Caulfield will play host to the first Group 1 of the year this Saturday, the C.F. Orr Stakes.
Eight of the nine races are of black-type, and our best bets for the entire program can be found below.
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – 12:40pm – The Big Screen Company Handicap (1400m)
Fundraiser presents third-up looking to improve on his latest effort at The Valley when third to a good horse in High ’n’ Dry.
The son of Helmet led for most of the way before a couple went past him out wide, a run that suggested he’ll appreciate getting back to 1400m.
There was a good gap to fourth that day and he maps to get back behind the speed this time from barrier 1. Jye McNeil has won him previously and the pair should be going close.
Race 2 – 1:15pm – Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m)
Spirit Of Gaylard turned into a nice horse for Mitchell Freedman during the spring and he appears to be in for another good prep.
The lightly-raced three-year-old won his maiden at Bendigo first-up over 1500m last October, and then backed that up with a Stakes win two starts later at Flemington over 1800m.
He won a trial at Geelong by a length last month and gets Jordan Childs back in the saddle, who has won twice previously aboard. He’ll definitely be wanting further, but barrier 5 should see him get a lovely run in behind the speed in the Autumn Stakes.
Race 3 – 1:50pm – Neds Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m)
Counttheheadlights was ultra impressive on debut at The Valley, stalking the speed and letting down beautifully out side to win by over a length.
He clocked the 10th fastest 400-200m split of the meeting that day, so back to 1100m does look ideal for him in his second run back.
Ben Allen has retained the ride, and with plenty of speed engaged, it wouldn’t be surprising if the pair roll forward early in the Blue Diamond Prelude for colts and geldings.
Race 4 – 2:25pm – Neds Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (1100m)
Latizia was an impressive winner on debut at Flemington on New Year’s Day and is worth forgiving on her last-start third in the Preview a couple of weeks ago.
The Maher and Eustace-trained filly was trapped three-wide in transit and had little left to give over the final 100m as a result.
She’s drawn poorly again in barrier 13 for the Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies), but if John Allen has learned his lesson from last time, I’m confident the pair can atone.
Race 5 – 3:05pm – Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m)
Heresy doesn’t win out of turn, but she has held her own in much tougher races than the Kevin Hayes Stakes recently.
The daughter of Street Boss was a narrow second to Bon’s A Pearla in the Group 2 Tranquil Star at Caulfield during the spring and turned in a game effort two starts later at The Valley before being sent back to the paddock.
The Godolphin filly is a dual acceptor, but if she lines up here instead of Sydney, she should be tough to beat with a decent record at Caulfield to her name.
Race 6 – 3:45pm – Group 3 T.S. Carlyon Cup (1600m)
Tough race to line up with most of these fresh first-up in the TS Carlyon Cup.
Shared Ambition always races well here at Caulfield and has looked in pretty good order at the trials recently.
The Chris Waller-trained six-year-old has won fresh previously, and while he’s likely looking for further, he has won over the mile in the past too.
Craig Williams steers from barrier 8 and this looks a winnable race for the pair.
Race 7 – 4:25pm – Group 2 McCafe Rubiton Stakes (1100m)
Artorious has burned punters on more than one occasion, but he does look well-placed in the Rubiton Stakes.
The son of Flying Artie proved during the spring that he is better suited as a sprinter, and that was certainly the case when he bolted in late for third in the Coolmore at Flemington behind Home Affairs.
He’s ran okay first-up in the past, and if Mark Zahra can get him to settle in the run, he’ll be strong late.
Race 8 – 5:05pm – Group 1 Neds C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m)
Sinawann won exceptionally well second-up in the spring and a repeat effort here in the feature would not surprise.
The British raider out of the Freedman stable beat home I Am Superman to win his Australian maiden in the Group 3 Keith Heffernan over the track and trip, and has since resumed to run a very respectable second in the Australia Stakes a fortnight ago at The Valley.
Craig Williams has been the man responsible for both runs and I suspect he’ll look to save his best for late.
This horse has some good form around some of the world’s top gallopers, and with a few of these resuming and likely in need of the run, I think his fitness will take him a long way.
Race 9 – 5:40pm – Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m)
Impossible to fault Probabeel here as the short-priced favourite.
This girl was enormous during the spring, stepping up to weight-for-age for the first time where she won the Caulfield Stakes and then ran fifth in the Cox Plate.
She’s clearly got a class edge over the rest of this field, and with three wins to her name first-up and Brett Pebble back in the saddle, this looks like an ideal spot for her to begin her autumn campaign.
