One of the best days of racing comes to us from Caulfield this Saturday afternoon.
We have a fantastic edition of the Group 1 Caulfield Cup to look forward to as well as plenty of other quality races.
Our full 2022 Caulfield Cup Day Preview can be found below.
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – Tile Importer Trophy (1400m)
The Patrick Payne trained Quang Tri has proven herself to be a really classy filly in her short career to date.
In five of her six starts she has been placed and became a black type winner by taking out the Listed Taj Rossa at Flemington during her last campaign.
She was impressive when winning a trial on the heavy track leading into this first up assignment and I recommend watching betting in the lead up to the race to gain a confidence level.
Race 2 – Benchmark 80 Handicap (1700m)
Cap De Joie started his racing career with back to back wins by a combined three lengths at Bendigo.
She then headed to Sandown last time out as favourite, charging home out wide but running out of time to finish second and drops 4.5kgs for this contest.
This looks a pretty weak grade of race to be honest with many horses struggling with their form and she looks the obvious choice to again step up in grade.
Race 3 – Group 3 Neds Classic (2000m)
It’s hard to tip against Mr Maestro after his dominant win at Flemington in the Super Impose, scoring by two lengths after being eased down on the line.
He won on a heavy track the start before so that’s not an issue and this is only a step up in distance of 200m.
In saying all of this I don’t want to be jumping in at the current price with so many progressive, young staying horses in the race.
Race 4 – Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m)
Moko made up considerable ground when resuming in a maiden at Pakenham to just miss and followed that with a luckless seventh in the Group 2 Edward Manifold last time out.
Jamie Kah found a hell of a lot of traffic in the straight but I thought the filly found the line really well and would have finished a lot closer with clear room to stride out.
She will be fitter now and has drawn to get a lovely run in transit from barrier three with Mark Zahra jumping aboard in the Ethereal Stakes.
Race 5 – Listed Gothic Stakes (1400m)
Sketched broke his maiden with a huge six length win at Mornington on the heavy track to kick start this campaign.
He did a lot run during the run at The Valley last time out with the blinkers on for the first time but he finished that race off really well.
Fitter third up and out in distance, he represents great value at double figures.
Race 6 – Group 3 Alinghi Stakes (1100m)
This is a race I’m not overly keen to be betting into with many of these sprinters with no form on the heavy track.
Neverstandingstill has won four of her eight career starts including her last three in a row heading into this assignment.
Two of those wins have been on a heavy track and although she will need to take a massive step up in grade, she represents good value at double figures.
Race 7 – Group 2 McCafe Sprint (1000m)
Kallos is a very progressive four year old horse who has won three of 10 so far.
He finished behind Dragonstone in a trial in September but he was really well held and came out and won an open class race at Warwick Farm first up.
He will be fitter for that run and drops a massive seven kgs from that win into the Caulfield Sprint.
Ashford Street is another that drops a huge 8kgs from his first up fourth at The Valley where he was beaten under 1.5 lengths.
He is is two from two on the heavy and has drawn perfectly in barrier four.
Race 8 – Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m)
Kissonallforcheeks was side stepping around the tight Moonee Valley turn in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes a fortnight again and just didn’t handle it at all, finishing 2.25 lengths from the winner.
She won the Group 2 Let’s Elope previous to that and has five wins from eight starts at 1400m.
Chain Of Lightning put together three wins in a row including showing a sharp turn of foot to win the Group Cockram Stakes at Caulfield two back.
She finished third as favourite last start on the heavy track at Group 3 level but I loved the way she continued to find right through the line and she never stopped trying ahead of her run in Saturday’s Tristarc Stakes.
Race 9 – Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m)
The form I’m following into this years Caulfield Cup is the Turnbull Stakes and I can’t go past the winner of that race Smokin’ Romans.
He had all the favours in that race but he held off his rivals to score by 1.5 lengths and he drops 4kg on that effort meeting a lot of hose that he beat better at the weights.
He’s drawn perfectly in barrier five and should again make his own luck on the speed.
I want to have something small on Inspirational Girl who didn’t get clear running until late in the Turnbull but savaged the line well.
I’m unsure whether she will run out a strong 2400m and the rain is an issue but we are getting nice each way odds to find out.
Race 10 – Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m)
Lady Of Honour is a very progressive type of mare who has won four times from eight starts in her short career.
She has been narrowly denied in her last two efforts at Group 2 level and she is two from two at this track and distance.
She’s yet to start on a heavy track but the rain was heavy at The Valley last start and I don’t think it will be a problem in the Moonga Stakes.
Bandersnatch has been a consistent performer at this level for a long time and his first up run behind I Wish I Win at Sandown was enormous.
Handles the rain effected track and has a good record second up.