Caulfield Heath is set to stage another eight-race midweek meeting this Wednesday, with the track likely to remain a touch on the wet side.
The rail will be positioned 5 metres out around the entire course, and while the early races appear fairly straightforward, there should be plenty of value in the more competitive events later in the program.
To help break down the form, we’ve taken a close look at all eight races below.
TRIUMVIRATE (3) looks much better suited on a firmer deck this time around.
The Hayes-trained three-year-old was runner-up two weeks ago at Geelong over a slightly shorter journey, facing a Heavy 9 with three weeks between runs in what turned out to be a slowly run race.
Now a six-start maiden, he’s been agonisingly close to breaking through this prep and is likely to receive an economical run in the early stages off the speed.
| 3. Triumvirate (6) J: Craig Williams 59.5kg 33222 T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
BALTIC BLIZZARD (4) appears to have taken a serious step in the right direction for Henry Dywer’s team.
The daughter to Hanseatic was an impressive 3.5 length winner of her maiden on return over 1400m at Ballarat, bumping another runner early before settling midfield, to eventually run on strongly with plenty left in the tank.
This is tougher, but she should love the cut in the ground and just needs a touch of luck to go her way from the inside alley.
| 4. Baltic Blizzard (1) J: Declan Bates 56kg 22×1 T: Henry Dwyer |
HARUHI (13) has to be considered a key chance if she earns a spot in this field as the first emergency.
The daughter to Rebel Dane has made two appearances at the races so far, debuting at Sandown last month where she was a little keen in the early stages on her way to finishing down the order.
She improved slightly at Flemington to finish fourth in a competitive 1100m race on a very wet day, and may have gone closer if she wasn’t held up badly around the 300m mark.
The winkers come off now, and while she’s still got some maturing to do, she looks ready to peak third-up in an open race.
| 13. Haruhi (10) J: Luke Cartwright 54.5kg 74 T: Amy & Ash Yargi |
FOUR CANDLES (10) is a decent value play in a tricky race.
The Hawkes-trained son to Castelvecchio didn’t have a great deal of luck when resuming here over much shorter, caught five-wide at one point before being restrained to avoid checking across heels.
That was his first run back since mid-December mind you, with his previous performance seeing him run on late at Canterbury over 1900m in similar soft conditions.
Out over longer now with improvement still to come, he’s capable of landing in the money from a good gate.
| 10. Four Candles (4) J: Beau Mertens 56.5kg 521×9 T: M, W & J Hawkes |
DANTOOINE (3) is an honest type who is typically thereabouts.
Tom Dabernig’s gelding hasn’t put a foot wrong this prep, winning two back at Warrnambool on a slipper track, before stepping up to the 1500m trip here at the Heath, where he gave a nice sight running on for second from midfield.
He’ll carry 1.5kg extra for his troubles on Wednesday but is expected to go well with some sting out of the track and the soft gate offering him every chance.
| 3. Dantooine (3) J: Holly Durnan 62kg 13212 T: Tom Dabernig |
The unbeaten TENNESSEE BOUND (8) is a ripper mare who doesn’t look out of place resuming in this lineup.
A daughter to Written Tycoon, we saw her put 2.5 lengths between herself and her rivals last November here on the Heath track over 1200m, before being quickly sent back to the paddock.
Her recent trials leading in have only been plain, but that was also the case ahead of her debut over the spring. In well with the claim and most importantly, drawn a nice soft gate, she should take a power of beating.
| 8. Tennessee Bound (3) J: Jabez Johnstone 59.5kg 111x T: Ciaron Maher |
ACTUALITY (7) just needs the track to dry out to be a serious threat.
She’s been good without winning for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman recently, finding the placings twice at Mornington and Caulfield on the course proper, before the wet track cost her over her final few strides at Sandown last time out.
The stable have given her a break of close to three weeks between runs and the blinkers go on now for the first time, two clear indications that another win isn’t far away.
| 7. Actuality (2) J: Emily Pozman 58kg x7324 T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
KOKAKO (10) is a better chance than the odds suggest.
Lloyd Kennewell’s mare has missed the cash only twice from seven starts, winning at Pakenham in mid February before she was sent to the paddock for a quick spell.
The daughter to Swiss Ace resumed to finish just under five lengths off at Morphettville in the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes last month and has been given another five weeks between runs.
Dropping in class with a trial between starts, she’s a decent chance with a little early luck from wider out.
| 10. Kokako (8) J: Lachlan Neindorf 59kg 6x1x5 T: Lloyd Kennewell |