Ten races will be run and won on the highly anticipated 2023 Caulfield Cup Day!
$5 million goes on the line in the Caulfield Cup, but all ten events have drawn talented fields, and it shapes as one of the better betting programs of the Spring Racing Carnival.
Find my thoughts and 2023 Caulfield Cup Day Tips below.
I’ve been with Brave Mead in each of his two runs back from a break, and I am confident that he can return to winning form in the first on Caulfield Cup Day.
The son of Brave Smash struck in Listed company during his debut prep most notably, and he’s only just been denied in a couple of 1200m sprints at The Valley this season.
Mark Zahra retains the ride and with luck, this looks a great race for the horse.
Riff Rocket climbed into Victoria Derby favouritism with a dominant performance in the Listed Super Impose at Flemington a couple of weeks ago, and he can complete his lead-up to that race by winning the Neds Classic as well.
He is an excellent horse with a bright future, but he’s a little short in the market for me ($1.45 at publish), so I am going to select him as the winner in a Same Race Multi and pump up my odds with To Be Frank running into the first three.
This is a decent rise in class for To Be Frank, but he made light work of them at Pakenham last time after missing the start, and he takes further improvement into this race.
Same Race Multi selections:
- 2 Riff Rocket (Win)
- 7 To Be Frank (Top 3)
Tropical Squall won in Group 1 company in Sydney last time out, but as a short-priced favourite at publish, I am going to take her on with Autumn Angel.
Autumn Angel returned an easy winner in maiden company at Sandown in August, and she’s since finished third in a 1500m handicap at The Valley, and the Group 2 Stutt Stakes last time out.
The form out of that race has been franked by Griff winning the Neds Caulfield Guineas last week, and I’m keen to see this girl out to the 2000m for the first time in the Ethereal Stakes.
Open edition of the Gothic Stakes and for that reason, I’m inclined to give Treasurway another chance at huge odds ($26 at publish).
She’s yet to show her best in three runs back from a break, but Treasurway was luckless in her first run back at The Valley, and she turned in an improved performance third-up when fifth in the Danehill Stakes last time out.
She looks to be in peak order this week, while the booking of Ben Melham and a good barrier add further confidence this week.
This is an open edition of the Thousand Guineas Prelude with many winning chances engaged, including Azula.
Azula hasn’t been seen at the races since June, but she stamped herself as one to watch during her debut prep by winning consecutive races, including the Listed Phoenix, and earning a run in Group 1 company.
Timmy Clark will almost certainly take her forward from Barrier 6, and there isn’t a better on-speed judge in the country, in my opinion.
At around the $11 mark (at publish), she’s another whom we can have something on each way.
He hasn’t been seen at the races since May, but the Caulfield Sprint looks a perfect campaign launchpad for Stakes winner Lofty Strike.
The well-bred entire has been a star for the Julius Sandhu yard since debuting, and he is unlucky not to have won in Group 1 company.
He was an eye-catching winner at this class when resuming in autumn this year, and under Damien Oliver, he should receive every chance on Saturday.
The Tristarc Stakes has drawn a quality field of mares including smart Kiwi raider, Skew Wiff.
She is yet to ply her trade on an Australian track, but Skew Wiff has hardly put a hoof wrong during her thirteen career starts so far, and she was last seen winning the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy in September.
Jockey Opie Bosson travels to Melbourne specifically to partner this mare, and she is certainly up to winning.
Happy to stick with Nunthorpe until she gives us a reason not to!
The quality mare finished second, beaten less than a length in BM70 company in her first run back from a break, and we were with her when she recorded consecutive wins in BM84 company here at Caulfield.
She’s hard fit, and I think that the Neds Moonga Stakes looks an ideal bit of black type for her.
$5 million goes on the line in the time-honoured Caulfield Cup, and another quality list of local and international stayers will chase their place in the history books.
I’ve put Japanese raider Breakup on top, but check out my full race preview and complete 2023 Caulfield Cup Tips RIGHT HERE.
Viviane has won each of her last five race starts, and she looks the one to beat again in the Alinghi Stakes.
The Written Tycoon mare returned to winning form at Sandown in June and hasn’t taken a backwards step, recording impressive victories at each of her four subsequent starts and continuing to jump as the bar is raised.
This is another rise in class, but it looks well within her means.