Alex Donnelly Mailbag: Tips and preview for Caulfield on Saturday

Punters host Alex Donnelly is keen on a progressive sprinter early in the Caufield program and an import is his best bet on Saturday.

Punters host Alex Donnelly assesses three key races and gives his suggested bets for Caulfield on Saturday.

BEST BET: SAINT GEORGE (R7, No.15)

VALUE BET: FAWKNER PARK (R8, No.7)

LAY OF THE DAY: JIMMYSSTAR (R6, No.8)

GROUP 1 UNDERWOOD STAKES (1800m)

Caulfield, R8, 4.15pm

Caulfield Cup credentials go on the line for a few here. Fawkner Park ($8.50), arguably Australia’s most improved horse over the past 12 months, resumes and looks ready to go after a trial and a jumpout and he cannot cop a penalty in the Cups if he was to win. Place Du Carrousel ($5) will be happy to not see Via Sistina or Pride Of Jenni in this event, she was fantastic in her first Australian prep and if that form carries over to this, she is going to be in the finish. Pericles ($3.10) thumped them at The Valley last start, he brings the strong SP profile to this race and will need to lift again. Kovalica ($9) is much maligned and Chris Waller has been stated as saying he thinks he has him right this time. Last year he was stiff to not win an Epsom and was good in a King Charles. No shock here if he was to win.

THE TIP: FAWKNER PARK each-way

Fawkner Park wins the Q22 in style!@BrisRacingClub@[e-mail]/nlqAfU4Cr2

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 15, 2024

GROUP 3 MRC FOUNDATION CUP (2000m)

Caulfield, R7, 3.35pm

Win and you’re into the Caulfield Cup, and the betting suggests that like most years this should be a ripper. Saint George ($4) arguably should have gone close to winning first-up in the Heatherlie, he was a touch soft in betting that day and should take a lot of improvement out of that now that he is second-up after a year off. Future History ($18) was good through the line in the same race and now draws to settle a touch closer in the run. He showed us last spring over this distance that he can sit on the speed and win. Just Fine ($7.50) brings different form and should be set to peak third-up from a spell, he is a winner three times over 2000m and if left alone in front will be hard to catch.

THE TIP: SAINT GEORGE win

Rise At Dawn shows great toughness to fight back and win! 💪

Michael Dee for @lindsayparkracepic.twitter.com/WffLRqizgn

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 31, 2024

BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1600m)

Caulfield, 2, 12.40pm

For a benchmark race early in the meeting, this will have more eyes on it than one would think. Federer ($1.70) has been nothing short of brilliant in his two wins from as many starts. He bolted in last start at Sandown and looked like a horse with Group potential at the very least. He has to contend with barrier one, but provided he gets luck in running he could make a mess of this lot. Nails Murphy ($9.50) from barrier three will sit on speed once again, he was strong when winning at The Valley last start and must be considered again. Miss You Ella ($11) is also entered in Sydney, but has Shinn booked here and was good enough last start at Randwick to run well here.

THE TIP: FEDERER win

Originally published as Alex Donnelly Mailbag: Tips and preview for Caulfield on Saturday