Group 1 racing is just around the corner, and the quality in Melbourne kicks up another gear on 2023 PB Lawrence Stakes Day!
The PB Lawrence is one of the early spring’s time-honoured feature races, and the honour role is rich with champion gallopers.
There are ten winners to be found in total, and you can find my complete 2023 PB Lawrence Stakes Day Tips below!
MRC Chairman’s Club Caulfield Aspirant (1400m) – 11:55am
He faces another rise in class, but Steel Jimmy remains undefeated ahead of the first on PB Lawrence Day.
Steel Jimmy stamped himself as one to watch with a dominant win on debut on the synthetic at Ballarat, and he franked that performance with another easy win in BM64 company.
Fitter third-up, he looks ready to transition into Saturday metro company.
Suggested Bet: No. 11 Steel Jimmy
MRC Chairman’s Club First Renewal Alan Yates (1400m) – 12:25pm
She hasn’t been seen at the races since the beginning of April, but this is a substantial drop in class from the last few races that Life Lessons has contested, and she can make a winning return this week.
The Tavistock mare was a strong performer during the spring and summer of last year, winning a couple of metro races before finishing second behind Nugget in the Lord Stakes on Boxing Day.
She didn’t manage to strike in two autumn starts, but she’s drawn well this week under claiming and in-form apprentice Carleen Hefel, and I’m confident she can win.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Life Lessons
Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1200m) – 1pm
An interesting race with a case to be made for a few of them, but I’m going to have something on the resuming Climbing Star.
She didn’t come up in the autumn and her campaign was abandoned after three starts, but she was excellent during last year’s Spring Carnival, and found form around some above-average opposition.
She’s a winner at this point of her preparation previously and she is drawn to receive every chance on Saturday.
Suggested Bet: No. 9 Climbing Star
Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1100m) – 1:35pm
Flying On A Limb has been faultless this year, and she returns from a freshen-up on PB Lawrence Day.
The Clinton McDonald-trained mare broke her maiden with ease at Cranbourne first-up in May, and she has since recorded wins at Sandown and here at Caulfield, the latter over the likes of Katsu.
She’s another that has trialled well recently and with even luck, I really can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish.
Suggested Bet: No. 8 Flying On A Limb
Thoroughbred Club Australia Handicap (1400m) – 2:10pm
Former French galloper Carini makes his Australian debut at Caulfield on Saturday, and anything close to his best would see him into the finish.
The Siyouni gelding was excellent during his time in Europe, recording three wins and two minors from just six starts and finding form around some excellent opposition.
It’s always hard to tell how an import will go on debut, but he certainly has the talent!
Suggested Bet: No. 8 Carini
Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) – 2:45pm
This is a strong edition of the Regal Roller with plenty of talented gallopers engaged, but I don’t see a reason to jump off It’sourtime after his Aurie’s Star Handicap win a fortnight ago.
It’sourtime has always been a good, Saturday quality galloper for the Danny O’Brien yard, but he has already recorded a couple of black type wins this campaign, highlighted by his last-start effort at HQ.
With even luck this week and from the good draw, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 It’sourtime
Group 3 Neds Quezette Stakes (1100m) – 3:25pm
The first of the Neds feature races for the season, and a classy field of three-year-old fillies has accepted for the Neds Quezette Stakes!
A lot is expected of Queenslander Skirt The Law, and her campaign launches in this race.
Skirt The Law enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence during her debut prep, winning her first three career starts, including the Magic Millions Classic.
She could only manage a third placing in the Sweet Embrace Stakes in February and was subsequently tipped out, but by all reports, she’s returning this week a bigger, stronger horse.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Skirt The Law
Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) – 4:05pm
I cannot wait to see Cylinder return to the races in the Vain Stakes, and I think it’s the perfect launchpad for him.
Cylinder was a standout in the two-year-old ranks during the recent Autumn Carnival, winning his first two starts back before fishing second to Shinzo in the Golden Slipper.
Not a lot went right in the Inglis Sires’ at his last run, but he’s enjoyed his time away from competition, and two slick trials in Sydney recently add further confidence to this week’s claims.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Cylinder
Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) – 4:40pm
A capacity field has been taken for the PB Lawrence, headlined by reigning champion Mr Brightside, who has opened a firm $2 favourite.
I get it – he won the All-Star Mile and the Doncaster Mile at the conclusion of his autumn prep, and he could come out and brain them, but I am going to take him on at the short quote.
One that stood out to me as a bit of value is Pinstriped ($16 at publish).
Pinstriped was a typically consistent performer during his last prep in autumn and early winter, recording consecutive Saturday metro wins before finishing third in BM100 company.
The 1400m is undoubtedly his pet trip, he’s drawn ideally, and we can have an each way play at the price.
Suggested Bet: No. 11 Pinstriped
Take It To The Neds Level Handicap (1600m) – 5:15pm
Not the easiest way to end PB Lawrence Stakes Day from a betting perspective, but I am going to hold firm with Junipal.
The well-bred gelding has been a good horse for the Maher & Eustace yard throughout his career, and it’s fair to say that he has improved with each of his three starts back this time, culminating in a close second at The Valley last time.
He’s in peak order now, and he just needs early luck to be in the finish again.
Suggested Bet: No. 11 Junipal
