The final two Group 1 feature races of the Melbourne Spring Carnival headline 2023 Thousand Guineas Day at Caulfield.
I’ve dug deep into the form of every galloper engaged in all ten races, and you can find all of my thoughts and 2023 Thousand Guineas Day Tips below.
Sharp EIT Handicap (1800m) – 12:20pm AEDT
I have no doubt that the resuming Group 1 winner Dunkel is the class horse of this field, but Ain’tnodeeldun is in career-best form, and boasts a key fitness edge heading into this.
Ain’tnodeeldun returned to winning form second-up at The Valley back in September, and he is since undefeated, recording consecutive wins at Sandown and in the Group 3 JRA Cup since.
He has been racing extremely well with his runs spaced, and the 1800m this week looks ideal for him.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Ain’tnodeeldun
MRC Foundation Handicap (1400m) – 12:50pm AEDT
Meridius will take plenty of improvement into his second campaign start at Caulfield on Saturday, and I thought it looked a really nice race for him.
The Extreme Choice gelding has returned some fine performances during his eleven career starts, and win over 1400m at Flemington most notably, last time in.
His resuming effort at Geelong last month was decent, and with natural improvement, getting out to 1400m this week, I think he can win.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Meridius
Bravo Damien Oliver (1600m) – 1:25pm AEDT
Rhinoceros has returned to really nice form this time in, and I thought that this was really nice placement from the team again.
The Vadamos gelding returned to winning form at Flemington back in September, and after finishing midfield in BM80 company here at Caulfield last month, he’s since unbeaten, recording consecutive wins on Moe Cup Day, and in the Neds Peninsula Cup.
He’s hard fit, a mile is ideal, and he is drawn to receive every chance.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Rhinoceros
Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) – 2pm AEDT
She faces anther rise in class, but Material Dreams puts her unbeaten record on the line at Caulfield on Saturday, and I think that this is the perfect black type test for her.
Material Dreams stamped herself as one to watch by winning easily on debut at Moe back in May, and she went to the paddock after winning again at Wodonga.
Having returned to beat home an open field at Bendigo earlier this month, she’s open to plenty of improvement, and I think she’ll relish a return to three-year-old fillies’ company.
Suggested Bet: No. 6 Material Dream
Listed Neds Village Stakes (1100m) – 2:35pm AEDT
South Australian Sghirripa gets his chance in Melbourne black type company this week, and the Neds Village Stakes does looks winnable.
The Lonhro gelding has been in excellent form this year, and he recorded consecutive wins at Morphettville back in autumn before finishing fourth, beaten less than a length by Legio Ten at Flemington.
He’s unbeaten in two stars back this time, both at Morphettville, and gets into this race well under the conditions.
Suggested Bet: No. 12 Sghirripa
Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1400m) – 3:10pm AEDT
Its trip and position in the Spring Carnival landscape may have changed, but the quality of the Blue Sapphire Stakes might have only improved!
Some talented three-year-olds have accepted into the 2023 Blue Sapphire Stakes field, including Brave Mead.
Brave Mead has been a model of consistency since debuting, and he built towards a lovely third-up win here at Caulfield on Cup Day.
Having last finished third, beaten just over a length in the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day, the drop back to 1400m should prove ideal, while he is in peak condition for this contest.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Brave Mead
Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) – 3:45pm AEDT
This is an open edition of the Thousand Guineas, and one of the strongest in recent memory.
I’ve put the undefeated Skybird on top, but check out my full race preview and 2023 Thousand Guineas Tips RIGHT HERE.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Skybird
Group 1 Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) – 4:25pm AEDT
The new position of the Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes has also led to an exciting field accepting, and this will be the final Group 1 feature race of this Melbourne Spring Carnival.
I’ve put Kiwi raider, Skew Wiff, on top, but check out my full race preview and complete 2023 Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Tips RIGHT HERE.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Skew Wiff
Victorian Country Cups Final (2000m) – 5:05pm AEDT
Brayden Star is the one for me in the penultimate race on Thousand Guineas Day.
The Twilight Son entire has been up and racing for some time, but he has missed placing only once in his last twelve trips to the races, and that was in the Group 2 Neds Herbert Power.
Since that race, he was unlucky not to win the Bendigo Cup, and this is a drop in class from that race.
With even luck from the good draw, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Brayden Star
Group 3 Neds How Now Stakes (1200m) – 5:40pm AEDT
She Dances has gone to another level this time, and the Neds How Now Stakes is another lovely race for her.
The Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained mare finished midfield in BM100 company here first-up in September, but she has since recording victories in the Group 3 Northwood Plume and the Listed Chautauqua Stakes.
I like that she is a few weeks between runs, and jockey Linda Meech knows her extremely well.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 She Dances
