Race 2. Carlyon Cup.
Winner – No.3. Chase the Rainbow $3.60. Fitter for recent racing and his talent has never been denied. There is a slight query about the form in his last race but this is a small field and he should be able to position where he likes and pounce late to win.
Hardest to beat – No.4. Star Rolling $3.60. There has been a certain ‘boom’ about this horse for a while now and he will no doubt strike one day soon. He will be better over more distance but with a lack of genuine winning options in this race, he might be able to go well on natural class.
Best long shot – No.2. Pakal $2.30. No really a long shot as the short priced favourite! However surely he is the only other chance in this race, but the above two are preferred at the price.
Race 3. Autumn Stakes.
Winner – No.2. Rock Hero $8.50. Three starts ago this colt beat a promising one of Gai’s by 6.3 lengths after dominating the race from the front. Next up he again beat that same horse after coming from the rear and flying home brilliantly. He then was not far away in a Group One in which he was heavily fancied. He looks ideally suited in this race first up and looks one of the best each way chances of the day.
Hardest to beat – No.1. Polanski $3.00. Derby winner who will have a lot of residual fitness and clearly has a tonne of class. He will run well considering he can park on the speed and we all know how Caulfield has been playing during this period of heavy racing.
Best long shot – No.4. Countersnip $19. Tassie horse that is in great form while many of his rivals are first up here. Fitness will see him run well.
Race 4. Kevin Hayes Stakes.
Winner – No.1. Bound for Earth $3. The best performed horse in a very tough race. Craig Williams and barrier three will also help.
Hardest to beat – No.2. The Huntress $10. Two first up runs for a first and a second. She is tough, hard and will be there at the end, especially if it is a truly run race.
Best long shot – No.5. Miss Steel $21. This filly was wonderful at her last start and she seems overs at 20-1. She will find it hard from a tough barrier but she is above average.
Race 5. Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies.
Winner – No.1. Earthquake $1.80. Seeing is believing and this filly was sensational on debut. She will have the weight of the world on her back but she might be really really good. From a good barrier she will position nicely and looks close to a good thing.
Hardest to beat – No.2. Golconda $14. This filly was terrible last start and she is clearly looking for the Sires’. But she is back for this race (surprisingly) and her best is easily good enough to get into a place here.
Best longshot – No.6. Top Sight $19. This daughter of former top sprinter Bon Hoffa came from last on debut and looked sensational in doing so. She is unbeaten and has a lot of scope for improvement and with the right run she can pop up somewhere in this race.
Race 6. Blue Diamond Prelude for colts and geldings
Winner – No.4. Rubick $1.80. Same as Earthquake; just looks a class above after a huge win first up. But this is Caulfield. However this colt does have a great barrier while plenty of his rivals are out in the carpark. He, like Earthquake has a big boom on him and if they are both too short, perhaps take the double.
Hardest to beat – No.11. Francesco $12. You can never discount Gai in a major two-year-old race. This colt is a little wayward but he looks the leader and that is not a bad place to be at Caulfield.
Best longshot – No.6. Duckworth $18. This gelding smashed a highly touted youngster in Adelaide recently and he looked really good in doing so. It is going to be extremely hot at Caulfield on Saturday and there is a chance this gelding might handle the weather better than some of the colts.
Race 7. Rubiton Stakes
Winner – No.1. Better Than Ready $4.40. One of the best sprinters in Australia and he has been out of sight out of mind up in Queensland. He won two races up north in the spring carrying 60.5kg and really he should have won the Newmarket down here last year. He will be flying late in this race and even if he happens to miss out, stay with him for the Oakleigh Plate and especially the Newmarket.
Hardest to beat – No.3. Lankan Rupee $3.40. Trialled like a champion last week and that is why the price is so short. Last preparation he beat Snitzerland and that is good enough form to be extremely hard to beat in this race.
Best long shot – No.4. First Command $17. Run out of condition first up but he is still a nice horse and will enjoy the weight relief on Saturday. Huge odds.
Race 8. C.F. Orr Stakes.
Winner – No.8. Eurozone $6.50. Can this boy beat the Cox Plate winner and one of the best sprinters in Australia? He can because he is really good. He beat Bull Point a couple of times last time in and he has been set perfectly for this race while Shamus Award has other goals in sight. It is a tough race with three huge chances and Eurozone gets the nod at the price but it is a hard race.
Hardest to beat – No.3. Moment of Change $2.50. Has been screaming for the 1400m since his last win, which was in September 2012 over yep, 1400m and it was in a Group One. He will be very hard to beat but he is a little bit of a non-winner and $2.50 is too short.
Best long shot – No.6. Finishing Card $61. Beat Chase the Rainbow at his last start this track and trip and yes this is a huge step up but Glen Boss is due for a huge win. Looks one of the leaders and old Bossy just might be able to pinch a break and hold on for a place behind the big names.
Race 9. Bellmaine Stakes.
Winner – No.1. Arinosa $3.60. Big weight but the good barrier eliminates that and other than that there is not really much to say about this mare. She is clearly the best horse in the race and with even luck she should run really well.
Hardest to beat – No.15. Spending $12. Missed the start at her last run so forget that ever happened. Before that she was ticking along nicely and at the price she is worth something at the each way because she is well above average.
Best long shot – No.12. Hi Belle $8. Nine first up runs for two wins and four placings. First up this track and trip last time she was beaten by Caitkins by an inch. Caitkins would be favourite in this race.
Good luck on what will be a great day.
By Zeb Armstrong
