Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for racing at Caulfield on Saturday, January 5th.
We’ve got nine races on a Good 4 track with the rail in the True position.
Check out our betting tips for every race on the card below!
CAULFIELD RACING TIPS
Best Bet: Race 2 Cincinnati Red
Best Value Bet: Race 9 Barthelona / Belwazi
RACE 1
Not a big betting race to start. Du Well has been good in two victories this preparation at Mornington and then Sandown. Should land in a prominent position in the run and once again looks hard to beat. Vogue Empress could be the value at around $8.00. This Weir-trained runner saluted first up at Werribee in a maiden but she did it in good style and runners from this stable often measure up in town on the back of successes in the country.
Value: Vogue Empress $8.00
RACE 2
Cincinnati Red looks one of the best bets of the day. She trounced her rivals first up at Geelong and has followed that with two very good placings. Two starts ago she sat wide without cover when beaten half-a-length at Sandown and last start she came from last to be beaten less than a length over 1400m at Flemington. Leading jockey Mark Zahra takes over from apprentice Michael Poy today and she should be right in the finish. Expect sharp improvement from Camilla Lucinda third up, while Craig Williams takes another ride for Peter Chow on Leila’s Star who can be competitive after some solid recent performances. Sunquest will be thereabouts, Seattle Park the blowout fresh.
RACE 3
Kaplumpich looks much better suited today than what he was last start in this grade when carrying 59kg from barrier 10. He finished off well to run 3rd on that occasion and should get his chance to bounce back to the winner’s circle with 56kg from barrier 5 today. We should see him much more forward in the run and that puts him within striking distance. The other Weir runner, More Bricks, comes into this off a luckless run at Morphettville last time out, where he was held up basically the entire straight. Gets in nice and light here as a three-year-old taking on the older horses with a claim for Lachlan King. Magnesium Rose was good first up but might just be even better suited next start. Williams’ booking is a good indication she might be ready to go though. Moor Wanted is in good form and draws for a good run from the inside gate.
RACE 4
Three main chances I’m interested in here. Shokora won to starts ago at the Valley, defeating Penny To Sell. Penny To Sell then turned the tables last start at Flemington but Shokora sat wide without cover the entire trip and was still only beaten 1.2L. Supre finished 2nd on that occasion so I think Shokora has her measure with even luck. She just needs a good ride from barrier 8. Crimson Tears won two on the bounce before running 3rd to Oceanex at the Valley last weekend. She’s on the quick back-up today and that formline behind Oceanex looks fairly reasonable. Draws to get the run of the race here and looks hard to beat. Zoophoria has won two on the bounce, both by 3L. Well up in grade here but can measure up in the form she’s in.
RACE 5
Good little race this. Fill The Flute is absolutely flying. She won her first four starts this preparation before a narrow defeat to Smart Coupe down the straight last start. If she can find a position on speed without too many issues from barrier 10, she’ll be in this for a long way. Miss Norway has won two from two to start her prep. Gets in light with the 3kg claim for Michael Poy and is sure to take some beating. I think the complete blowout in the race is Kyzamba. She probably needs the ground to be Soft (she’s 4/4 on Soft) which she’s unlikely to get but she’s undefeated from three previous second up runs. I’d be throwing her in everything at $41. Just Hifalutin is an each way chance first up.
RACE 6
Happy to stick with Silentz here, who saluted last start over the course and distance under similar circumstances. He’s really found his form now and he should be able to go on with the job despite having to give weight away once again. Black Sail gets a 3kg weight swing on Silentz but he hates winning so I’ll take him on at that price. Fastnet Latina pulled up lame last start but he’s had a few weeks off and comes back to the races with blinkers reapplied so he can improve.
RACE 7
Tough race with several chances. Critical Thinking has a great record at the track and continues to race in good form. He should find himself in a forward position from barrier 11 and the $6.50 available looks a reasonable each way bet. After going off the boil last prep, Civil Disobedience looks to have come back in good order. Should be ready to go close third up now. Lamborghini won over this distance at Flemington last start and even though he goes up in weight he should still be competitive from the good draw. Creedence wasn’t given the best ride by Williams last start and he might find a bit of trouble once again from barrier 1 but he’s going too well to leave out. With any luck he’ll be fighting out the finish. Tea For Choux is knocking on the door.
Critical Thinking E/W
$6.50
RACE 8
Some decent competition for Mastering here but there’s no Usain Bowler in the line up so if he repeats his last couple of performances, he should be winning this. He belted subsequent winner Exceltara first up at Kilmore and beat all bar one last time down the straight, so back on his home deck from the good draw he should be awfully hard to beat.
RACE 9
Competitive race to finish off with. Demolition has run 2nd in both starts back from a spell and looks ideally suited Williams on from the good draw third up from a spell. I’ll be saving on her and hoping one of a couple others at good odds can salute. Barthelona looks a nice price at double figure odds first up from a spell. He’s never finished out of the money first up from five attempts. His only start at this track and distance was a win and he draws barrier 1 for a nice run. Belwazi comes into this third up and he put the writing on the wall with a flashing light run at the Valley last start. Jockey booking is some concern for me but the horse is undefeated third up and will be charging home from the back given his wide draw. $34 looks a huge price. Enigman has won three from four first up and has Mark Zahra on board today so should be included in everything. I Am Someone bolted in last start and has obvious claims.
