The Spring Champion Stakes meeting will be held at Randwick this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Good 4 and with overcast weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick would probably stay as Good 4 on raceday.
The Caulfield Guineas meeting will be held at Caulfield on Saturday. The course proper was rated a Good 3 on Thursday and with possible storms in Melbourne for Friday and Saturday, Caulfield could be racing on a Soft track on raceday.
The in-form Vanbrugh is the class horse in the field and he is the horse to beat in the Spring Champion Stakes (Sydney Race 6, 2000m). This Encosta de Lago colt has won his last two races with his latest success in the Gloaming Stakes (1800m). Though Vanbrugh has never raced beyond 1800m, he should handle the step up to 2000m judging by the way he finished off the race in the Gloaming Stakes. From barrier 6, Schofield will park Vanbrugh behind the pace one off the fence. Vanbrugh is the one they all have to beat.
The old timer Sertorius looks a good chance in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (Melbourne Race 5, 2400m). After having drawn wide and was forced to settle a long way back, the 8YO wasn’t beaten far in both his Group 1 starts this preparation. From barrier 5 on Saturday, Ryan Maloney will be able to settle Sertorius much closer to the lead. Sertorius has a good record at Caulfield having won 3 times and placed twice at the venue, and the gelding can handle any track conditions. Currently at $12.00 fixed odds, Sertorius is over the odds and represents a good value bet.
It’s hard to go pass the Sydney visitor Kermadec in the Caulfield Stakes (Melbourne Race 6, 2000m). This Teofilo stallion does take some racing before he reaches his peak so he should be ready to show his best over 2000m 4th up on Saturday. Kermadec possesses a scintillating turn of foot and the 4YO can handle any track conditions. After missing last start victory in the George Main Stakes through suspension, Glen Boss will be back on board Kermadec in the Caulfield Stakes. Kermadec will confirm his Cox Plate favouritism by taking out the Caulfield Stakes on Saturday.
Caulfield has consistently been a graveyard for young Sydney horses having their first start at the venue. Remember Pierro who was beaten as a long odds-on favourite in the 2012 Caulfield Guineas? Hence race favourite Press Statement ($2.45) could be a short priced risk in this year’s Caulfield Guineas (Melbourne Race 9, 1600m). The Murray Baker-trained Dal Cielo could be the knock out horse in the Guineas. Currently Dal Cielo is at pretty good odds at $9.00 fixed odds. This New Zealand-bred Per Incanto colt finished a strong 3rd in the Group 3 Guineas Prelude last start and Dal Cielo is all set to run out a strong mile third up on Saturday.
By Owens Wong, Editor
