he's looking for 1200m+, and the day he won at Flemington he was benefited by a strong headwind which suited backmarkers. Was keen on SPOILS last week and didn't get many favours up on speed, and her debut performance behind Wait For No One suggests she is more than capable of figuring in the finish here.

Tip: Formality

Race 6

This is a dartboard race with any number of winning hopes and a number of horses with question marks over their heads. There looks to be quite a bit of speed on here but DANUKI may be able to take a sit from barrier 2 and he continues to race well. Drops back in grade here from his last two starts and also drops back to the 1100m which is much more suitable. Has a great record at the distance and has placed both times at the track so with the claim he has strong winning claims once again. One at a bit of value that could go close with the expected tempo is CHAT TO MAGGIE who charged home last start at Sandown and would have won if she went straight. With the 3kg claim she gets in with just 51kg here and if they run along up front she will be hitting the line very hard. $12 available for her. Big watch on both Cool Snitzel and Turbo Miss who are both good enough to win if they bring their best form first up from spells.

Tip: Danuki / Chat To Maggie EW

Race 7

Terrific race but a tough one to work out with a few of the big guns better suited over further than the 1200m here. I've never had a bet on this horse and I've actually had a knock on him but I think this is a suitable enough race for MANOLO BLAHNIQ to be competitive in at each way odds. He raced in plenty of good races last prep including the Group 1 Coolmoore Stud Stakes and his first up run suggests he has come back a better horse. He ran the fastest final sectionals of the day when beaten 1.6L over 1000m and the step up to 1200m will suit him here. He is one of the horses that will be suited by the distance, which may allow him to bridge the gap in quality to the likes of Morton's Fork and Hey Doc. While I expect those two to be very competitive here purely based on their class, they'll be looking for 1400m+ and may not be fully wound up here. Gratwick and Into Orbit others to consider in a very strong race.

Tip: Manolo Blahniq EW

Race 8

I think FAATINAH is the best horse in this race and ridden correctly he should win this despite carrying 60kg. He draws barrier 9 which is ok because I expect them to take him to the front and roll along to try and run them off their feet. He's undefeated first up which includes a win in the Group 2 Bobby Lewis last prep. The danger looks to be THERMAL CURRENT who turned around his form second up from a spell to win down the straight last start. He historically improves significantly second up but drops off again third up which is some concern, but he is with Weir this prep so he may overcome that trend. Looks value at $8 with Lane back on board. The somewhat unknown in the race is DIVINE TEN who used to be a very good horse in Hong Kong. Made his first Australian start after two and a half years off and finished last but Oliver reported he was on the wrong leg all race and pulled up with poor post-race recovery. He started favourite then so if he bounces back he could run a big race at 20/1.

Tip: Faatinah

Race 9

DUKE OF BRUNSWICK should be ready to win third up from a spell over 1400m. He's won twice and placed twice from four starts when third up from a spell which would indicate he is ready to peak here. He comes out of a strong form race behind Grande Rosso in Stakes grade last start and from barrier 3 with Oliver on board should be very hard to beat. The value could be SHOW A STAR at $9 who ran 2nd first up over 1600m. He's never finished outside the top two when second up from a spell and has never finished outside the top two at the distance. 

Tip: Duke Of Brunswick