Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Thursday, December 26th.
After our one day off from racing for the year, we're back with a huge slate of racing across Australia on Boxing Day! Our focus turns to the card at Caulfield, where there's a quality eight-race meeting.
Find our tips and best bets for the meeting below!
Caulfield Racing Tips: Thursday, December 26th
Best Bet: Race 4 - (5) Pinyin
Best Value Bet: Race 5 - (13) Greetings Ned
(3) Neighbourhood is a promising mare and she's returned with two wins from as many starts this preparation. First up she ran home from the back of the field to get up at Sandown Lakeside, in a race which has already produced three subsequent winners. Last start she left it late but got there in the final stride to win at Pakenham, with a nice gap back to the third horse. She looks to have more to come and Enver Jusufovic is an astute trainer. With that said, he hasn't had a winner from nine runners at Caulfield in the past 12 months and even though I think she's hard to beat but I wouldn't be taking anything less than even money. (4) Lady Of Crebilly is the value at $15. She's been a big drifter in early betting but after two runs back from a spell, she's ready to win. It took her a few starts to do so last preparation an she comes into this off two similar lead up runs. (6) Black Bliss next best.
Value: (4) Lady Of Crebilly $15
Competitive race despite the small field. (3) St Joeys didn't get a lot of luck at a crucial stage at Flemington last start, where he was held up early in the straight before finishing off nicely to be beaten 1.5L. From barrier 4 he should be able to sit off the rail and be within striking distance on the turn so I think he can bounce back to winning ways. (2) Evening Glory is drawn outside him and likely to come from behind him. I'm not convinced he'll be able to run St Joeys down if St Joeys gets first run on him, but he is third up from a spell and should be cherry ripe. (1) Scorpius is the horse they'll be chasing. He's versatile and we saw him lead all the way at Sandown last start, but he's unlikely to lead today. He carries the full 60kg so he'll need to improve again if he's to make it back -to-back wins.
(8) Lynch Mob looks ready to peak now fourth up from a spell. It was at this stage last preparation that he found winning form and his last couple of runs back suggested he's close to a win. Barend Vorster comes across to take the ride today which is noteworthy, he's drawn well in 6 and finds a winnable race. (4) The Black Leopard comes off a last-start win and the horse he beat then came out and won its next start. From barrier 1 he should get a suck run behind the leaders and he looks ready for the step up to 2000m. (3) Saddle The Sun didn't run out the 2600m last start but his form prior to that over this distance was very solid. He can bounce back at double figure odds. (10) Miss Damita was disappointing as favourite last start and will need to improve.
Value: (3) Saddle The Sun $15
Very keen on (5) Pinyin. Her run first up at Sandown over 1000m was terrific, reeling off the fastest final 200m, 400m and 600m of the entire meeting to get within 0.6L after settling last. Up to 1200m today, Damien Oliver takes over from apprentice Lewis German, she's finished top two in both her second up runs and she should be able to settle midfield from barrier 3. I think this looks a really nice race for her and $4.20 is a good price. (6) Lianne ran well at Flemington last start and gets the blinkers applied for the first time today. (12) Neneka only won a maiden at Kyneton last start but she sat wide without cover throughout and there was a big gap back to 3rd, so she might be able to make the step up in grade here and run well. (9) Curious Heart gets the notable jockey booking of Craig Williams, who has a 31% strike rate for the trainer. She won over the same distance at Kyneton on the same day as Neneka, running a marginally slower time. She was also first up so second up with Williams on, she can be included.
(14) Leiter returns from a spell here and his form from his debut preparation was very strong. He bolted in on debut and followed that with placings behind Columbus Circle and Gytrash. That's exceptional form for a race like this so if he returns at his best then he's sure to be in the finish. (8) Whenever Wherever has the run under the belt and comes into this second up. He didn't get a lot of luck first up, held up for plenty of the straight and having to race tight late. He won second up last prep and he's yet to finish out of the top two at the distance. When Patrick Payne brings them to town they always run well. A couple at value are (12) Ginger Jones and (13) Greetings Ned. Ginger Jones was very good first up before a flat run last start, but that was in a very strong race. He can bounce back. Greetings Ned finished second last first up but he was held up most of the way so you can forget he went around. He's won two of his three starts when second up so include him at $17.
Value: (13) Greetings Ned $17
(8) Whenever Wherever
$6.00
Sticking with (4) Future Score here, who is still lightly-raced but has a good winning strike rate and probably still has more to come. He's won five of his 12 starts, including a good win first up over (2) Odeon at Pakenham. They basically meet at the same weights but Odeon gets Craig Williams booked to ride, replacing the 3kg apprentice, so that's a big positive for him. He also gets the winkers applied once again, so from the soft draw he'll be in the race for a very long way. Future Score's query is the fact he's failed in both second up runs but I'm happy to ignore that. He's drawn to Odeon's immediate outside in barrier 3 and should enjoy a good run. I'm happy to take the better price about Future Score to get over the favourite. (9) Living The Dream is flying, while (6) Ken's Dream is steadily building and improving with each start.
(5) All Too Royal has a terrific first up record with three wins from four starts. He won first up in Sydney last preparation, motoring home from off the pace to score impressively. He failed to go on with it in his next two starts but he's been put out and returns from three months off today. Happy to take the $5.50 for him fresh today. (6) Ef Troop won well last start but he's got a sketchy third up record and tackles a stronger race today. (9) Spirit Of Aquada is running well but he's a non-winner, while (10) O' So Hazy is one to throw in at blowout odds.
We'll finish off the day with (6) Titan Blinders on top, who won first up and ran a great race in defeat last start behind King Of Hastings. That looks a very solid form line and his third up record suggests he should be able to run well once again today. Craig Williams takes over the ride from apprentice Lachie King and he should get a good run from barrier 6. Looks hard to beat. (15) Vongole ran a cracker first up at Moonee Valley, going down by a nose. Lucy Doodt takes off 3kg so gets in with 52kg and the winkers are applied for the first time. (1) Critical Thinking is unbeaten from three starts at the track and distance, while (8) Asgard Massif gets the blinkers back on third up from a spell.
(1) Critical Thinking $13 & (8) Asgard Massif $15
