Spring is in the air as group 1 racing returns to Caulfield this Saturday afternoon with the running of the Memsie Stakes.
Plenty of quality horses will kick start their spring campaigns and our full 2021 Memsie Stakes Day Preview can be found below.
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – Benchmark 78 Handicap (2000m)
I have a bit of an opinion about the Australian Bloodstock horse Fifth Position but he has tested the patience of plenty of punters over his career.
He has been placed in 11 of 23 career starts for just three wins but he was excellent when scoring narrowly at Flemington last time out.
Race 2 – Benchmark 90 Handicap (1400m)
Lady Of Honour was disappointing when resuming at Caulfield two weeks ago but that run is worth forgiving.
She has won three of five so far in her short career including the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes at this track and distance back in November 2021.
She also drops 4kg on her first up effort!
Race 3 – Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m)
Danaustar put together two impressive wins before running into one better at Sandown last time out.
The Maher and Eustace trained gelding sped out to the lead on the heavy track before the smart El Rocko went passed him.
A month in between runs is ideal as is the 1400m.
Race 4 – Open Handicap (1400m)
Peter Moody has taken over kiwi gelding I Wish I Win who has been placed in all but one of his nine career starts.
He was last seen finishing third at Group 1 level at Trentham and he has been gelded since his last prep.
He’s proven on all surfaces and Jamie Kah steers from barrier six.
Race 5 – Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m)
It was really hard not to get carried away with Aft Cabin when he won at Sandown by six lengths at just his second start two weeks ago.
It was only a mid week maiden but the son of Astern put them away in just a few short strides and was eased down on the line.
This is a much tougher task but he will have a significant fitness edge on a lot of these three-year-olds who are resuming and Jamie Kah will get a nice run in transit from barrier three.
Race 6 – Group 3 The McCafe 1100 Stakes (1100m)
Generation is a lightly raced four year old with plenty of upside and he has been unplaced just once in nine career starts.
The son of Snitzel was beaten two lengths in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at The Valley back in March and failed in his only race during the spring on a heavy track in the Doomben 10,000.
We last saw Not An Option in the Group 1 The Goodwood where he was beaten 3.7 lengths and he is over the odds in this race at $31 considering his four wins from seven starts first up from a spell.
He has had a jump out win leading into this first up assignment and 1100m looks ideal.
Race 7 – Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m)
Graceful Girl is a lightly raced mare with an enormous turn of foot which was evident in her dominant win in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes in November last year.
She was dead last on the turn but made up significant ground in a short amount of time and she ran right through the line to score by almost three lengths.
I’m really excited to see her come to the east coast for the spring and although she will only improve on what she produces first up, I think she is a great betting proposition.
Race 8 – Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m)
Spring is in the air and this is a cracking edition of the Group 1 Memsie Stakes.
Cascadian was last seen when winning the All Aged Stakes at Randwick in April and a recent trial in behind Anamoe suggests he could run a race fresh.
Tofane finished second behind Cascadian in that race and she also looks over the odds first up.
The three-time Group 1 winner has a good record over 1400m at Caulfield and she has drawn perfectly in barrier three.
Race 9 – Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m)
Despite being a five year old gelding, Emissary has started just 11 times and has been placed in seven of those.
He earned a shot at the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes after back to back placings at Group level during the autumn and although he was well beaten, he simply didn’t handle the heavy track.
This looks a really nice race for him to resume in and he will have the benefit of three jump outs in the lead up to this first up assignment.