Huge day of racing for the 2016 Caulfield Guineas on Saturday with a 10 race card featuring four Group 1's!
The track is currently rated a Good 3 with the rail in the True position, and the forecast is for mostly sunny weather so we should be on a firm track all day.
We have comments and horse racing betting tips for each race including more detailed previews of the four majors.
2016 Caulfield Guineas Day Betting Tips
- Best Bet: Race 9 - He's Our Rokki
Has come back a genuine Group 1 horse this prep and his latest win was spectacular. Gets all the favours from the inside draw and looks very hard to beat.
- Best Value Bet: Race 10 - Flamberge
Multiple Group 1 winner resuming in Group 2 company. Won first up over this course and distance at Group 1 level last prep and looks well placed to give this a real shake at $8.
Race 1 - Inglis Debutant Stakes 1000m
Hard to get a guide on many of these unraced horses but we saw a very smart filly go around for David Hayes and Tom Dabernig last week and they might have another handy one here with WAIT FOR NO ONE. She's won two trials under little pressure and the inside draw is a big plus. Watch any betting moves on other runners.
Tip: Wait For No One
Race 2 - Ladbrokes Herbet Power Stakes 2400m
Good little race despite the small field and you could make claims for most of these. Sticking with ASSIGN who ran well behind Almandin last start, who has since come out and won again with ease. Third up, up to 2400m, down to 53kg and should go very well.
Tip: Assign
Race 3 - Thoroughbred Club Stakes 1200m
Normally the Sydney horses have the edge over the Melbourne horses and that may be the case again with IN THE VANGUARD here who resumes from a spell on the back of two impressive trials. Her debut prep was very good and with the inside draw she looks hard to beat at $4.
One at a bit more value is STOP MAKING SENSE who was huge first up when held up and charged through to finish 2nd behind Selenia at the Valley. With a better draw here she may be able to settle closer and looks a very good each way chance at $9.
Tip: In The Vanguard / Stop Making Sense EW
Race 4 - Catalina Sounds Weekend Hussler Stakes 1400m
This is another very nice race with four main hopes being CHETWOOD, BADAWIYA, MABEEL and RAGEESE.
CHETWOOD looks very progressive and has gone through the grades quite comfortably. If he can get over to the front without much trouble he should be very hard to run down.
RAGEESE's 6L loss was actually quite good last start and up to 1400m he is much better suited. BADAWIYA drops from Group 1 company and should be ready to peak, while there's a big watch on NZ horse MABEEL who is undefeated first up.
Tip: Chetwood
Race 5 - Cape Grim Beef Steaks 1200m
Cracking race at Group 3 level for the mares. Hard to split SECRET AGENDA and SHEIDEL here but I was really impressed with Secret Agenda's first up win and I think she can go on with it here. She needs a bit of luck from the barrier and she prefers a bit of cut out of the ground but she may still be too good.
SHEIDEL is ready to peak third up from a spell where she has won 3 from 4 starts. She's won 3 from 5 over the distance and will be hard to beat.
AMERISTRALIA is another one to consider after racking up her third win in a row with a blistering performance last week. This is her toughest test but looks as if she can measure up.
MOSSIN' AROUND and SILENT SEDITION are worth including.
Tip: Secret Agenda
Race 6 - Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes 2000m - Group 1
Only two opponents prepared to tackle WINX here in the form of BLACK HEART BART and HE OR SHE.
WINX obviously very hard to beat here but there has been plenty of occasions where I have seen a short priced favourite rolled in a three or four horse field.
I think they'll lead with BLACK HEART BART and try to get a start on her, while HE OR SHE is getting a guaranteed $54k for participating.
Not worth betting here, sit back and enjoy a fascinating race!
Tip: Winx
Race 7 - Schweppes Thousand Guineas 1600m - Group 1
Four main horses I want to place bets on here.
