The time-honoured PB Lawrence Stakes headlines a big offering at Caulfield on Saturday, and it really does feel like the Melbourne Spring Carnival has arrived!
The PB Lawrence is often used as a springboard into some of the Spring Carnival’s major Group 1 feature races, and names like Mr Brightside, Mystic Journey and Hartnell feature on the recent winner’s list.
If you’re yet to do the form, don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with our full Caulfield tip sheet below.
Sunset Dreaming won the VOBIS Gold Stockade most notably last time, while her fresh effort this time behind Herbert Park hinted at improvement. She strips fitter for it and something like this is within her abilities.
Rhapsody Chic returned to action for an eye-catching win out at Seymour in late May and hasn’t taken a backwards step, winning each of his three subsequent starts impressively. He’s hard fit, has the runs on the board and as long as he holds his form, he’ll be in the thick of things again when the whips start cracking.
In Her Stride returned to action to record consecutive victories earlier this year, and while another win appeared to be imminent, she failed to beat a runner home in BM84 company at Flemington last time out. That was a luckless performance that I am going to put a line through, and she has the ability to turn it around in peak order this week.
Piastri was too good for them out at Sale in his first run back from a break, and after filling the minors behind the talented Marble Nine two runs back, he was dominant at his latest. The small drop in trip shouldn’t prove to be a hassle and he’s another one that takes his place at Caulfield in peak order.
Blue Stratum returned to the races for a dominant win in maiden company at Pakenham and franked that performance by winning a tougher race at The Valley last week. This isn’t the strongest Vain Stakes in recent memory, and he looks well placed to be in the finish again.
Arabian Summer stamped herself as one to follow during a two-year-old season that featured three wins and two second placings from just six starts. She was last seen recording a hit-and-run win up in Brisbane during the Winter Carnival, and this looks a lovely campaign launchpad for her, with a view towards Group 1 features.
Expressiveness was excellent throughout her most recent preparation, winning a few nice races and hitting the line to finish an agonizingly close second in the Group 1 Telegraph most notably. Her fresh record is good, and this looks a nice launchpad for her.
Pinstriped showed Group 1 potential during his three-year-old season, and while a win at the highest level as eluded him, he’s picked off plenty of nice races along the way. He was only denied by Mr Brightside in this race when last first-up, and with some typically lofty targets set again this season, he can begin on the right night.
The Open has hardly turned in a poor performance this time in, and after recording yet another win in dominant fashion at Sandown two back, he returned to Saturday company to finish a tough second behind Rhapsody Chic here a fortnight ago. He’s hard fit and with some luck from the barrier, I think he’ll be in it again.