3 minute read
All eyes will be firmly locked on Caulfield this Saturday, October 12th for what is always one of the highlights of the Melbourne Spring Carnival. Caulfield Guineas Day boasts ten quality races, headlined by no fewer than three Group 1 feature races and some outstanding betting contests to boot.
I've run the rule over every race in search of value, and you can find my complete Caulfield Guineas Day tips below.
RACE 1 - 12:15PM: Sheen Panel Service Handicap (1700m)
Saban returned to action to record a comfortable win at Flemington and I'm confident he will make it two in a row on Caulfield Guineas Day.
Saban was excellent last time in, breaking his maiden at Cranbourne in May and within a month of that, ending his prep fourth in Group 1 company.
His fresh performance hinted at improvement and the rise in trip this week certainly suits.
3 Units Saban
RACE 2 - 12:50PM: Thoroughbred Club Of Australia Plate (1200m)
There is a case to be made for a few of them in this contest, but I'm going to side with the resuming I Am Velvet.
I Am Velvet is yet to taste anything but success, having debuted for a smart win at Pakenham in January, and returned in July for consecutive victories in stronger races.
She's drawn ideally in barrier 3 and any improvement would see her tough to beat again.
2 Units I Am Velvet
RACE 3 - 1:25PM: Group 3 Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m)
The first black type on the program has drawn a smart field of mares including Extratwo, who I have put on top.
Extratwo has returned to the races in typically smart form this time, and only just missed behind Quintessa in the Cockram Stakes two back before finishing just over a length behind the winner here again last time out.
She has a fitness edge over several key rivals, and I think the Northwood Plume Stakes a perfect black type target for her.
2 Units Extratwo
RACE 4 - 2PM: Group 3 Catanach's 150 Years Vase (1600m)
Quickster is another winning chance for the Moody & Coleman yard at Caulfield on Saturday in the Vase race for fillies.
Quickster was a strong and consistent performer last time in, winning in Listed company down in Adelaide and ending her prep with a fine performance in Group 1 company.
She was well beaten by Poifect are her first run back, but I'm confident that will have bright her right back on, and she's a winner at this point of her preparation previously.
2 Units E/W Quickster
RACE 5 - 2:35PM: Listed Weekend Hussler (1400m)
Jimmysstar's first run back from a break suggested he might have returned a better horse this time, and he can make it two wins on the bounce when he contests the Weekend Hussler.
Jimmysstar stamped himself as a horse to follow when arriving in Australia for three-consecutive race wins, while he also managed to place in black type company a couple of times throughout his subsequent preparation.
I thought he was really good through the line over 1100m here first-up last month and he's yet to finish worse than second at this point of his preparation, while getting out to the 1400m should also suit.
3 Units Jimmysstar
RACE 6 - 3:15PM: Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m)
The Herbert Power Stakes almost always throws up one or two genuine Melbourne Cup contenders and this year, I think that Gear Up could be that horse.
Gear Up returned to action to finish third, beaten two lengths by Young Werther here in August, and he enjoyed plenty of improvement into a sharp second-up run which saw him finishing a nose behind Positivity in the Naturalism Stakes.
Fitter third-up and out to the mile and a half, I think he's ready to strike.
2 Units Gear Up
RACE 7 - 3:50PM: Group 1 Might And Power (2000m)
The first of three Group 1 feature races on Caulfield Guineas Day and it probably comes as no surprise that Mr Brightside has opened a clear odds-on favourite in Might And Power betting.
Mr Brightside is a multiple Group 1 winner and has returned to the races in typically strong form this time, highlighted by his win in the Makybe Diva Stakes two back.
He gets out to 2000m for the first time this prep on Saturday and I think he'll be winning, but he's too short for me at $1.50, so I am instead going to select him as the winner in a Same Race Multi and pump up my odds with Adelaide River running into the first three.
He was too bad to be true in the Kingstown Town Stakes up in Sydney last time out, but his fresh run when less than two lengths behind subsequent Group 1 winner Buckaroo was eye-catching, and there's little doubt he'll improve into this race.
Same Race Multi selections:
► No. 1 Mr Brightside (Win)No.
► 4 Adelaide River (Top 3)
RACE 8 - 4:30PM: Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m)
Broadsiding is one of the most exciting colts to race in Australia in recent memory and he is clearly the one to beat in the 2024 Caulfield Guineas field.
Having won four races in a row to conclude his two-year-old season, including both the Champagne Stakes and the JJ Atkins at Group 1 level, the Too Darn Hot colt picked up where he left off by winning the Golden Rose.
He only improves for that run, James McDonald sticks and I can't find a reason why he won't be in the finish again.
All of that considered, he's also up at short Caulfield Guineas odds at publish, so I'm going to select him as my winner in a Same Race Multi and pump up my odds with Angel Capital, who is two from two this prep, running into the first three.
Same Race Multi selections:
► No. 1 Broadsiding (Win)No.
► 4 Angel Capital (Top 3)
RACE 9 - 5:10PM: Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m)
Excellent edition of the Schillaci Stakes with a case to be made for most of them, but I'm backing Recommendation to bounce back at Caulfield.
Recommendation returned to action for a seven-length win in the Sir John Monash Stakes over this route back in July, while he franked that performance with subsequent victories in the Bletchingly and The Heath 1100m, also both here at Caulfield.
He was beaten three lengths behind Southport Tycoon in the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes last time out, but there is no doubt that this is a drop in class, while I'm confident that race will have brought him right back on.
3 Units Recommendation
RACE 10 - 5:45PM: Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m)
It is a rate delight to end a day with a Group 1 race, but that's exactly what we get on Caulfield Guineas Day 2024!
The Toorak Handicap is always an open race and great from a betting perspective as a result, and I think it's a great opportunity for Another Wil to record his first win at the highest level.
Another Wil enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence last time in, winning four races in succession including the Doncaster Prelude, before ending his prep a credible seventh in the Doncaster Mile.
Since resuming this time, he's won over 1400m here at Caulfield twice, including the Testa Rossa Stakes, and he's ready for a return to Group 1 company.
3 Units Another Wil
