The Early Oil: Chris Vernuccio runs the rule over Caulfield

IF the form out of Flemington last weekend stacks up then Mantastic looks a terrific chance to go one better at Caulfield, according to leading form analyst Chris Vernuccio.

Michael Walker rides My Nordic Hero to win race 8, GJK Facility Services Plate during the Friends of Epworth Raceday at the Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Saturday, June 16, 2018. (AAP Image/George Salpigtidis) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

IF the form out of Flemington last weekend stacks up then Mantastic looks a terrific chance to go one better at Caulfield on Saturday, according to leading form analyst Chris Vernuccio.

Mantastic dead-heated for second with Miles Of Krishan behind Barthelona at his first Australian start and both those horses won at Flemington.

The Nooch reckons that’s good enough for him to make Mantastic his best for the day.

BEST BET

MANTASTIC (Race 2, No. 8)

VALUE BET

BEA TEAMPTED (Race 3, No. 7)

EARLY QUADDIE

3,8 / 1,7 / 1,2,5,6,14 / 3,6,7,10,13

$100 flexi for 100 per cent

BIG 6

1,14 / 3,6,7 / 6,11 / 2,3,7,8,10 / 3,8,10 / 1,6,14

$100 flexi for 18.51 per cent

QUADDIE

Race 6: 4,6,11

Race 7: 2,3,5,7,8,10,11

Race 8: 3,8,10

Race 9: 1,5,6,14

$100 flexi for 39.68 per cent

HOT TIPS: WEEKEND BEST BETS

RACE 1 (11.45am): KENO LET’S PLAY HANDICAP (1200m)

Another competitive off-season two-year-old race. RUBAN BLEU (6) worked home for an encouraging debut fourth at Flemington, running the second fastest last 800m, 600m and 400m. The form looks sound with stablemate Good ‘N’ Fast running second and then winning last Saturday. BEERZ WITH CLINT (1) is likely to be conceding a start again after drawing wide again, but he hit the line strongly at Mornington behind Cavalini, who looks a smart filly. TRILLI (8) finished a similar distance behind Cavalini in a Sale race. TONY NICCONI (7) won a jumpout over Goldifox, who ran second to Good ‘N’ Fast, so the separate formlines are intertwining.

BET: RUBAN BLEU each-way

RACE 2 (12.20pm): KENO CLASSIC HANDICAP (1600m)

MANTASTIC (8) looks a standout after a terrific effort in his first Australian start. After missing the jump, he finished in a dead-heat for second with Miles Of Krishan behind Barthelona. Both those horses won at Flemington last week. LORD TENNYSON (9) was a further length behind and has to be a chance. AL GALAYEL (3) also impressed when winning his Aussie debut at Sandown with 60kg, and there was a big gap to third. He’ll carry 56kg here with Liam Riordan’s 3kg claim. Massive threat. The rest of the field is a pretty even bunch. ANOTHER BULLSEYE (5) was very disappointing last start but is capable of better.

BET: MANTASTIC win

RACE 3 (12.55pm) KENO HEADS OR TAIL HANDICAP (2000m)

There isn’t a lot of depth in this race with MASCULINO (1) and BEA TEMPTED (7) likely to fight out the finish again. Bea Tempted can reverse the result on Masculino but there won’t be much between them. The filly ran slightly superior sectionals and can find a midfield spot from barrier seven. She was also well supported last start, which adds to the confidence. But there was also merit in Masculino’s performance after he covered ground and he was still strong to the line. JEDDAH AHEADAH (13) was no match for Bea Tempted at Geelong but stepped out next start to win her maiden comfortably. FLOGGA (10) is on the quick back-up. BIG BAD BAZ (14) also a hope for the minors.

BET: BEA TEMPTED each-way

Danny O'Brien’s stable has struck form and Summer Sham can add to his recent list of winners.

