Caulfield Guineas day tips: Queen Of The Ball the best bet in the Schillaci Stakes
A Sydney three-year-old could lead her rivals a merry dance in the Schillaci Stakes while Lindsay Park could produce a shock winner in an early race on Saturday’s Caulfield Guineas card.
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Herald Sun form analyst Brad Waters takes an early look at Saturday’s blockbuster Caulfield Guineas meeting.
BEST BET
QUEEN OF THE BALL (Race 6, No.9)
Speedy Sydney filly that was simply too quick for her rivals at The Valley. She’s up in class but she’s going to be hard to run down with only 51kg on her back.
VALUE BET
CROSSHAVEN (Race 4, No.1)
Crosshaven resumes over 1200m at Caulfield and will have conditions to suit. He hasn’t won for a while but has jumped out well and could produce a blowout result.
EARLY QUADDIE
2, 3, 10, 12, 16/1, 2, 12, 14, 15/4, 7, 9, 12/1, 2, 4, 9
$100 flexi for 25 per cent
BIG6
4, 7, 9, 12/1, 2, 4, 9/7/1, 2, 3, 5, 11/1, 5/1, 2, 3, 12
$100 flexi for 15.62 per cent
QUADDIE
Race 6: 7
Race 7: 1, 2, 3, 5, 11
Race 8: 1, 5
Race 9: 1, 2, 3, 12
$100 flexi for 250 per cent
FINAL DAYS! UNLOCK EVERYTHING ON RACENET FOR ONLY $1
RACE 1: LISTED MAGIC MILLIONS DEBUTANT STAKES (1000m)
Happy to admit I’m guessing here with all runners being first starters. Liked the way PRINCESS DUHALLOW (5) jumped out at Flemington but KING’S GAMBIT (3) also trialled well in Sydney and comes from the strong Snowden stable. Godolphin youngster HEURISTIC (2) is sure to be well educated while there has been good money for KIMMELA (4) in early betting.
SUGGESTED BET: Princess Duhallow to win – if you must.
TAB MARKET MOVER: Kimmela $10 – $5.50
RACE 2: LISTED WEEKEND HUSSLER (1400m)
The second is another tricky race but REGARDSMAREE (5) can improve on his first-up effort behind the smart I Wish I Win at Sandown last month. He goes well at Caulfield and handles all conditions. OLD FLAME (2) beat home a subsequent Epsom Handicap co-winner last start and must be respected. CARDINAL GEM (12) was an outstanding winner in easier grade at Flemington and could measure up. JIMMY THE BEAR (7) has been freshened for this and should run well.
SUGGESTED BET: Regardsmaree each-way.
TAB MARKET MOVER: Old Flame $3.90 – $2.90.
RACE 3: GROUP 3 THOROUGHBRED CLUB STAKES (1200m)
Another tough contest for punters to work out but going to have a small each-way bet on the bottom runner SWEETENED (16). She was a dominant winner at Geelong and could make the grade at this level. TROACH (2) has hard fit and racing consistently so expecting another good effort from her. NANAGUI (3) ran on hard to score at Flemington second-up and is flying this time in. C’EST MAGIQUE (12) wasn’t far away at Flemington and could continue to improve.
SUGGESTED BET: Sweetened each-way.
TAB MARKET MOVER: Sweetened $13 – $10.
RACE 4: LISTED VILLAGE STAKES (1200m)
This is the hardest race on the Caulfield Guineas card but CROSSHAVEN (1) might be worth a throw at the stumps at big odds. The Lindsay Park-trained galloper hasn’t won for a while but he has a sound first-up record and his latest Flemington jumpout was good. FRANKIE PINOT (2) won the Wangoom Handicap first-up last time in and should run well fresh again. CRESTANI (15) resumes and is worth throwing into multiples as is the last-start Valley winner ZETHUS (14).
SUGGESTED BET: Crosshaven each-way.
TAB MARKET MOVER: Zethus $6.50 – $4.80.
