2023 Christmas Stakes Day Tips & Preview
Ain'tnodeeldun will contest the Lord Stakes. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

2023 Christmas Stakes Day Tips & Preview

There’s plenty of quality racing to enjoy around the country on Boxing Day, including black type at Caulfield!

The Lord Stakes and Christmas Stakes headline the eight-race program, and you can find my complete Christmas Stakes Day Tips below.

Dennis Hanrahan Handicap (1800m) – 1:15pm AEDT
No. 6 Angel Down

Angel Down has hardly put a hoof wrong since debuting and can record another win at Caulfield on Boxing Day.

The Hellbent filly stamped herself as one to watch with an easy win on debut at Scone, and she only just missed in her metro debut here a fortnight ago.

I’m keen to see her out to the 1800m for the first time and she looks to have a very bright future.

Joe Brown Handicap (1400m) – 1:50pm AEDT
No. 11 She's Pretty Rich

This is probably one of the weaker races on the program, but She’s Pretty Rich boasts a fitness edge over a few key rivals here, and I thought that it was a great opportunity for her.

The Written Tycoon mare finished third, beaten less than a length in BM58 company in her first run back from a break before turning in another competitive performance to fill the minors over this route, last time out.

Fitter third-up, she can fight out the finish again.

Frank O’Brien Handicap (1400m) – 2:25pm AEDT
No. 4 Explosive Thinker

Explosive Thinker simply couldn’t have been more impressive at his first run back from a break, and he can go on with it at Caulfield on Boxing Day.

The So You Thin gelding turned in some decent efforts during his brief debut prep in the autumn of this year, but absolutely blew them away at The Valley first-up this month, greeting the judge more than two lengths ahead of his rivals.

He enjoyed big improvement into his second-up run last time in, and I think he’ll be winning again this week.

Allan Wicks Handicap (1600m) – 3pm AEDT
No. 6 Plenty Of Ammo

Plenty Of Ammo faces another rise in grade at Caulfield on Boxing Day, but she is undefeated in two runs back from a break, and something like this does look the next logical target.

The Rebel Raider mare went for a break after breaking her maiden at The ‘Bool in September, and picked up when she left off with a dominant four-length win at Ballarat last month.

Having repeated that performance for another four-length win over a mile at Sandown last time out, I really can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.

Ken Sturt Handicap (1100m) – 3:40pm AEDT
No. 15 Silver Waves

This looks another wide-open race with plenty of winning chances engaged, but I’m going to have something on the progressive Silver Waves.

Silver Waves hasn’t finished worse than second in four career starts to date, winning twice and returning with a decent effort behind Margie’s Boy out at Werribee.

With natural improvement and in something that looks to be as open as this, I think it’s a great opportunity for Silver Waves to strike in metro company.

Listed Magic Millions Lord Stakes (1700m) – 4:20pm AEDT
No. 2 Ain'tnodeeldun

The first of two black type races at Caulfield on boxing Day will see a decent field contest the Lord Strakes, including Ain’tnodeeldun.

He has always been a good horse, but after injury plagued much of his early career, Ain’tnodeeldun really did find his best through the recent Spring Carnival, winning each of his last three starts, including the Group 3 JRA Cup.

He’s a couple of months between starts, but I think his class will take him right into the finish regardless.

Listed Christmas Stakes (1100m) – 5pm AEDT
No. 12 Sghirippa

This is an outstanding edition of the Christmas Stakes, featuring an all-star cast of sprinters.

I’ve always had an opinion of the South Australia, Sghirripa, and this could very well prove the perfect black type feature for him.

Sghirripa turned in some excellent performances in the autumn and winter of this year, but resumed this time for two-consecutive metro wins, before filling the minors in the Caulfield Village Stakes over this route last month.

He has a fitness edge over several key rivals this week, and he can go straight to the lead from an inside draw and make all of his own luck up on the speed.

Take It To The Neds Level Handicap (1400m) – 5:40pm AEDT
No. 9 Toronto Terrier

Toronto Terrier recorded a deserved win at the midweeks last time out, and something like this looks the next logical step for him to take.

The Toronado gelding was only just denied at each of his first two starts back from a break, but hit the line two lengths ahead of his rivals in BM70 company last night under a heavy weight.

He’s hard fit this week and has options in running from the rails draw.