Australia Day racing at Caulfield with form, odds and free tips
START your Australia Day off on the right note this Thursday with a punt on the great racing action at Caulfield, which includes the John Dillon Barton Stakes.
We have form, odds and free tips for all eight races on the card and the action doesn’t stop with the Barton Stakes. The Blue Diamond Preview for fillies and also the Preview for colts and geldings are two of the must-watch races for any punter looking at the Blue Diamond market and current favourite Tulip will be in action.
Sign up with CrownBet and if your horse finishes second or third on races 1-4 at Caulfield, it will match your bet in rewards points.
Race 1 – Anne Billings Handicap (2000m)
Royal Applause is showing punters just how consistent it is with four consecutive second placings. The Symon Wilde-trained mare tried hard on this track last start and Craig Williams takes the ride again. The weight of 54.5kg helps and it’s a good chance at $5.
She’s Got Speed has been slightly disappointing this campaign, but it continues to get well backed. The Danny O’Brien-trained mare is currently $6.50 to win on Thursday following a last start fifth at Sandown. It rises up in grade for this which isn’t ideal, but Oliver is a key booking and it drops in weight.
Falika is on the second line of betting following three straight wins. The Greg Eurell-trained mare was a devastating seven-length winner last start at Cranbourne on a heavy track and although this is a big step up in class, it looks to have natural talent. Follow any late money.
Race 1 tip: Royal Applause to win ($5) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 2 – Clanbrooke Racing Handicap (1400m)
Summer Wind was heavily backed last start and it did the job well for punters. The Ellerton/Zahra-trained filly showed form in its first five starts, which included a placing behind Shadow Fighter at Yarra Valley. The daughter of Stratum has plenty of ability and it looks a chance at $4.40.
Crystal Fountain is an unbeaten filly which is drifting in the market. The Freedman-trained runner opened at $3.80 and has drifted out to $4.40 despite winning well at Moonee Valley last start. The form in behind its three wins has been strong and it only needs luck from a tricky draw.
Kenedna has come in for support at $4.80 after opening at $6. The Darren Weir-trained filly ran on well behind Oak Door last start which came after its narrow win at Echuca. Having another run at this distance will suit and punters should respect any money coming for it.
Race 2 tip: Summer Wind to win ($4.40) at Palmerbet.com.au
Race 3 – The Blue Diamond Preview Colts & Geldings (1000m)
Property sped to the lead on debut at Caulfield, but was caught by Catchy late in the piece. The Robert Smerdon-trained gelding looked to have natural ability and it will have taken benefit from the run. Not the easiest draw from barrier six, but consider at odds of $4.80.
Azazel was a stylish winner on debut at Moonee Valley in the Inglis 2YO before running fourth in the Maribyrnong Plate. The Tony McEvoy-trained colt was slow out of the barriers last start, but it has been primed with good trial effort and it shouldn’t be overlooked at $4.
Wait For No One is the current favourite at $3 following two handy efforts. The Hayes/Dabernig-trained colt won on debut before running third behind Aspect last start. The well-bred son of Lonhro has plenty of speed so the distance and the inside barrier draw will suit perfectly. Respect the betting and consider.
Race 3 tip: Wait For No One to win ($3) at Bet365.com
Race 4 – The Blue Diamond Preview Fillies (1000m)
Limestone has been heavily backed into $3.30 after opening at $4.50. The Weir-trained filly finished third on debut behind Catchy before winning easily last time out at Flemington. The daughter of Helmut has the ability to run quick times and it looks one of the stronger chances in this race.
Tulip looked a class above on debut when winning by 1.75 lengths at Moonee Valley. The Coolmore filly settled back in the field before producing a huge finish to beat Pure Emotion and it looks to have a stack of ability. Caulfield will suit nicely and Craig Williams is riding in great form at the moment. It opened at $2.60 and has drifted out to $2.70.
