Last say: Take a trip on San Diego on his way to the Victoria Derby
It's Caulfield Cup day and The Daily Telegraph's racing editor Ray Thomas gives you all the last-minute information you need to have a bet.
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Weather: Warm, sunny day with a forecast top temperature of 27c.
Track: Dead (4)
Rail: Rail out 6m
ROYAL RANDWICK
Weather: Mild, mostly sunny day with a forecast top temperature of 24c.
Track: Good (3)
Rail: True
BE WARY: Caulfield Cup Day will begin with a dead 4 but will improve and get back into the good range There was 6mls added to the track late yesterday to ensure some "give" in the surface for the meeting but with a warm day forecast, the track will get quite firm late in the day.
The rail was in the true for Caulfield Guineas Day and Thousand Guineas Day but has been moved out to 6m for Caulfield Cup Day.
Royal Randwick has been racing superbly through the spring carnival. The rail is back in the true position today and with small fields most of the day, race tempo will be crucial and perhaps leaders will be favoured.
CAULFIELD
THE BEST BET: San Diego (race 4) is another promising three-year-old from the powerful Peter Snowden stable. Fitter for two runs back from a spell which resulted in an eye-catching first-up third to stablemate and subsequent Caulfield Guineas winner Long John before a solid sixth in the Bill Stutt Stakes.
San Diego had very little galloping room last start and should have finished much closer. He's by Exceed And Excel out of a Zabeel mare and has inherited his stamina genes from his dam's side. San Diego gets to 2000m for the first time today which will really suit.
He's on the Victoria Derby trail and will be very hard to beat today.
THE NEXT BEST: Hawkspur (race 10) is favourite for the Caulfield Cup and with good reason. He's a richly talented stayer who romped away with the Queensland Derby last June and his form this spring has been excellent and he goes into this race in the peak of form while many of his rivals have been struggling to find their best.
Hawkspur showed a brilliant turn of foot to win the Chelmsford Stakes, he was getting home well when fourth in the George Main Stakes then raced without luck when fifth in the Turnbull Stakes.
Drawn awkwardly but he does have the genius of Jim Cassidy to guide him around. In an open Caulfield Cup, he stands out as a clear top selection.
VALUE BET: Taxmeifyoucan (race 6) was inconvenienced for much of the straight and should have finished much closer when resuming for fourth behind Riva De Lago in the Theo Marks Stakes a month ago.
He's been kept fresh since but performs best with his races spaced. He produced a career best to win the Scone Guineas with 27 days between runs. Talented, underrated galloper and great value around the $10 mark.
THE WHISPER: She Can Skate (race 5) is a huge "street-corner" tip for this race. She has only had six career starts for four wins and was unbeaten in three races during winter.
Her first-up effort last preparation resulted in a four lengths romp beating Spending. Reportedly flying in her trackwork and won a jump-out by a massive margin earlier this month.
Drawn nicely and has the tactical speed to take up a position on the pace, making her own luck.
In a tough race but there is a lot of confidence about her making a winning return to racing today.
ROYAL RANDWICK
THE BEST BET: Leebaz (race 4) controlled the tempo up front and was dominant winning at Randwick's Kensington track last start, beating Index Linked by two lengths. They clash again today and Index Linked meets his rival 2.5kg better at the weights but stick with Leebaz. With three wins in succession from just four starts, Leebaz is a talent and he is likely to jump to the front and dictate terms again. This could turn into a sprint home like the Kensington race and with the same result.
NEXT BEST: Dothraki (race 3) took on older horses last start and raced encouragingly when a closing third, beaten less than a half length behind Rastro. He drops back to his own age today and the set weights and penalties suit him.
Barbed has the Zoustar formline and is very short in betting but the odds being offered for Dothraki around the $7 mark is attractive. Fitter for two runs from a spell, I'm very keen on Dothraki's chances today.
VALUE BET: Gamblestown (race 2) is only lightly raced but shows promise. He won his first two starts at Kembla before a very good third to Surge Ahead at Warwick Farm then a narrow loss to the boom filly Chateau Lafaite here last week.
It took a very good horse to beat him last start and he is on the quick back-up today. The extra distance won't trouble him and he is rock-hard fit.
In an open race, Gamblestown looks good value at better than each way odds.
THE WHISPER: Miss Sakkara (race 1) looked an absolute natural winning her Warwick Farm barrier trial by nearly seven lengths last week. She jumped well, showed dazzling speed and her rivals never got near her.
It was a significant improvement from her Randwick trial effort but the addition of blinkers certainly switched her on at Warwick Farm.
This two-year-old race looks to have some depth but the reports are Miss Sakkara is well above average as her trial indicates.
THE BIG MONEY
CAULFIELD
In the Caulfield Cup (race 10), Hawkspur has been well backed but is a little easy in betting. Hawkspur has eased from $4.40 to $5 after bets of $1400 at $4.80, $1000 at $4.60, $3000/$2000 at $4.50/$1.87 and $1000 at $4.50.
Mr Moet is $31 to $21 after a bet of $3000 at $31, Fawkner is $12 to $10 after a $2000 wager at $11, Jet Away is $11 to $9.50 after bets of $2000 each way at $9.50/$3.12 and $2000 at $9.50, My Quest For Peace is $51 to $31 after bets of $1000 each way at $41/$11 and $500 at $41, Julienas is $5000 at $26, $2000 each way at $26/$7.25 and $1000 at $26 and Silent Achiever is $8.50 to $8 after bets of $1000 each way at $8.50/$2.87.
