Feature racing returns to The Valley on Saturday and the Carlyon Stakes headlines a ten-race program.
I’ve run the rule over every galloper and race, and you can find all of my 2023 Carlyon Stakes Day Tips below.
Amur makes his return to the races in the first at The Valley on Saturday, and it looks a perfect kick-off point.
The Snitzel colt stamped himself as one to watch during his debut prep, winning three of five starts and filling the minors on another occasion.
He’s had two smart trials in the lead-up to this return and will take beating.
The Prodigal Son returned to winning form at Flemington last time out, and I think he can make it two in a row this week, as long as he handles The Valley.
The Fighting Son gelding was far too good for them at Canberra in his first start back, and after a couple of luckless starts in town, he simply couldn’t have been more impressive last time.
He’s hard fit and drawn to receive every chance again.
Fistsoffury steps out this week second-up and primed to strike on Carlyon Stakes Day.
The Team Hawkes-trained galloper was good during his debut prep, winning on debut and performing admirably in Group 2 company.
His first run back this time was good too, and saw him hit the line to fill the minors behind a couple of fit opponents in BM70 company at Sandown.
With improvement, he can fight out the finish of something like this.
Ima Shelby takes winning form into this race and is undefeated at this point of his preparation.
The Lindsay Park-trained gelding was a typically consistent performer last time in, winning in BM70 company here most notably and finding form around some talented opposition.
He was too good for them in BM78 company at Sandown when resuming and with even luck, I’m confident he’ll take beating again this week.
There is a case to be made for a few of them in Race 5 at The Valley on Saturday, and I thought that Bainbridge looked a key winning chance at a lovely price ($10 at publish).
Bainbridge has been a good and consistent performer this time in, and he takes his place in this field following an impressive performance over the same route, which saw him finish second after only just being pipped.
He’s hard fit, can employ the same tactics from the inside draw, and we can have an each way play.
I’m pretty keen on Inhibitions in this contest.
Inhibitions raced consistently throughout her debut prep, breaking her maiden and finding form around some quality metro-grade gallopers.
I thought that her first run back this time when third, beaten around a length and a half at Rosehill hinted at improvement, and she’s been back to the trials since that effort.
It had been quite a while since he tasted success, but Young Werther finally managed to strike at Flemington at his latest appearance, and it could open the floodgates.
He’s always been an above-average horse and is a multiple Group 1 placegetter, but he just couldn’t seem to get the monkey off his back!
Young Werther will have to carry topweight and overcome the outside draw this week, but it does look an arguably weaker race, and I think he can go on with it.
I’m confident that Omni Man can and will bounce back in the Carlyon Stakes.
Omni Man has returned to the races in career-best form this time and has continued to jump as the bar has been raised, winning three metro races in succession before only just missing here at his latest.
Jordy Childs retains the ride, the horse is hard-fit and should get every chance again from the inside draw.
Understandably, the talented St Lawrence has opened favourite in betting ahead of the penultimate race on Carlyon Stakes Day, but he’s unproven at The Valley and I am going to take him on.
The one that I have landed on is Regardsmaree.
Regardsmaree is yet to strike in three starts back from a break, but he’s been an outstanding horse for Nick Ryan for a few seasons now, and steps out this week in peak order.
This is arguably the weakest race that he has contested so far this time, he has raced well at The Valley previously, and the $14 about him at publish is a touch of overs in my opinion.
Maximillius returned a winner here at The Valley a couple of weeks ago and can make it two when he steps out in the last on Carlyon Stakes Day.
Maximillius performed well in some strong three-year-old races in the autumn, finishing third in the CS Hayes Stakes most notably.
I’m expecting plenty of improvement from his fresh effort and win, and something like this does look the next logical step.