RACE 5: GROUP 2 HERBERT POWER STAKES (2400m)
This is the last chance for some of these to make the Caulfield Cup field but SARACEN KNIGHT (12) looks poised for another win after his impressive Mornington success last time out. REGAL LION (9) impressed with his second-up win at Sandown and he’ll be fitter. SCHABAU (7) wasn’t disgraced at Sandown and will be better served over 2400m. DESERT ICON (4) led and won well at The Valley and has a good record around Caulfield.
SUGGESTED BET: Saracen Knight to win.
TAB MARKET MOVER: Saracen Knight $6 – $3.80.
FINAL DAYS! UNLOCK EVERYTHING ON RACENET FOR ONLY $1
RACE 6: GROUP 2 SCHILLACI STAKES (1100m)
A field of nine speedsters will contest the Schillaci Stakes but happy to back QUEEN OF THE BALL (9) to beat her older rivals after an impressive win at The Valley. She’ll give them plenty to chase with only 51kg on her back. INGRATIATING (2) was a terrific first-up winner at Caulfield and will be thereabouts again. ZOUSTYLE (4) was solid in the Moir Stakes second and should find this a bit easier. PAULELE (1) was another that competed well in the Moir Stakes.
SUGGESTED BET: Queen Of The Ball to win.
TAB MARKET MOVER: Queen Of The Ball $6 – $4.80
RACE 7: GROUP 1 MIGHT AND POWER (2000m)
The Might And Power should give punters a great guide to the Cox Plate. If ANAMOE (7) is anywhere near his best, he’ll win. He won the George Main Stakes in Sydney last start but was later reported to be lame. The Godolphin team is sure to have him near his peak on Saturday. ALLIGATOR BLOOD (3) was a determined winner of the Underwood Stakes and will go well again, MO’UNGA (5) improved well when second in the Underwood and will be fitter again. ZAAKI (1) faded late at Sandown but will be fitter for that.
SUGGESTED BET: Anamoe to win.
TAB MARKET MOVER: Nothing of note.
RACE 8: GROUP 1 CAULFIELD GUINEAS (1600m)
Extremely even edition of the Caulfield Guineas with many winning chances but going with TIJUANA (1) to score after running out the 1600m well in the Stutt Stakes at The Valley last time. Good or soft ground won’t worry him. ELKINGTON ROAD (11) has won well in heavy ground at his two starts to emerge as a Caulfield Guineas roughie. BANK MAUR (5) has only had four starts but is getting better all the time. BERKELEY SQUARE (2) has impressed at every run and should be around the mark.
SUGGESTED BET: Tijuana each-way.
TAB MARKET MOVER: Golden Mile $3.50 – $2.60.
FINAL DAYS! UNLOCK EVERYTHING ON RACENET FOR ONLY $1
RACE 9: GROUP 1 TOORAK HANDICAP (1600m)
Another good edition of the Toorak Handicap but I WISH I WIN (5) will be awfully hard to beat on his two awesome wins for the Peter Moody stable. CALLSIGN MAV (1) is a multiple Group 1 winner that prevailed in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and should go well again. NONAME LANE (12) is on the quick back-up from winning last Sunday’s Seymour Cup but could give them something to chase. CHARACTER (14) was unlucky at Flemington last Saturday and drops in weight.
SUGGESTED BET: I Wish I Win to win.
TAB MARKET MOVER: I Wish I Win $3.20 – $2.70.
RACE 10: GROUP 3 NORTHWOOD PLUME STAKES (1200m)
Good race to finish the Caulfield Guineas card but expecting the track to be chopped up by the last. However, TURAATH (1) has the quality to push forward and prove tough to run down first-up. ZAPATEO (3) won well in heavy ground at Caulfield last start and must be respected again. VESPERTINE (12) has a good first-up record and likes Caulfield. SERADESS (2) faded first-up but she’s better than that.
SUGGESTED BET: Turaath to win.
TAB MARKET MOVER: Zapateo $2.80 – $2.40
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