The Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes is the feature on Saturday’s 10-race program at Caulfield as the Melbourne Autumn Carnival continues to take shape.
Last-start winners Coleman and Eneeza sit atop the market in the 1000m sprint feature, while Ciaron Maher’s highly regarded gelding Jimmysstar makes his much-anticipated return in the last of the day.
We’ve run the rule over the entire meeting and our best bets can be found below!
Competitive race between the three-year-olds with a few of these looking likely.
Single ’N’ Ready has gone close in both runs back this time in work, held up for a run along the fence at Sandown a fortnight ago where she only found the clear late to run third in the end.
She had a bit go wrong at the barriers the race prior at Flemington, but handed in another pleasing effort down the outside to finish runner-up behind unbeaten gelding, The Reluctant Star.
Drawn to get the gun run along the fence and back slightly in trip with Blake Shinn sticking, I can’t find a reason why she won’t run well.
Crossoverkid looks to have a slight class edge over a few of his rivals after racing at Headquarters a few weeks ago when runner-up to subsequent Launceston Guineas winner, Bold Soul.
The three-year-old by Alpine Eagle is still in search of his first win, but there was a lot to like about that previous effort after storming home from the tail of the field under Jordan Childs.
The pair reunite again dropping back to 1800m. With not a lot of early speed on offer, they should be able to park off the speed and save their best for late again.
Tanto returns to Caulfield for the first time since running a place over the same trip as a two-year-old.
Matthew Ellerton’s mare has a tendency to mix her form, but the way she put away a small field at Sandown just over a week ago suggested she’s ready for the rise in class.
The daughter of Churchill was taken back under Damian Lane before drawing clear under hands and heels down the straight, eased up toward the line with plenty left in the tank.
She’s no stranger to running a big race over 1100m, and with Lane sticking, it wouldn’t be surprising if she goes on with the job.
Eneeza was a very impressive winner when we last saw her in December, winning a Stakes race down the straight here at Caulfield by a handy two-length margin.
The Exceed and Excel filly stoked up down the centre under Damian Lane, letting down around the 100m mark where she drew clear to score with real authority.
Her recent jump out at Pakenham should see her sharp with a gap between runs, providing she handles the slightly firmer conditions this time around.
Intrepid Eagle has been around the mark all prep, placing at Sandown twice with a win at The Valley sandwiched in between.
He went around at the midweek’s last week where he was strong to the line out wide, a strong effort after copping a bit of interference early on out of the barriers.
The gate makes this slightly tricky for Luke Currie, but out to a bigger track and plenty fit, he should be in the mix.
Monbaher is an intriguing runner out of the Matt Cumani yard making just his second start off a lengthy 78 week spell.
He was only two lengths off Dunkel over shorter at The Valley late last year, finding some excuses pre-race before home nicely down the centre of the straight.
The Irish raider should improve lengths off that performance and is typically better suited over these longer staying trips.
Botany can be a tricky horse to follow, but her best is certainly good enough to win a race of this caliber.
Peter Moody’s mare has gone close on a couple of occasions since resuming, finding the line late for third over shorter here two runs back where she found some traffic at the top of the straight.
She was only nailed late after looking the winner at Flemington a couple of weeks ago, a run that suggested she might be looking for further now.
This is her first crack at 1800m, but with wins over further to her name, we know she’s up to it.
The race pattern on paper sets up nicely for Rich Fortune to run a nice race here at a price.
The daughter of Rich Enuff is going on close to a year since her last win, but boy has she gone close in recent efforts, fighting out the finish two back at Flemington for third behind a couple of smart horses in Najem Suhail and Katsu.
She was with a length of Rey Magnerio at Geelong last start, getting going down the outside where she just lacked the extra gear coming off a fast tempo.
Craig Williams gets in the saddle for the first time now, and if he can get her to settle and find cover early, look for the pair to burst into the frame late in this year’s Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes.
Dipsy Doodle was down to race at one of the midweeks last week before being scratched.
She’s only lightly raced for Godolphin, but has already flashed promise placing second in a Stakes race at Scone last May where she went toe-to-toe with the winner all the way to the line.
The daughter of Lonhro is off a big break, but she did look in good order during a pair of recent trials in Sydney. Heading north now, she could surprise if Craig Newitt makes full use of the inside gate.
No surprise to find Jimmysstar well-supported here on return.
Ciaron Maher’s gelding made it four on the trot at Cranbourne back in November, each of those victories coming by a margin of at least a length.
Blake Shinn booted him home quite comfortably on Bendigo Cup Day the run prior, form that has stacked up nicely with a few coming out and winning since.
His recent jumpouts have been good and realistically, this looks like another stepping stone for him on the way to bigger races.