WHISPERING BROOK failed terribly last start after being absolutely backed off the map. Trainer has stated he possibly worked her too hard in the lead up so has freshened her up for this. She will control the race in front and can bounce back here.
FOXPLAY has been ultra impressive winning her past two starts. She gets the perfect draw here and will get the run of the race. Waller and Bowman combination is hard to look past, and now that she's drifted to $3.80 I think she is a decent price to back.
LA LUNA ROSSA was huge last start and is already a Group 1 winner in New Zealand. Will love the step up to 1600m and gets blinkers on for the first time here. Good each way odds.
HARLOW GOLD is the other to consider after a very good win last start where she was very strong through the line over this distance. Rocketeer was 2nd that day and that horse ran very well last week to just go down. This filly will get over further but from barrier 1 will get a good run in midfield and is good eachway odds.
Sticking with Foxplay but covering with bets on the other three. Prepared to overlook Global Glamour.
Tip: Foxplay
Race 8 - Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas 1600m - Group 1
Good field with numerous chances but I think this one may be going to New Zealand.
SACRED ELIXIR surprised me first up by winning. He was only going to improve with that run under his belt and stepping up in distance so if that's the case then he is very hard to beat here from the god draw.
IMPENDING is the pick of those coming from Sydney after his win over Divine Prophet last start. He'll have to go back from the gate but he'll be hard to hold out.
DIVINE PROPHET will once again have a few lengths on Impending at the turn from barrier 1. Dunn taking over from Christian Reith is a huge plus and with some luck he will be fighting out the finish.
SARACINO is one at longer odds that can run a big race. He was held up for a long way in the straight last start and charged home when clear to finish only a length behind Sacred Elixir. He draws ideally here and with even luck he can go close.
HEY DOC the other to consider.
Tip: Sacred Elixir
Race 9 - IG Markets Toorak Handicap 1600m - Group 1
There's only one I'm really interested in here but there is another two or three to consider.
HE'S OUR ROKKI has come back a very, very good horse and his win last start suggested he is good enough to win a Group 1. The competition he beat wasn't outstanding but he was in another league and from barrier 1 he is very hard to beat here.
COUNTERATTACK is the one, if any, that will beat him, in my opinion. I was very keen on this horse last start but Craig Williams absolutely butchered him. McDonald on is a huge plus, and with a good run he can win.
BON AURUM is another that has come back very well and won the Sir Rupert Clarke last start. He goes up 4kg in weight here but he draws well and I think he will be thereabouts again.
THAMES COURT another one to consider with the weight swing on Bon Aurum.
Tip: He's Our Rokki
Race 10 - Mitsubishi Electric Schillachi Stakes 1100m
Great race and I count five or six legitimate winning chances.
FLAMBERGE looks well placed here having won the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate first up over this course and distance last prep. He's now joined the Weir stable and has a record of 4 wins and 3 placings from 7 starts when first up. He's also got 3 wins and 2 placings from 6 starts over this course and distance, and from barrier 4 he should get every chance. Looks good value at $8.
FELL SWOOP won at Group 2 level last prep and finished 2nd to Chautauqua in the TJ Smith. He also ran 2nd in the Oakleigh Plate behind Flamberge, albeit at a far lower weight. He can run a big race fresh with Bowman in the saddle.
DOTHRAKI was huge first up in Sydney and has only ever missed a place once when 2nd up so expect him to be thereabouts.
MALAGUERRA resumes for his new stable, which in my opinion is worse than where he was, but he still is undefeated first up and proved last prep that he is a genuine Group 1 horse. Keep him safe.
The money has all been for STAR TURN, who is the only three-year-old in the field. He ran a very game second to Astern last start, and we know the ability Astern has. He gets in with just 53kg under WFA conditions and it wouldn't surprise anyone to see him win, but I'm always cautious of 3YO's tackling Open WFA horses for the first time. Mind you, I said the same thing last week about Extreme Choice!
Tip: Flamberge EW
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