RACE 4 (1.30pm) KENO KWIKPIK HANDICAP (1100m)

Group-winning filly SUMMER SHAM (1) is the most interesting runner on the program. She won the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes at Caulfield during the autumn in just her third career start and looks ready for a bold first-up showing after winning a jumpout. Lachlan King’s 3kg claim is also handy. SOUL STAR (14) did a lot wrong last prep but ran second to Summer Sham in February. Her jumpout also looked good. Away from those two, this is a very competitive race. Tasmanian visitor DERASA (2) wasn’t far off in decent Flemington race but barrier 18 is problematic. LADY MAGNUS (6) was outclassed in the Group 3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes at Moonee Valley earlier this year and JOSEPHINE SEA (5) drops down in the weights after a nice win at Mornington.

BET: SUMMER SHAM win

RACE 5 (2.05pm): KENO HEADS OR TAILS MARGINS HANDICAP (1200m)

RILLITO (7) will be charging home again and the extra 200m will help. She found the 1000m too short at the valley and ripped home in 11.30sec on a day it was an advantage to be on-speed. Very wary of JUST HIFALUTIN (3), who is first-up. He has an excellent record at 1200m with four wins and a second from five starts. Drawn perfectly in barrier five. Big watch on JENNIFER LYNN (10), who steps out for the first time since September for new trainer John McArdle. Her past five runs were at Group level but she hasn’t lived up to the potential she promised in the spring of 2016. MAMZELLE TESS (6) ran above expectations in a Group 3 in Adelaide last start. MYSTIFIED (13) is always competitive but yet to win at the trip.

BET: RILLITO win

RACE 6 (2.45pm): KENO BONUS HANDICAP (1800m)

MY NORDIC HERO (6) can win again even though he’s dropping back in distance. But he’s been very honest in his past three runs and is hard to knock. TRAP FOR FOOLS (4) and SIXTIES GROOVE (11) were both beaten by big margins by Magic Consol, but the authority of that win was unexpected. Their runs were better than what the formguide will show. Again, Sixties Groove was well-backed, and that has to be respected. Trap For Fool raced wide but kept grinding away. PACODALI (1) will be fitter second-up after fading in the last 100m last time on a heavy surface. A dry track will be more to his liking.

My Nordic Hero is capable of winning again despite coming back in distance.

BET: MY NORDIC HERO win

RACE 7 (3.25pm): KENO REPLAY HANDICAP (1400m)

Difficult race. LORD SUNDOWNER (2) lost his way after two solid runs to start his campaign. He had a little break following a flat run at Sandown and is capable of better. SMOOTH LANDING (10) got too far back at Flemington but ran the fastest last 800, 600m, 400m and 200m behind Remember The Name, who won again last week. Drops to 51kg. USAIN BOWLER (3) fought back to nose out Grey Shadow at the Valley but had the better run. ELITE DRAKE (8) has won his past two after finished second to Bea tempted at Geelong. STREET SHIEK (7), ELUDED (5) and CAPTAIN HARRY (11) all chances.

NO BET

RACE 8 (4.05pm): KENO SUPERPLAY HANDICAP (1400m)

MALAISE (3) should have finished closer to Widgee Turf and Ashlor at Moonee Valley but the gap closed on him when he went for the inside run. From barrier 1 he’ll settle behind the speed and just needs the breaks to come his way this time. SO POYSED (10) goes much better second-up (three wins from four starts). The 1200m was too short but he ran a slick 11.78sec for the final 200m, which was only bettered by the winner Eusebio. MR INDIVIDUAL (8) appeared to struggle on the heavy ground in his first run for Darren Weir, but somehow nearly went close to winning. WENNER (15) is a last-start winner over 1400m at Sandown.

BET: MALAISE win

RACE 9 (4.40pm): KENO JACKPOTS HANDICAP (1200m)

Tricky finish to the program. KENNEDY (14) resumes as a gelding and his Sydney form last campaign looks strong for this. However, I’d prefer to first see how he performs. ASHLOR (1) was run down by Widgee Turf, running .74sec quicker than PRINCETON SPIRIT (7) on the same day over the same distance. Ashlor also finished ahead of WISE HERO (5) the start before, but has to shoulder 63kg here. Wise Hero, however, can improve on drier ground. CALL ME HANDSOME (6) can win first-up. He beat Peaceful State over 1300m in February. SHARING (13) is over the odds.

NO BET