How do you know Spring is almost upon us? A fair chunk of black type proven horses are resuming at the track. That’s how.
There is four Group and Listed races at Caulfield this Saturday which includes the feature event, the Group 2 P.B Lawrence Stakes.
Star mare Mystic Journey will be seen for the first time since she won the inaugural All-Star Mile and she has opened the even money favourite for the race.
Our full preview of the nine race card along with our tips for every race can be found here.
I thought Forbid Me Not was well over the odds for a race of this quality. The five year old mare looked the winner late in the race at The Valley before Queen Annabel swamped her late and this race doesn’t look too much harder. She’ll be much better suited at the 1100m where she won by 2.5 lengths at Warrnambool and she has drawn a beautiful barrier.
Rat With Goldtooth is never far way in her races having missed the playoffs rings only three times in her 15 start career to date. Her last two runs at 1400m suggest to me that she is looking for a furthering although this is her first go beyond the mile, I think she can measure up in a race if this quality.
A very tricky race with a number of internationals having their first up runs but I’m happy to be with a local that is fit and in good form. New Universe was an impressive winner over the mile at The Valley last start and although this is his first go at Caulfield I think he can give us a good sight late.
Age Of Chivalry returned to the races with an eye catching fifth at The Valley first up behind Usain Bowler. The now four year old was beaten a lip by The Inevitable at Group 3 level last prep and that horse has since come out and won very impressively first up from a spell. He is a horse that can progress to a higher level of racing than this contest and he can start now with a win here.
I’m happy to look past the top two in the market here and be with the Sebring colt. The Hayes team have looked after this talented three year old after he had just the one run during the Autumn. That was a very impressive win down the Flemington straight in which he led all the way. He is already a big strong boy and if he has matured and come on physically even more in the paddock, I think he can be a force in some of the better races for his age group this Spring.
A tough race to assess with plenty of quality fillies returning to the races since the Autumn. When in doubt, go with the best horse in the race, and on exposed form to date, Lyre is that horse. She won the Blue Diamond with a sweeping run from last and lost no admirers on the heavy track when running third in the Golden Slipper. She has the extra weight to contend with first up but look for her late.
This is a very high quality Listed race and I think these two horses will be right up the front pushing the pace and have the others off the bit rounding the turn. Fundamentalist is a high quality mare and Begood Toya Mother is clearly a horse with a large amount of ability.
I wouldn’t be taking anything less than even money for the star mare Mystic Journey but whichever way you look at it she seems the one to beat. This looks a perfect race for her to kick start what could be a really good campaign for her. She has drawn perfectly and can settle just in behind Trap For Fools and Cliffs Edge who can set a nice tempo and her recent trials suggest she is going well enough first up to win.
I’m happy to be with Crack The Code in the last race of the day. The I Am Invincible mare was not beaten far first up down the Flemington straight and I think she is better suited around the bend. She has won two from two at Caulfield and with the 2kg claim, she should go very close in a race of this quality.