The Spring Carnival is well underway and one of the main draw cards the Caulfield Guineas, highlighted by the Caulfield Stakes and the presence of major drawcard Winx. Join The Roar for all the live race updates, results and highlights as the horses come out of the barrier at 3:15pm (AEDT).
This year the Caulfield Stakes will have just three runners. Yes, just three.
In one of the more odd developments in recent racing history, the field for one of the biggest outings on the racing calendar will be extremely scarce as the dominant shadow of Winx rolls over the rest of the contingent.
Winx is unsurprisingly coming into this one as a heavy short priced favourite, carrying a remarkable 11 race winning streak, seven of which have been Group 1 victories, into the 2000 metre stampede.
She won’t have it that easy though.
Black Heart Bart is one of the fastest horses going around. From seven Group 1 starts, he’s had three wins and four second-place finishes, racking up a very impressive record and becoming one to watch through the Spring season.
Currently sitting at $4.60, he’s at a good price to upset Winx and take the shortened field. He isn’t a lightning bolt out of the gate, but a good pace setter mid-race and has one of the strongest finishes around.
To round out the Stakes, He Or She will line up as a long shot.
Not a bad horse, He Or She has had a few Group 1 weight-for-age placings in his last few rides, but on both occasions finished multiple lengths back from Black Heart Bart.
At worst he’ll add another Group 1 placing to the resume, but having never run at 2000 metres before, he’ll be in for a tough day at the office with the opposition he’s up against.
Odds:
Winx is coming in a short priced favourite, and for good reason. Black Heart Bart is shorter than expected for the win considering the dominance of Winx but is paying well to cause the upset.
He Or She is a fair way out but his chances are probably even further. With a field this short it might be worth throwing your spare change on him, but leave the house to one of the others.
Winx – $1.20
Black Heart Bart – $4.60
He Or She – $34
Prediction
It’s really, really hard to pass up on Winx. She’s just been unstoppable and easily one of the best rides in the world right now.
Her form is on the level of Black Caviar and Pharlap and approaching legend status as she ploughs through each race.
Black Heart Bart will give her a run for her money and has a very real chance of causing the upset, but Winx should take it home around the final turn and take it home.
He Or She is in a tough, albeit short, field and just doesn’t have enough experience at the longer distance. Black Heart Bart should comfortably take second while challenging for the win.
1. Winx
2. Black Heart Bart
3. He Or She
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Next race: The Thousand Guineas in around 25 minutes - join me for it as we find the best filly in Australia.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
So what now? Well, Winx will surely shorten into the Cox Plate. It wasn't much of a true test of her talents for a truly run 2040m at Moonee Valley but she could only race who turned up on the day. Early reports are Winx broke 57 seconds for the last 1000m which the best sprinters in the land wouldn't mind recording. Hartnell awaits in the Cox Plate - should be an exciting race if Winx has to mow him down on the short straight at MV. Black Heart Bart will have a little bit of the hot air taken out of him, but Winx is the Queen and he gave her a test. Sure, she passed him easily enough but she's done that to everyone. Look forward to seeing him again. He Or She was really there to show how good those two were, but it wasn't disgraced by any means.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
So it's a simple enough trifecta in the Caulfield Stakes (2000m): 1. Winx 2. Black Heart Bart 3. He Or She 3-1-2 the numbers for the trifecta and exotics.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Intriguing finish - Black Hart Bart pushes the button and goes for it on the inside and Hugh Bowman on Winx has to work but she overhauls him and goes past him. Wow - best horse wins in what was a race you don't see too often - basically a race in two with He Or She third. Group 1 to Winx, again. That's eight! She pays $1.20 or so the win.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
It's a dawdle. Greg Miles says it looks like a track gallop. No race record for this one. Winx sitting second as Black Hart Bart increases the tempo - Black Hart Bart starts to wind them up as Winx moves up on the outside. Match race!
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Barriers crash back - very very moderate tempo for the 2000m race. Winx at the tail.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
30 seconds away from action here. Winx has drifted from $1.15 to $1.24. No real change. No money for He Or She - no surprises. Close here.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
One of the interesting things for this race is that a number of corporate bookmakers and even the TAB have promotions for money back if your horse doesn't win, but runs top 3. Those promos are still going on for this race. You know what you have to do, if you have time!
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Afternoon all and thanks for joining us for the first of the Group 1s here at Caulfield. All three horses are on the track and we're not far from a race start. Winx looks magnificent and is the very short price favourite.