The sun is finally shining on Melbourne’s midweek racing scene, with an action-packed eight-race card set for Caulfield Heath this Wednesday.
Quality runners feature across almost every race, with a Good 4 track expected and the rail remaining in the true position around the course.
For our best bets, key selections and race-by-race analysis, check out our full Caulfield Heath Preview below!
SCAROLE (7) is fourth-up now for Ciaron Maher and ready to win.
The colt to Ole Kirk rolled forward and settled third last time out at Sandown Hillside over the same trip, holding his position all the way to grab second in a blanket finish beaten only 1.5 lengths.
He showed some nice late speed when the pressure came and gets in with 1kg off now under Thomas Stockdale. Racing on a dry track for the first time should also help his cause.
| 7. Scarole (7) J: Thomas Stockdale 57kg 822 T: Ciaron Maher |
TWISTED LOVE (5) has each-way claims in a wide-open contest over the mile.
She’s a mare that doesn’t win out of turn, but there was plenty to like about her return effort off a spell at Mornington two weeks ago, charging home down the outside to finish half a length off in second with plenty left to give.
Gavin Bedgood’s mare is likely looking for longer still, but with a win and a place to her name over 1600m and a bit of relief at the weights, she’s a major contender if she can produce that same turn of foot.
| 5. Twisted Love (6) J: Jamie Mott 56.5kg 196×2 T: Gavin Bedggood |
INNER GOLD (3) is making his fourth start for Ciaron Maher and appears to be trending in the right direction.
The colt by Zoustar was three-wide last time out at Sandown over 1200m, finishing down the order in the end behind in a race that has produced some very strong form lines since.
The booking of Mark Zahra is notable and signals some intent from the stable, while I also like him back slightly in trip off a four-week break.
| 3. Inner Gold (3) J: Mark Zahra 58kg 57×6 T: Ciaron Maher |
SUPERBEC (11) likes to race on the speed and is expected to be prominent early on from a wide barrier.
The daughter to Kingman has gone close on a couple of occasions over four starts to date, notably running third at Flemington when resuming in August over a shorter trip.
She was outclassed in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes second-up, but really showed some nice improvement last time out at Sandown back over 1000m when making up late ground to run a narrow second.
Fitter now and up again in trip, she’ll be one of the hardest to catch back on a dry deck.
| 11. Superbec (16) Scratched: | |||
KILLENAULE (8) is easy to have on recent form.
He’s gone agonisingly close in all three starts this prep, running a place on each occasion from tricky barriers throughout.
Ciaron Maher’s galloper was forced to make up some extra ground last time out at Sandown over the same trip, and although he was beaten three-quarters of a length, he should be much better for the run.
Maps to get back early from the gate this time and he should be launching late when it counts for a well overdue victory.
| 8. Killenaule (9) J: Jabez Johnstone 56.5kg 8×232 T: Ciaron Maher |
CABRIOLE (11) resumes for Team Freedman and rates one of the better bets of the day.
The son to Lonhro strikes a big field in this short sprint contest, but we got a good look at what he’s all about earlier in the autumn when he strung together a pair of impressive victories by a combined 8+ lengths at Geelong and Sale.
Some form around recent Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes place-getter Autumn Boy also stands out back when he was a 3YO, and following some encouraging recent jump outs, he should be ready to fire here fresh with Mark Zahra on board.
| 11. Cabriole (8) J: Mark Zahra 57kg x113x T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
IN’KANTOSSTAR (8) is another short-priced favourite that looks incredibly tough to beat.
The four-year-old son to Per Incanto has his eyes on a hat-trick of wins now after rising through the grades in impressive style winning by big margins at Ballarat and Geelong.
He’s drawn perfectly in barrier 2 for this assignment with Ethan Brown sticking and figures to be a major player up on the speed in the early stages.
| 8. In’Kantosstar (2) J: Ethan Brown 58kg 2×11 T: Ciaron Maher |
Keen to see what ATTACHMENTS (7) can produce off a bit of a break.
We last saw her landing around midfield at Cranbourne in late February where she was found to have some issues post-race, but her two recent jump outs suggest she’s bounced back well enough to be a threat first-up.
Archie Alexander’s mare has run some nice races fresh and still has enormous upside as a lightly-raced five-year-old.
Capable of handling 1200m back from a break, she’s a worthwhile each-way chance in a tricky contest to end the day.
| 7. Attachments (6) J: Holly Durnan 57kg 1426x T: Archie Alexander |