A ripping card of racing has been assembled for Caulfield this Saturday, with the feature being the Group l Underwood Stakes (1800 metres). Here are my five plays for the meeting.
Bet 1: Each-way – Caulfield Race 2, number ten: Take It Intern
This horse makes his Australian debut for the Weir team. He didn’t have the A1 form when he raced in the UK, but he was progressive with plenty of upside to come. I like him at 1400 metres fresh. I just want to see a market push, and if it comes, I’ll be happy to be with him. I’m pleased to see that there is early market support.
Bet: $10 each-way at $15 to win, $4.40 to place (Sportsbet)
Bet 2: Win – Caulfield Race 3, number one: Prized Icon
He’ll be odds-on favourite, but really, barring bad luck, he should be winning. He’s alreaady a multiple Group l winner who has been pretty good since joining the Kris Lees team, and on numerous occasions he has run well behind Winx. He comes through the Cameron at Newcastle, where he found the 1500-metre run a bit sharp, but he was sound in defeat. A run of 2000 metres looks his go, and barring bad luck, he should win.
Bet: $50 Win (Tote)
Bet 3: Each-way – Caulfield Race 4, number four: Crystal Fountain; number 11: Split Lip
There are a couple of handy mares I want to speck each-way here. Crystal Fountain was a close third fresh at this track and distance behind La Bella Diosa before going to the Cockram, where she just found that class a bit rich when midfield behind Ellicazoom. She’s a third-up winner and she’ll take beating back to 1100 metres and back to this level.
The other is Split Lip, having her first run for the Weir camp with black-type in mind, having formerly been with Will Clarken. She has contested some really good races throughout her career, with her last start seeing her place in the Proud Miss. Her recent Ballarat jump out was okay. The market will be the guide to her.
Bet: $10 each-way (Tote) for both
Bet 4: Win – Caulfield Race 6, number 14: Declarationofheart
This horse looks the best of the day. I thought he was one of the runs of the day in terms of beaten horses when contesting the Exford at Flemington. He just gave them too much of a head start, but you had to like the way he finished his race off behind Brutal, running a closing fourth. The query is whether he wants further, but clearly h has the class factor and hopefully won’t be spotting them such a big start.
Bet: $50 Win at $4.80 (Sportsbet)
Bet 5: Win – Caulfield Race 8, number seven: Blair House
The more I watch his replays, the more I warm to him. He’s got the A1 form from Dubai that reads very well for this. He got the Jebel Hatta win two back before going to the Dubai turf, where he didn’t have much luck at all and was quite good very late when eventually in a race won by Benbatl, who of course is being talked up as a Cox Plate horse. If he brings his best, he’ll be too good.
Bet: $30 Win at $4.80 (Sportsbet)
All odds correct at the time of writing. Gamble responsibly.
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