The Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes is the feature event this Saturday at Caulfield. With a host of VOBIS events offering massive prizemoney, all eyes are on the heath! In Sydney, the premiership race heats up at Royal Randwick. Find out who our experts are expecting to take home the cash.
Caulfield Race 6
#4 Prinzerro
Prinzerro is knocking on the door. All runs this preparation have been full of merit, and I suspect the Pierro gelding is ready to produce a peak performance on Saturday. The talented three-year-old should be rock-hard fit at this campaign stage, and he looks perfectly drawn in a middle gate. He represents great each-way value.
Bossy Nic will have supporters after a consistent preparation to date. The Nicconi filly hasn’t put a foot wrong all spell, and I suspect she still has further improvement to come. The 3kg apprentice claim is advantageous, and she has been well supported since markets opened. Super honest!
Suggested Bet: Prinzerro @ $5.00
Caulfield RACE 7
#2 Recommendation
Recommendation will start a long odds-on favourite. His seven-length victory last start was outrageous, and he meets similar opposition here. The extra 100m won’t cause any issues on Saturday, and I suspect he will roll forward from a perfect inside draw. The Blake Shinn and Ciaron Maher combination must respected, and I expect the enigmatic four-year-old to be aimed at some lofty races during the upcoming spring. Hard to toss!
Semillion is racing well at present. The Shalaa gelding was a brilliant winner at Newcastle three starts ago, and he has been game in defeat since at Randwick and Flemington, respectively. The rising five-year-old looks well-placed in this company, and I suspect the tight-turning Caulfield circuit will suit his racing pattern and style. Too consistent to dismiss.
Suggested Bet: Recommendation @ $1.50
#1 Duke De Sessa
Duke De Sessa produced a teasing effort fresh at Flemington. The Lope De Vega gelding came home strongly from the tail, and he put the writing on the wall for a big spring preparation ahead. He is a winner second-up previously, and his record at the distance must be respected. His best form reads incredibly well for this event, and the 3kg apprentice claim puts him into all winning conversations. Will be thereabouts.
Jimmy The Bear got the gorilla off his back at his latest outing in the Mildura Cup. The Jimmy Creed gelding was starting to become a punter’s foe, and he kept finding one or two better combatants on race day. His record at the track and distance speaks volumes, and he should get a dream run in transit from barrier two. His overall winning record is the primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Duke De Sessa $7.50
Caulfield Race 9
#4 Tijuana
Tijuana was braver than Mel Gibson last start at Randwick. He covered more ground than the early settlers in transit and was only nabbed in the shadows. I suspect he holds a fitness edge on his rivals after a solid preparation, and if he can find some cover from the awkward gate, I expect him to figure in the finish. He needs to put another win on the board!
Elouyou will start a short price favourite after a near faultless campaign. The So You Think gelding produced a brilliant last-start victory at Rosehill after a host of narrow and frustrating defeats at Sandown and Flemington, respectively. The current track conditions play into his favour, and the avalanche of early money indicates another bold showing. The car park draw is the primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Tijuana @ $16.00
Royal Randwick Race 7
#4 Fleetwood
Fleetwood performed well at his latest outing at stakes level. The start before he stayed in the barriers and favourite punters were left hot under the collar. The three-year-old Encryption gelding is very progressive, and he looks extremely hard to bet, meeting easier opposition. Barrier four will allow the big boy to have a soft run throughout, and if he sees daylight before they climb the famous Randwick Rise, I expect him to prove too strong late.
Shezanalister can capitalise if Fleetwood has an off day or encounters traffic issues during the run home. The Star Turn mare is building a terrific career record early doors, and she was an impressive fresh winner at Randwick. I am unsure if an inside draw will compliment her racing pattern and style, and she may need the jaws of life to get off the dulex. Can threaten with the right run in transit.
Suggested Bet: Fleetwood @ $2.10
Royal Randwick Race 8
#4 Kerguelen
Kerguelen has started his career in fine style. The Lonhro gelding has been victorious on two out of three occasions, and he has been well-supported since acceptance to add another victory to his collection. The 1300m is ideal at this stage of his preparation, and I suspect he will occupy the box seat throughout from the inside draw. The class rise is his biggest obstacle.
Vivy Air debuts for the mighty Ciaron Maher stable. The promising Hellbent filly has turned heads recently at the barrier trials, and she looks well-placed in this company. I suspect lofty spring goals are on the radar, and she has been absolutely smashed since markets opened. The 1300m might be too sharp, and I would prefer to promote her deeper into the campaign over further.
Suggested Bet: Kerguelen @ $2.60
