The feature race at Caulfield on Saturday will be the running of the Bletchingly Stakes. Peter Moody won this race last year with Ready To Rip and this year, will be represented by Mr. Make Believe however, with this year’s charge finishing last at his past two starts, Moody chances of going back-to-back look slim. Zamorar, who ran second to Ready To Rip last year, is back again to see if he can go one better but he too finished last at his most recent start, the Sir John Monash. Winner of that race, Pago Rock is the early favourite ($3.80) for this race and rightly so given his good win last start.
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1. STANZOUT – G Boss (4) 58.5kgs
The soon to be 11yo returned to racing from an eight month spell with a meritorious effort at 100/1, to finish fourth behind Pago Rock in the Sir John Monash Stakes a fortnight ago (beaten 3 ¾) Obviously strips fitter for that run and whilst he has performed well in some good races since, his last win was back in August 2010. Has one win from twenty-starts at this track.
2. LAUNAY – S Arnold (3) 58.5kgs
Darley’s representative who will be presented here first up from a seventeen week spell. We haven’t seen the son of Lonhro at the public trails but that was also the case when first up last preparation where here finished ¾ length behind Jolie Blonde in the Listed Hareeba Stakes at Mornington. Drawn to get a nice run and from three starts this track/trip, has one win and two seconds.
3. SECOND EFFORT – B Rawiller (6) 58.5kgs
Mudlark who has won 9 from 11 starts on slow and heavy conditions so all involved with him will be hoping and praying for rain. He had dead conditions last start, first up off a ten week freshen-up, when he closed better than most for a 2 ½ length third behind Pago Rock in the Sir John Monash. Better again for the run and will be a threat here.
4. SEA LORD – S Baster (8) 58.5kgs
The winner of the Group 2 Australia Stakes last preparation, this son of Street Cry resumed under 58kgs in Open Company at Moonee Valley two starts back, finishing fourth of eight behind Dee Bee Nine. His only run since then resulted in a seventh of twelve in the Listed Vic Sprint at Flemington three weeks ago where he pulled up lame. Put together a very solid campaign last time in but his two runs back have been fair at best. His last four wins have all been at Moonee Valley.
5. PAGO ROCK – C Schofield (9) 58.5kgs
He made it three wins from four starts this time in with a strong victory in the Listed Sir Monash Stakes at this most recent start. It was a nice ride by Schofield who, from barrier one, positioned the son of Rock of Gilbraltar just off the pace before producing his run and winning by a length. He’s drawn a much more awkwardly gate here but recent form and overall strike rate cannot be ignored.
6. MR. MAKE BELIEVE – L Meech (10) 58.5kgs.
Resumed from a six month spell with a strong all-the-way win here at Caulfield three runs back, defeating Zedi Knight by 1 ½ lenghts. His two subsequent runs however, have been poor. He has race on the speed on both occasions before weakening over the concluding stages and finishing last in both a Moonee Valley Open class race and, at his most recent outing, the Listed Vic Sprint. Hard to seeing him being able to turn those runs around here and, from the widest gate.
7. ZAMORAR – J Mott (1) 58.5kgs
He gave Pago Rock 2.5kgs when running him to a nose two starts back at Flemington and, off the back of the effort, was installed as one of the favourites at 4/1, in his next and most recent start, the Sir John Monash Stakes. However the 4yo, who drew well in barrier two, was unable to utilise his gate and failed to make an impression from the tail of the field finishing last, beaten over eight lengths. Off his multiple placings last prep in Group Company and that run two starts ago, would be prepared to overlook last run at his current quote of $9.00.
8. TACKLEBERRY – D Moor (2) 58.5kgs.
4yo gelding trained by Allison Sheehan at Cranbourne who, in four runs in this preparation, has been consistent without winning. Each of those races has been a lesser grade race than this one and whilst he’ll go forward from his good draw, it’s hard to see him holding off the late challengers, especially under the WFA conditions.
9. ACADEMY JACK – N Hall (5) 58.5kgs.
This Dale Short trained galloper registered his fourth career win last start when successful in a BM78 at Mornington by a comfortably 1 ¾ lengths as 2/1 favourite. It was a solid victory last start but he faces a significant rise in grade here.
10. CAPTAIN FANCYPANTZ – J Todd (7) 58.5kgs.
Winner of three of his five starts this time in with victories at Kyneton and Bendigo in Restricted grade, along with a last start win at Mildura where he defeated Lonhreign by two lengths. Despite being in winning form, it’s a long way from Mildura to here in terms of both distance and class and he’s likely to struggle.
11. ELITE ELLE – M Zahra (11)
The only female in the race, this 3yo filly trained by Tony Vasil, held on well after setting the pace in the Sir John Monash, to finish second to Pago Rock. She’ll have to scoot across early from a poor draw if she is to follow similar tactics this weekend and, be able to see out a further 100m. She is nothing if not a trier and undefeated in three starts on slow and heavy ground.
OVERVIEW
The Caulfield track was a Slow 6 as of Thursday (am) and with weather predicted for the next few days not conducive to drying the track a great deal, will stick with this grading for Saturday. Going with Second Effort (let’s hope for a few more showers before Saturday) here. He’s following a very similar pattern to last year whereby he competed in the Sir John Monash first up off ten weeks, had a break of five weeks and then came out and won the G2 P B Lawrence Stakes. He’s only had a fortnight since this year’s Monash run but, as indicated by his third placing is forward in condition and would not have had to come on much since then, to be competitive here. Sticking with the Sir John Monash form and both Elite Elle and Pago Rock, who have drawn awkwardly, are both going well enough to be overcome that factor and figure in the finish again. Should the track dry out and reach the Dead range, would expect Launay, who from his draw should be able to tail the leaders throughout, to figure prominently.