High Bridge returned to winning form with a dominant effort at Flemington a fortnight ago and looks well placed to make it two in a row at Caulfield today. The Monsun gelding has enjoyed good improvement each time that he has stepped out this preparation, and he was far too good for a decent field of stayers fourth-up. This race is no harder and the horse will retain the services of Dwayne Dunn.
Dalasan hasn’t been seen at the races since Derby Day, but he is yet to taste anything but success when fresh and can made a winning return in this afternoon’s Neds Manfred Stakes. The Dalakhani colt hasn’t run a bad race since debuting, recording five wins and two minors from only eight starts, and he was a standout in a good crop of three-year-olds during the spring. There are a few good ones engaged for a start in this race, but I simply cannot look past this horse’s first-up record. I thought the $2.90 put up when the market opened was an excellent price.
River Bird resumed with a decent effort to fill the minors in a similar race to this at Rosehill a fortnight ago, and she can go on with the job today at a lovely price ($10 at publish). The Epaulette mare was a strong and consistent performer for the Coyle stable last time in and recorded three-consecutive wins in Saturday metro company most notably. She’s drawn well with a very manageable 55.5kgs in tow.
Femme Fireball will enjoy good improvement into her second campaign start and is primed to win the penultimate at Eagle Farm today, at a price ($6.50 at publish). The Rob Heathcote-trained mare has recorded six wins from only eighteen career starts so far and resumed from a lengthy spell to filly the minors in BM90 company here a fortnight ago. With even luck, she can fight out the finish.