Black type racing returns to Caulfield on Saturday and we are set for nine quality races on 2018 Galilee Series Final Day.
The rail will be out 3 metres around the entire Caulfield track on Galilee Series Final Day and at the time of publish, we are set to race on a Good 4.
Ten two-year-olds will step out in Race 1 at Caulfield on Saturday and half of the field will be making their competitive debuts.
The Ciaron Maher-trained Star Fall is one of those juveniles set to make his debut and at the time of publish, is the $4.80 market mover, having firmed from an opening quote of $5.50. The Zoustar colt has shown ability at the trials and is drawn ideally in barrier 4.
A veteran of two starts, Virtual Insanity is the $4.50 race favourite, but is also yet to post a win.
There is simply too much that can happen in this race and I am happy to sit back and watch.
Only nine horses remain in contention for Race 2 following the early scratching of both Tatoosh and Cosmic Lights.
There is a case to be made for close to the entire remaining field, but Amortentia ($3) has returned to racing in excellent form this time and looms as the one to beat. The Wanted mare has finished outside of the first three only a handful of times through her eleven career starts and savaged the line for an impressive two-length win over 1400m at Sandown last time out. Enver Jusofovic’s horses are in terrific conditions of late and Amortentia should be able to take up the running with ease from gate 2.
Ma Jones ($6.50) has received plenty of early interest in betting, but will need to improve noticeably off her last-start tenth at Mornington.
A smart field of three-year-old fillies will step out in the third and there is plenty of value to be taken from a betting perspective.
Palazzo Vecchio ($2.70) is yet to return to winning form through three starts this time, but she is faced with her best chance to date on Saturday and should find herself right in the finish of this race. The daughter of Fastnet Rock has been racing well amongst black type company this time and placed in both the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) and Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1400m) most notably. She’s been charged with carrying topweight of 60kgs, but she has the class to overcome that and win.
Race 4 has drawn a good field of middle-distance horses, but I am really keen on the Darren Weir-trained Tiamo Grace ($4.20), who looks set to peak in form third-up here. The Monaco Consul mare failed to come up in 2017, but resumed this time for second a big odds in a 1400m race at Flemington before a credible performance for fourth in the Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m) three weeks ago. This is a big step back in class and she should be able to find a good position in transit from barrier 5, before finishing over the top of her rivals.
Stable mate Mongolian Wolf ($26) should take plenty of benefit into his second-up target here and while he has been charged with carrying a big weight, he does look to be a touch of overs at his current price.
A smart and capacity field of three-year-old stayers will step out for the feature race and it remains extremely open from a betting perspective.
There is a case to be made for more than half this field, but two horses that appeal at their current quotes are Alpha ($10) and Maheera ($11).
Alpha has only made three appearances at the races so far, but he has shown above-average ability and is primed for a successful transition to black type company. The Congrats gelding was tough to the line for second over 2000m at Caulfield last time out and will be able to find a position on speed from barrier 5. Regular hoop Beau Mertens retains the ride and will give them something to chase in the straight.
Maheera will take winning form into the race following an impressive performance to break her maiden at Ballarat last time out, and looks like a filly that is crying out for a mile-and-a-half. The daughter of Artie Schiller will need to show some early speed to find a prominent position in transit from barrier 12, but her recent performances suggest that she should be fighting out the finish.
The field for Race 6 is arguably the best of the day at Caulfield on Saturday and several previous black type winners will be in action.
Godolphin runner Spectroscope is race favourite ($3.40) at the time of publish and looks ready to peak third-up here. The son of Medaglia D’Oro resumed for a credible fourth in the Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket, but was slow from the gates in the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude a fortnight ago and ran out of distance. An increase in trip looks ideal and Ethan Brown’s claim will help.
Berisha ($4.40), Grey Lion ($7.50) and Velox ($7.50) have all received attention in early betting and their credentials suggest that they are all live chances.
It’s $5 the field for Race 7 at the time of publish and there is subsequently plenty of value around a number of key runners.
Catesby ($13) faces a step up in class into this field, but has returned to the races in terrific form this time and can salute at double-figure odds. Resuming for a pair of tough wins in sprint races over 1100m and 1250m respectively, the Shamardal gelding ran third over 1400m at Caulfield last time out and looks like he’ll enjoy stepping back to 1200m here.
Iconoclasm ($8.50) is seeking a third-consecutive win on Saturday, but has drawn the carpark and will need plenty of luck early. The son of Toorak Toff savaged the line to beat a quality field at Morphettville last time out and is four weeks between runs leading into this race. He has been charged with carrying only 55kgs and will be ridden by Ben Allen for the first time.
I will be having a small each-way bet on Catesby at his current price, but this is an extremely difficult race to analyse confidently.
Quality galloper Milwaukee ($3.30) is in action third-up in Race 8 and looms as the horse to beat again. The Fastnet Rock gelding returned from a freshen-up to win a sprint down the Flemington straight on March 17th, before performing well for third amongst classy company at Caulfield a fortnight ago. Milwaukee will jump from the ideal barrier 3 and with claiming apprentice Chris Caserta in the saddle, can return to winning form.
It’s tough to call how the enigmatic Mr Individual will perform, but he has generally found his best at Caulfield and could prove over the odds at his current $12 quote.
A capacity field will step out in the final race of the day and it looms as a great opportunity for punters to take advantage of some late value.
The Daniel Bowman-trained Working From Home will have a bit of work to do from gate 12, but she has been terrific this time and can salute at odds here. The Time Thief mare produce a strong performance to post a dominant win over 1200m at Moonee Valley last time out and will only improve into this race. She has conditions to suit on Saturday and will take plenty of beating, with appropriate luck in running.