Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Day is upon us as The Wizard of Odds goes through his best bets ahead of a massive weekend of Group 1 racing.
The weight swing in favour of Beau Rossa looks to have him well on the way to winning the feature event, but there may be a runner to knock him off!
Caulfield race 2
#5 Wisdom of Water
Wisdom of Water was specked in the market when resuming in the McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley last start.
The Annabel Neasham-trained four-year-old entire looked to be bolting at the point of corner, but had no where to go until the race was effectively over and the bird had flown.
He looks to be a horse who needs clear galloping room to feel comfortable and he should be able to find his rhythm in the run from the barrier eight.
Expecing Jye Mcneil to surge forward and sit outside likely leader Chicago Cub who he can put pay to as they corner into the straight.
Looks very hard to beat.
Suggested Bet: Wisdom of Water win at $3.9
Caulfield Race 3
#3 Morioka
A very intriguing runner here in Morioka as she comes into this Thousand Guineas Prelude having yet to win a race.
Chris Waller must have a very high opinion of this three-year-old filly and it must be said her resuming run was actually quite nice and has her well placed to run well here.
She was first-up over 1300 metres after having two trials to tune her up for this campaign and, despite being a beaten $1.9 commodity, she has a stack of improvement to come from a fitness point of view.
What she lacks for in class compared to the top weight and favourite Heresy, she makes up for with a solid fitness base over further distance which is what you need in these tough 1400-metre events for juveniles.
Barrier one is going to afford her a beautiful run camped in behind the leaders and we will just need Craig Williams to find the gaps in the home straight to be running a huge race at each-way odds.
Suggested Bet: Morioka each-way at $5.5 the win and $2 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta 1, 3/ 1, 2, 3, 6, 7/ 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8
Caulfield Race 8
#4 Beau Rossa & #17 I'm Thunderstruck
Going for a two horse play in Sir Rupert Clarke with Beau Rossa and emergency runner I’m Thunderstruck.
We will start with Beau Rossa who gets a weight swing advantage over Behemoth having only been beaten a quarter-of-a-length in the Memsie Stakes at weight-for-age level last start.
The Will Clarken-trained galloper looks much better off under handicap conditions and he will enjoy it if, as predicted, the rain does come given his impressive wet track record.
He has had four starts on soft or heavy ground for two wins and a placing.
Linda Meech is going to give him an economical run from barrier one as she camps him in behind the tail of the leading quartet.
The other runner to focus on is I’m Thunderstruck who will need a scratching to find his way into race.
The OTI-owned Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) gelding has put together a great patch of form over his last four and would get in on the minimum weight should he run.
He is a Group 1 horse in the making and will handle the wet conditions.
Suggested Bets:
Beau Rossa win at $4.6.
I’m Thunderstruck each-way at $7.5 the win and $2.6 the place
Caulfield Race 9
#3 Bella Nipotina
Bella Nioptina has been going super since joining the Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace stable and should have made it two wins in a row last start.
She was the victim of ‘death by inside barrier’ at Moonee Valley a fortnight ago after being clammed up and racing restricted room over 1200 metres in Chautauqua Stakes.
The four-year-old mare draws a middle barrier for this race and that is going to suit her much better and should see her hit the home straight at full bore rather than momentum killing run of last start.
She is a proven winner at the track and clearly does her best racing here.
Making her the best of the day.
Suggested Bet: Bella Nipotina win at $4.8
