A quality field of gallopers will line up over the mile on Saturday as the time-honoured Group 1 Toorak Handicap is won and run at Caulfield.
The Toorak is always one of the key highlights of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, and with $500,000 in prize money on offer, this year’s field shapes up to be unlike any other.
Craig Williams will be looking to win the Toorak for the second straight year as he saddles the favourite Buffalo River, while the lightning quick Junipal is in search of a hat-trick under John Allen.
We’ve cast our eye over all 15 chances in our 2020 Toorak Handicap tips below!
Mr Quickie
Mr Quickie has found the placings in two of his last three starts after finishing runner-up behind Behemoth two runs back in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m).
The form out of that race reads well for the son of Shamus Award, although he will need to improve on his last start seventh in the Underwood Stakes behind Russian Camelot.
Jamie Kah jumps on board for the first time and just might prove the trick if the rain stays away.
Cascadian
Cascadian had excuses in his third run back from a spell when 11 of 16 in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago.
The Godolphin six-year-old was held up coming down the straight and simply couldn’t shift off the fence in what was a total forgive run.
Cascadian showed plenty of encouraging signs in his two starts prior running fourth in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes and the Memsie. He appears well-suited here racing over the mile and rates as a serious winning hope.
So Si Bon
So Si Bon appears tested based on his latest effort when dead last in the Underwood Stakes behind Russian Camelot.
The seven-year-old finished third over the mile in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington two runs back where he beat home Master of Wine but is still pegged to struggle from the wide draw.
I Am Superman
I Am Superman can make it a hat-trick on Saturday after winning back-to-back starts in both Melbourne and Sydney.
The Snowden-trained five-year-old won over the 1400m first-up at Caulfield back in August before going one better in the Group 2 Shannon Stakes over a little further at Rosehill a fortnight ago.
The Irish import has won over the mile previously and looks a good bet in exotics.
Superstorm
Superstorm is on the short backup after finding no luck in last week’s Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.
The son of Sebring may have gotten a little too far back in the run but still managed to catch the eye hitting the line for seventh out wide.
If William Pike can offset the wide gate, the pair look a decent each-way bet stepping back to the mile from the 2000m.
Chief Ironside
Chief Ironside is having his second run back from a spell after finding the placings in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle last month.
Kris Lees’ British raider looked the winner at one point before Rock beat him home – a form line that reads well after the latter ran seventh in last weeks Epsom Handicap.
With a trial in between runs, Chief Ironside makes a decent case for a place.
Mandela Effect
Mandela Effect strips fitter for his second run back from a spell when nine of 16 in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
The Tasmanian six-year-old should be better for that effort in what was just his first run at Group 1 level. Three wins over the mile also stand out on the form sheet.
Reykjavik
Reykjavik gets his second look at a Group 1 after finding the line strongly for fifth in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
He’s a two-time winner over the mile, but Dean Yendall finds himself with work to do from the wide gate.
Achernar Star
Achernar Star left a lot to be desired in his first-up run when dead last in the Listed Chandler Macleod (1200m) at Moonee Valley last month.
He then went on to show steady improvement when fourth in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and has also found the placings in four of his five runs third-up.
Jockey Jamie Mott should have options from barrier 1, so the pair could be worth a shout in exotics.
Sikandarabad
Sikandarabad won the Coffs Cup over the mile back in August before running second in the Group 3 Premier Cup at Rosehill over further.
He struggled to replicate that form in his last start in the Group 3 Kingston Town at Randwick and appears tested again at this level.
Sircconi
Sircconi found the placings in back-to-back starts at Caulfield before running fourth behind Humidor over the mile at Moonee Valley in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes.
The six-year-old rarely runs a bad race at this venue and should prove tough to run down if Daniel Stackhouse can establish a spot up forward.
Age of Chivalry
Age of Chivalry was unlucky not to score first-up when beaten by Viridine in the Listed Regal Roller over 1200m.
The New Zealander ran into the money three weeks later in the Listed Chandler Macleod at The Valley before finding things a little tougher at Group 1 level in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
He’s raced only once over the mile and won’t find this any easier.
Junipal
Junipal looks a live chance to score his hat-trick after winning back-to-back starts at Moonee Valley and Caulfield.
This is a significant step up in class for the Maher and Eustace-trained five-year-old, but he has to be taken seriously with four wins to his name over the mile.
Harlech
Harlech struggled in his Australian debut finishing 14 of 16 in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes last month.
He has form around Probabeel back home in New Zealand, but would need to improve considerably to be a factor.
Buffalo River
Buffalo River is a proven second-up performer where he’s won two from three starts previously.
The Michael Moroney five-year-old was tough to fault in his return to the races a fortnight ago where he was beaten by only half a length to a rock-hard fit Windstorm over the 1400m.
Saturday will mark Buffalo River’s first start at Group 1 level, but with the red-hot Craig Williams in the saddle, he should take a power of beating from the soft draw.
Toorak Handicap Tip
15. Buffalo River at $4.00