We’ll be treated to a highly-quality midweek metro meeting on 2023 Caulfield Social Day!
Ballot-free entry into Saturday’s Caulfield Cup goes on the line in the Neds Coongy Cup, but that’s just one of eight quality races on the program.
You can find all of my 2023 Caulfield Social Day Tips below!
I’m keen to see Mojave Desert go around in the first at Caulfield on Wednesday.
The I Am Invincible colt finished second, beaten less than half a length over 1400m at Warwick Farm when resuming, and he’s been far from disgraced in a couple of black type feature races since.
He looks to be in peak condition this week, while the booking of Damian Lane adds further confidence.
Ballot-free exemption into Saturday’s Caulfield Cup goes on the line in the Neds Coongy Cup, and I think it can be claimed by Steinem.
Steinem has been a Group 1 quality galloper since making her debut, and while she is yet to strike at the highest level, she has picked off some really nice races along the way.
She has stripped fitter for two starts back from a break, last seen finishing sixth in the Stocks Stakes at The Valley, but back to Caulfield on Wednesday and out to the 2000m, I think that this is her chances to strike.
Unsurprisingly, all ten confirmed gallopers in this field are on debut, and there has been good interest in betting for a few of them.
I can’t find anything that I am particularly confident in, so I am going to stay out of this one from a betting perspective, with a view towards something later in the two-year-old season.
Insulation has opened a firm and justifiable favourite in betting ahead of the Neds Punters Toolbox Handicap.
The Intello gelding has been excellent this time in, and recorded consecutive race wins at Sale and Morphettville before only just missing behind Fearentless at Flemington last time out.
He’s hard fit, looks to be the class engaged, and he is my best bet on the program.
Another early favourite that looks tough to beat on Neds Coongy Day in my opinion is Shock ‘Em Ova.
Shock ‘Em Ova went to the paddock following consecutive second placings in metro company back in autumn, and he picked up where he left off when second to No Surrender in BM70 company at Sandown.
Having enjoyed plenty of improvement into an eye-catching performance and win over a mile here on Underwood Stakes Day, he’s ready for the 2000m now, and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
We were with Dancing Alone when she made a winning debut in Melbourne a couple of weeks ago, and I don’t see any reason to jump off when she goes around at Caulfield on Wednesday.
The I Am Invincible mare has been great for the Bryce Heys yard since debuting, winning five of six starts, highlighted by her run at Flemington last time out.
Fitter third-up, she’s another that just need luck in running to take a power of beating again this week.
One of the tougher races on the program to analyse from a form and betting perspective, but Belthil has raced competitively in town previously, and he is up to winning.
The Telperion gelding has won three of nine starts since debuting, placing a further two times and finding form around some handy opposition.
He returned to action with a credible effort to finish third in BM70 company at Benalla last month, and he boasts a competitive second-up record.
This is a quality race to end Caulfield Social Day and there are plenty of talented gallopers engaged, including Ima Shelby.
Ima Shelby didn’t show much in the lucrative Gold Nugget out at Ballarat last time out, but his form prior to that was good, and including a win in BM78 company and a credible third behind the likes of Hennessy Lad at The Valley.
I like that he’s a few weeks between starts, and Mark Zahra has options in running on Wednesday from the rails draw.