Caulfield Heath Tips & Preview | Wednesday 29 April

NORTH DAKOTA (2) is third-up now for Team Hawkes and ready to peak. 

The son to Ole Kirk made up for a disappointing first-up effort to run third at Sandown last start over 100m shorter, angling his way into the clear along the inside to hit the line hard. 

He was doing his best work late on a slightly wet track, so getting back on top of the ground should suit him now over further. 

BLUE COWBOY (4) looks a likely improver in a difficult race to try and assess.  

The son to Blue Point resumes to finish two lengths off at Sale a few weeks ago where he was wide without cover the whole way. 

He’s competed over 1500m only once in the past but gets in well thanks to the 2kg claim. If he can offset the wide gate early and find the box seat, he should be right there when it counts. 

FORBIDDEN DESIRE (10) rates a live each-way chance ahead of her second run back. 

Lloyd Kennewell’s mare let down well with a solid turn of foot to run third fresh from a spell at Pakenham, form that has held up well with the winner going on to run second in the Group 3 Breeders Stakes last Saturday at Morphettville. 

The step back to 1000m should suit and she gets in well with the claim under Logan Bates. 

AUTUMN SLIDE (2) has drawn a nice soft gate that should allow her every opportunity to drop and switch off around midfield.  

Simon Zahra’s mare has been close in two runs back so far, beaten only a length fresh at Cranbourne, before heading to Caulfield where she ran third stepping up sharply over the mile. 

This is her pet trip over 1800m and she’s typically done some of her best racing third-up. If she’s afforded the right ride, she’ll be hard to hold out.  

KALMANA (4) stretches out to 1800m following two decent efforts over much shorter. 

A son to Microphone, this lightly-raced three-year-old has made the journey north from South Australia, last seen running three lengths off at Stakes level over 1400m. 

This is a nice drop back in class for him fourth-up and he looks to have enough early speed to roll forward and offset the wide gate early under Mark Zahra. 

TRES MAGNIFIQUE (9) has sights on her hat-trick after saluting as an equally short-priced favourite at Sandown a couple of weeks ago. 

She virtually had the race shot to bits after rolling forward to find the front, quickening at the 400m mark down the straight go on and win by a comfortable 1.75 length margin in the end. 

This is a little trickier from the gate, but providing she isn’t wanting further now third-up, there’s still plenty left in the tank to suggest she can go on with it. 

ALEPPO PINE (5) has been given a good break between runs after last finishing four lengths off at Morphettville. 

The gelding out of the Hayes camp responded in a big way when he was first past the post in a recent Flemington jump out, beating home last Saturday’s Group 3 DC McKay Stakes winner Grand Larceny.  

Resuming with 60kg is the query but he’s drawn well and looks a leading chance coming back a level.  

BEL LUPA (13) is an each-way chance sticking to 1200m. 

She was a convincing winner of her maiden fresh at Pakenham two runs back, before a slow start and some questionable tactics cost her at Caulfield a few weeks later. 

Greg Eurell’s filly has flashed real potential at times during her five-start career, and she should be a genuine chance if she jumps on time with a soft gate affording her every opportunity to stalk the speed.