Miss Wahoo has run on well in both starts to date and although it’s probably looking for longer, it should be competitive over the 1000m. The Tony McEvoy-trained filly finished off well behind Wait For No One and Limestone in two starts to date and we wouldn’t rule it out at $9.
Race 4 tip: Tulip to win ($2.70) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 5 – Swettenham Stud Summer Championship Final (1700m)
Kapour is only a four-win gelding, but it has ability as it showed when running fifth in the Geelong Cup behind Almoonqith. The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding hasn’t won since, but it has placed at Caulfield since and this will be an easier target than its last start at Randwick. Chance at $5.
Darren Weir lines up Lucky Paddy which won the Woodford Cup two starts back. The five-year-old mixes its form, but it has winning claims at its best. Dropping down in weight to 54.5kg is ideal and punters have confidently backed it at $3.80.
Dodging Bullets has been dodging the winners enclosure for some time now, but it has been going desperately close. The five-year-old finished second last start having placed behind Big Duke at its start prior. It ran second at its only Caulfield start and having Williams in the saddle is ideal.
Race 5 tip: Lucky Paddy to win ($3.80) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 6 – Mookrookyle Park Thoroughbred Stud Handicap (1600m)
First Approval will have to cope with a tricky draw, but its form is consistent. The Snowden-trained colt finished second behind the talented Tactical Advantage two back at Randwick before running third at Warwick Farm last start. It has a bad draw of nine, but the odds of $4.20 suggests it will be competitive in this.
Hard Promise looks to have ability and bookmakers are respecting its form. The Smerdon-trained colt is the current favourite at $3.10 following back-to-back easy wins. It won by three lengths at Cranbourne before winning again at Geelong last start. It gets the inside draw and it gives Craig Williams yet another top ride.
Alma’s Rossa flashed home late last start at Caulfield which suggests the rise to the mile will suit. The Matthew Williams-trained filly looked at home on this track last start and it should get a good run from barrier five. It opened at $6 and has dropped into $5, which makes it a winning chance.
Race 6 tip: First Approval to place ($1.70) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 7 – John Dillon Barton Stakes (1400m)
Grande Rosso is a six-win gelding which looked better than average last start. The Hayes/Dabernig-trained five-year-old won the Chester Manifold Stakes by over a length and it has won four from eight starts at this distance. There is plenty of depth to this field, but it looks a winning hope at $5.
Duke Of Brunswick has yet to finish out of the money in five second-up starts and another strong showing looks likely. The Mick Price-trained gelding also goes well at Caulfield with two wins from seven starts and dropping in weight to 54kg after winning the Xmas Stakes is a gift. Consider its chances at odds of $6.
Humidor is a capable former New Zealand gelding which had no luck last start in the Group 1 Cantala Stakes. Formerly with Jonno Brenner, the four-year-old won four from nine in New Zealand and it has some serious ability. It goes best when ridden on the speed and this field isn’t anything harder than it’s already faced. It opened at $9, which was way too high, and has subsequently firmed into $7.50.
Race 7 tip: Humidor to place ($2.45) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 8 – Mypunter R78 Plate (1200m)
Magicus is out of form after finishing last at Rosehill in October. The Waller-trained gelding is a past winner fresh up and it has won three times at this distance. It won’t be easy to carry the big weight, but the $6 suggests it has a winning chance here.
Rich Charm is a winner of three from 11 and it has needed both runs back from a spell. The four-year-old finished off well behind Crystal Dreamer two back at Sandown before running well at Flemington last start. This will be its first run at Caulfield which isn’t easy, but consider at $5.50.
Stellar Collision looked to possess plenty of ability last campaign, but it hasn’t hit out this preparation. The Weir-trained gelding has been well-backed in all four runs this time in and sixth is its best result. Ben Allen takes 2kg off its back which brings it into contention.
Race 8 tip: Rich Charm to win ($5.50) at Palmerbet.com.au