In race 1, Scarlet Billows is $4.60 to $3.80 after bets of $1700 at $4.60, $1500 at $4.20 and $750 at $4, Tango's Daughter is $7 to $3.80 after bets of $2000 at $4.80, $1200 at $4.40 and $1000 at $4, Cryptic Lady is $51 to #$16 after bets of $500 at $18.
In race 2, Havana is $11 to $7.50 after a bet of $800 at $11, Hucklebuck is $2.80 to $2.60 after bets of $2000, $1400 and $1000 at $2.80.
In race 3, Arabian Gold is $6 to $3.50 after bets of $550 at $6, $600 at $5.50, $500 at $4.80 and $900 at $4.40.
In race 4, San Diego is $6.50 to $5 after bets of $1500 at $6.50 and $1000 at $5, Surging Wave is $11 to $10 after bets of $1000 each way at $11/$3.42, Famechon is $7.50 to $6 after a bet of $750 at $7, Bring Something is $9 to $6 after a bet of $500 at $9,
In race 5, Lonhspresso is $8.50 to $6.50 after a $500 at $8, Avoid Lightning is $7.50 to $6 after bets of $1200 at $7.50, $1000 [twice] at $7, Members Joy is $11 to $9.50 after a $800 wager at $11, She Can Skate is $5 to $4.40 after bets of $1000 at $5, $1500 at $4.60.
In race 6, Pinwheel is $6 to $4.80 after bets of $1000 at $6 and $750 at $5.50, Conservatorium is $18 to $8 after a bet of $1100 at $9.
In race 7, Shamal Wind is $6.50 to $5.50 after bets of $500 at $6.50 and $1000 at $5.50, El Magico is $8 to $7.50 after a bet of $500 at $8, $500 at $7 and $1500 at $7.50, Chiaramonte is $6 to $4.60 after bets of $1600 at $6 and $10000 at $5,
In race 8, Scream Machine is $12 to $6 after a bet of $1000 at $10, Spurtonic is $4.20 to $4 after a bet of $3000 at $4.
ROYAL RANDWICK
In race 1, Chief Of The Clan is $9.50 to $6 after bets of $1000 at $9.50 and $500 at $8 and $1350 at $7, Candelara $17 is $15 to $1000 at $17.
In race 2, Kirramosa $4 to $3.60 after a bet of $1500 at $4, Best Case is $8 to $6 after a bet of $600 at $7.50 and $1000 at $7, Fields Of Tuscany is $15 to $11 after a bet of $400 at $15.
In race 3, Barbed is $2.10 to $1.75 after a bet of $800 at $2.10, $5000 and $1500 at $2, $5000 at $1.95, $2500, $1500 and $1000 at $1.90, $1200 and $1000 [thrice] at $1.80 and $1000 at $1.75.
In race 5, Famous Seamus is $3.60 to $3.40 after bets of $1500 each way at $3.60/$1.86, Welkom Gold is $26 to $17 after a bet of $1000 at $26.
In race 6, Vaquera is $5 to $4 after a bet of $2500 at $4.60, Hippopus is $6 to $5.50 after a bet of $2500 at $6.
In race 7, Riva De Lago is $5.50 to $4.60 after bets of $600 at $5.50 and $1000 at $5.
In race 8, She's Clean is $2.80 to $2.40 after bets of $2000 at $2.60 and $2230 at $2.50, Black Magic is $26 to $15 after bets of $500 at $17, Emotional Circus is $15 to $11 after bets of $400 each way at $13/$3.40.
TAB FIXED ODDS MULTIS
$5,000 Pick 4 at $17.61 on Alpha Miss (Randwick Race 1)/ Barbed (Randwick Race 3)/Red Magnet (Morphettville Race 3)/ Anna Lizzie (Doomben Race 6)
$3,100 Double at $15.17 on Arabian Gold (Ethereal Stakes) / Spurtonic (David Jones Cup)
$2,000 Double at $9.90 on Spurtonic (David Jones Cup) / May's Dream (Victoria Oaks)
$1,600 Treble at $23.92 on Barbed (Randwick Race 3) / She's Clean (Randwick Race 8) / Hawkspur (Caulfield Cup)
$1,215 Double at $13.30 on Arabian Gold (Ethereal Stakes) / Spurtonic (David Jones Cup)
$1,000 Pick 4 at $106.44 on Hucklebuck (Gothic Stakes) / Barbed (Randwick Race 3) / Ironstein (Randwick Race 6) / Peron (Tristarc Stakes)
$1,000 Pick 4 at $24.59 on Alpha Miss (Randwick Race 1) / Barbed (Randwick Race 3) / Red Magnet (Morphettville Race 3) / Heart Of A Lion (Morphettville Race 6)
$1,000 Double at $8.88 on San Diego (Norman Robinson Stakes) / Barbed (Randwick Race 3)
#Wager placed last week
$11,000 Treble at $30.78 on Long John (Caulfield Guineas) / Guelph (Thousand Guineas) / Hawkspur (Caulfield Cup)
Hussler Stakes)
INTERSTATE
Doomben race 6: Leviosa
Doomben race 7: Magic In Motion
Morphettville race 3: Red Magnet
Morphettville race 6: Heart Of A Lion
PROVINCIAL MAIL
Newcastle race 1: Itameri
Newcastle race 8: Adage
#Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners.
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