The weather is picking up, and we’re edging our way out of winter and closer to spring. While warmer temperatures may be good for the soul, for racing fans it means the good horses are starting to appear on the scene.
This Saturday sees the running of the P.B Lawrence Stakes (formerly the Liston) over 1400m at Caulfield as the main feature of the day, complemented by some interesting black type three year old races which take the blanket off some Golden Rose and Guineas contenders.
P.B Lawrence Stakes preview
The Lawrence has attracted a bigger field than usual, and perhaps one of more quality too, with four individual Group 1 winners, plus another four Group 1 placegetters in the field.
Darren Weir’s Mahuta heads the betting with some early market support, after a pleasing return for third in the Bletchingly Stakes, the key form race here.
Mahuta won six on end through spring and summer last season, including the big payday of the Magic Millions over 1400m, a distance where he is undefeated from four starts. He knows how to get the job done, and should get a lovely trail behind a strong speed from barrier five.
Lord of the Sky ran them ragged from the front in the Bletchingly, recording his first win for over two years, and putting a period of indifferent form behind him. He’s only raced beyond 1400m once before, when he tired, and the likelihood of some company up front here make him a query.
Smokin’ Joey ran fifth in the same lead-up race, and didn’t do a lot wrong coming from last. The promise of a strong speed brings him into the race, and he is known for getting up at knockout odds.
Suavito is the class runner in the field, and has more than proven her credentials at the Caulfield 1400m circuit, given her last three campaigns have begun with a first-up victory at the track/distance, including two at Group 1 WFA level in her last two preps.
She’s drawn to get her favoured midfield position, from where she can sprint hard at the finish, and if the leaders are coming back to the field, she’s the one most likely to run over the top of them. She is a rock solid each-way bet at the $5.50 mark, and over the odds at that.
Cult hero The Cleaner is back for another campaign, and although he hasn’t won first-up since June 2013, he is never less than competitive, as proven when resuming in this race last year and just being nutted on the line by Mourinho. This year’s race looks deeper though, and he won’t have an easy time up front.
Miss Rose De Lago is an honest and classy front-running mare that loves Caulfield and always runs a race first-up, but faces a tough set of circumstances here. She’ll win a race or two this prep if placed correctly, but feel she’s a risk here tackling open WFA for the first time as a six year old.
Jameka is yet to run a bad race in her career, only finishing worse than fourth once, which was a fifth in the Australian Guineas beaten two lengths. She’s being set for a Cups campaign, but will be somewhere thereabouts if it’s a busy finish.
Jameka’s stablemate Set Square has been off the scene since the Mackinnon Stakes last year, so we can expect her to take a run or two to settle into her campaign, but a bold fresh showing wouldn’t surprise.
Entirely Platinum has two Group 1 WFA second’s to his name at Caulfield 1400m, but his best form is a year ago now. He’s worth throwing in multiples if he can recapture it. Jacquinot Bay gets ticks first-up and at seven furlongs, but the country cups are more his level.
Awesome Rock has started to fulfil his potential in the last year, and it will be interesting to see where he fits in the spring. He should improve again and be a Group 1 player, but may find a few ahead of him here.
Tall Ship, Magnapal and Berisha all have much longer races in their future, and won’t have the speed or class to contend here.
The speed looks good, and if one of the on-pace runners can keep going it will have been some performance. The race looks to set up well for those setting in a midfield position.
Selections: 1. Suavito 2. Mahuta 3. Lord of the Sky 4. The Cleaner
Around the traps: All eyes will be on Golden Slipper winner Capitalist resuming up in Sydney, but the early season set weights penalties races for three year olds often prove the undoing of the shorties carrying top weight. Star Turn in receipt of 4kgs is worth a look, and he has been backed.
Rose’s Roughie: The Quezette (Winslow Group Stakes) at Caulfield for the three year old fillies can produce a big odds winner. It’s hard to know which of them has matured at a quicker rate than others, and how many lengths each of them has improved.
This looks a tough and even race as it is, but Selenia at $21 makes strong appeal – tough, honest and versatile, she showed her talent in the autumn in the right races, and can make her presence felt here.
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