Spring is just around the corner and the good racing is just starting to warm up in Melbourne, and it starts this Saturday at Caulfield with the running of the $150,000 Group lll Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) where speedy three year old Lord Of The Sky is all the rage after his dominant win in the Sir John Monash three weeks back.

Special Offer: $250 FREE BET – Sportsbet

Race One (12:50) : The Grand Hotel Frankston Handicap 1400m:

Back Me: Berlutti is on the quick back up from Sunday at Sale where he led all the way and scored an impressive maiden over Tan Tat Sun, a Moody galloper he ran behind two back here when they were third and fourth respectively, so the form looks excellent here, and he looked to handle the give in the ground last week quite comfortably.
Big Danger: Our Kaboom has to rate as a threat given he has strung together two impressive wins at his past two outings, the latest coming at Sportingbet Park where he was too nippy for his rivals. Has to go up an extra 100m, but does drop 1.5kg from that last start win and looks as if he’ll cop little pressure on the speed.
Roughie: Tony McEvoy brings Affirmation to Melbourne after an eye catching first up triumph on the Morphettville Parks circuit, beating home Manhattan Prince, who ran well last Saturday. it’s difficult to follow that form with confidence given the Parks circuit can be tricky, but you can follow the McEvoy lead with confidence.

Race Two (13:25) : Myrtle Lineham Centenary Handicap 1400m:

Back Me: Yesterday’s Songs for me here in what looks to be a pretty strong race. Caught the eye on debut with a fast finishing third to Street Allure (subsequent city winner) at Bendigo, then went Sportingbet Park and absolutely toyed with them, winning by over five lengths without being fully extended. Over six weeks between runs, but did look sharp in a recent Flemington jumpout. Horse to beat for mine.
Big Danger: There is plenty to like about the Jason Warren trained Baron Archer. He showed a nice turn of foot to win on debut at Cranbourne, then went to Sportingbet Park and was highly impressive, coming from the rear to swoop past his rivals despite wanting to lay in. He looks to have plenty of upside and draws to sit much closer to the tempo.
Roughie: Amovatio strung together two impressive wins in Sydney before coming here three weeks ago where he didn’t have the greatest amount of luck, getting caught out the back and then getting badly checked and held up on the turn when Cartwright was making his move. Jye McNeil takes over and he has been in excellent form of late.

Race Three (14:00) : Mypunter.com.au 2400m:

Back Me: Self Sense comes into this off the back of two strong wins over shorter distances, the first of those coming over 1900m at Traralgon against the older horses, then coming here and proving too gritty for his rivals over the 2000m. He toughed it out very strongly to win here, so I have no qualms about him running 2400m. He looks the safe way to go.
Big Danger: Former kiwi Pharrell has had three runs in Australia and has been quite solid each. Worked home strongly first up at Moe, then was outgunned late by Refulgent at Flemington before coming here and sticking on well for third to Self Sense. No weight pull from that run, but does get the barrier advantage over Self Sense and will do less early work, so don’t be surprised to see this son of King’s Chapel turning the tables.
Roughie: A Mildura maiden win probably isn’t the ideal last start form you’d want heading into a Saturday metro race, but the arrogance of the win by Wanna Dance, along with his previous solid city form, warrants him to be considered. The Mildura win might have only carried a two length margin, but Yendall couldn’t have ridden him more arrogantly. Has upside and draws well.

Race Four (14:35) : Chris Flavelle Handicap 1200m:

Back Me: Pretty thin mares race, so I think class will come to the fore, and that lies near the top of the field thanks to Kristy Lee. She has come back so well this time in, winning twice and finishing runner up twice from four runs this time in. Last start she loomed as the winner, but again wanted to duck in and was swallowed up late by I’ve Got The Looks. That mare will go around as a leading player in Sydney, so the form does read well, and perhaps coming to Melbourne will help her get rid of her wayward ways. If she runs truly, she’ll go very close.
Big Danger: Aces And Angels was terribly unlucky when racing here three weeks back, getting badly held up behind the tiring leader and pretty much going to the line under a hold when fifth to Bloomingdale Miss. Again looks as if she’ll get the gun run just off the speed courtesy of Headless and Dashing Shadow, and with normal luck, she should be right in the finish.
Roughie: Former Queensland mare Doubtfilly made her Victorian debut for Danny O’Brien at Flemington on June 14 and savaged the line late when third to The Thief, then was simply just dreadful at her next outing behind Vain Queen, finishing near last, beaten ten lengths. Up to 1400m and away from the straight course of Flemington may assist an improvement.

 Special Offer 2: $250 FREE BET – Ladbrokes

Race Five (15:10) : Slickpix Bletchingly Stakes 1200m:

Back Me: I was a bit against Lord Of The Sky in the Sir John Monash, but after the way he went there, I’ll happily jump on the bandwagon. He was oh so impressive here three weeks back, leading from the time they jumped and never gave his rivals a look in. Meets arguably an inferior field here and really only bad luck will see him lose.
Big Danger: Le Bonsir tried his heart out when second to Lord Of The Sky in the Monash, then went to Flemington to contest the All Victorian Sprint Final and looked the winner, only to be nailed right on the peg by Nearest To Pin in a thrilling finish. Back to WFA here, so meets his Flemington conqueror much better at the weights and gets back to his home track. Should be in the money, but very much doubt he’ll beat the top tip.
Roughie: Ready To Rip hasn’t been seen since finishing midfield in the Straight Six at Flemington behind Lonhspresso. Before that he was really good at Group l level in the Goodwood behind Smokin’ Joey, so the form is there, as is the class, along with being on his home track and being produced fresh, where he has a fabulous record.

Race Six (15:45) : Champagne Pommery Masters Handicap 1200m:

Back Me: Copper comes to Sydney after finishing first past the post at Warwick Farm, before losing the race on protest to Rebel Dancer in somewhat of a controversial decision. Her two runs prior to that, she didn’t have a great deal of luck, and that was after an eight length maiden win at Wyong. Like the fact she has been switched to the Melbourne stable and she strikes a winnable race.
Big Danger: Jemerica has been in work for nearly the whole of 2014 but is still racing quite well, and showed that a win isn’t too far away with a closing second to Thiamandi over the 1100m here three weeks back. That horse will go around as a leading chance in a stakes race in Adelaide later on in the day, so the form does read well, and the rise to 1200m looks ideal.
Roughie: Paddy’s Gem tried very hard first up at Sportingbet Park, carrying 58kg on a slow track, hitting the front 150m from home only to be bloused late by Spirit Of Heaven, a previous blacktype performer. Drops 6.5kg from that outing, gun draw and fitter. She definitely looks a threat.

Race Seven (16:20) : VOBIS Gold Heath 1800m:

Back Me: The Terricks was put to sleep on the rail in the Silver Bowl Final and got held up behind the tired leaders before getting into the clear 250m out and really attacking the line late for third. Extra furlong helps and does have a bit of upside. Wide barrier is also a big tick given it’ll allow him to wind up.
Big Danger: Artie’s Shore was another who powered home well from the back in the Silver Bowl, running fourth. He was bloused for third by The Terricks given that horse had a cheap run on the rail. Prior to that, his two runs this time in have been pretty good and he did contest the Australian Guineas in the Autumn, so the class is there, and the rise to 1800m should be a massive advantage.
Roughie: Word of Mouth showed a nice turn of foot on the turn here three weeks back and loomed as the winner as they straightened up, but he just couldn’t quite outstay Self Sense, who I am keen on earlier on in the day. Back to 1800m and set weights should see him prove hard to beat.

Special Offer 3: $500 FREE BET – Luxbet

Race Eight (16:55) : Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (90) 1800m:

Back Me: No reason to jump off Bagman, perhaps even another couple of reasons to jump on if you haven’t already. He has ran through the line very strongly at his past two, both in unsuitable races behind Scream Machine and I’m Imposing respectively. Comes back to Melbourne and Caulfield, and the last time he ran here was in 2012 when a narrow second to Lightinthenite in the David Jones Cup on Caulfield Cup Day. That form does look very strong for this race.
Big Danger: Rugged Cross, a stablemate of the top tip, also returns to Melbourne after a couple of poor runs up north. I’m prepared to forgive him for his past couple, because I believe he is a several length better horse when racing in Melbourne. Don’t sack him if you have been on his back in recent times.
Roughie: Morant wasn’t too bad I thought in the Sir John Monash given he was out the back in a leader dominated event, and he ran through the line quite well. Came back to this level last week at Flemington and really savaged the line late for third to Free Of Doubt, beaten a long neck in a three way finish. Quickly up to 1800m now, but gets the claim for Jye McNeil and generally saves his best for Caulfield.

DEPOSIT SMALL BET BIG

Special Offer 1: Deposit $10 BET with $40 – Luxbet

Special Offer 2: Deposit $30 BET with $130 – Centrebet

Special Offer 3: Deposit $25 BET with $100 – Ladbrokes (use code: TWT75FREE)

Best Bet: Race Three Number 14 Self Sense

Next Best: Race Five Number 5 Lord Of The Sky

Value Bet: Race Seven Number 12 The Terricks

Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):

Leg One: 5

Leg Two: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10

Leg Three: 1, 2, 4, 5

Leg Four: 1, 5, 7, 8, 9

$50 Investment = 41.66% of the dividend if successful.

We recommend BET365 for all Quadrella punters. BET365 guarantee the best value on all Quadrella’s as they pay out on the best tote, meaning you get the best dividend across VIC, NSW and TATTS on every meeting every day. Get a $200 FREE BET at BET365 for a limited time HERE.

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

News:

Daniel Moor knows he will see the back of Lord Of The Sky early in the Bletchingly Stakes but the jockey isn’t prepared to concede the Caulfield feature to the odds-on favourite.

Moor will continue his partnership with the Mick Price-trained Le Bonsir in the $150,000 Group Three race after riding the consistent sprinter at his last two runs, including his second to Lord Of The Sky in the Sir John Monash Stakes on July 5.

Le Bonsir finished 4-1/2 lengths behind Lord Of The Sky in the Monash over 1100m but Moor says an extra 100m gives his mount a chance of beating the $1.55 favourite on Saturday.

Lord Of The Sky enjoyed a comfortable lead before dashing clear at their previous meeting but Moor hopes the Robbie Laing-trained colt has a tougher task to find the front in his latest outing.

“It’s Lord Of The Sky’s first try at the six furlongs (1200m). I don’t think they’ll be as explosive out of the gates and bustle him forward straight away,” Moor said.

“He’s drawn five and I’ve drawn ideally in one. We’ll just land in the right spot not using any petrol.

“If there is a chink in his armour, then we’ll be right on his back and ready to take advantage.”

Le Bonsir has not won in 14 starts on tracks rated worse than dead but the Group One-placed galloper has missed a place once in four runs on slow ground.

Moor said Le Bonsir lacks Lord Of The Sky’s dynamic speed but the six-year-old’s consistency will ensure he was in the finish in every race he contests.

“I know I’m on the honest and genuine horse in the race and what he lacks in Group-class ability he makes it up in heart,” Moor said.

Lord Of The Sky will attempt to become the first horse to complete the Monash and Bletchingly Stakes double since Rubitano in 2002.