Blue Sapphire Stakes betting tips, form and odds, October 18
THE $350,000 Blue Sapphire Stakes is the premier race this Wednesday at Caulfield and we have free tips, form and odds for all eight races.
Caulfield doesn’t often hold midweek meetings, but this is the Melbourne spring carnival and it’s starting to heat up.
The Blue Sapphire Stakes features a talented field of three-year-olds which includes Jukebox, Crown Witness and New Zealand runner Summer Passage.
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Race 1 – BM84 Handicap (2400m)
Up ‘n’ Rolling hasn’t quite had everything go its way recently, but there’s no Alward in this and that will help. The Chris Waller-trained five-year-old finished second to its stablemate at its last two starts, but its two wins prior to those placings were top quality. It hasn’t enjoyed the smaller fields recently and it will appreciate the 10 runners here.
Sin to Win scored an overdue win last start for Lindsay Park and it could be tough to beat. The former New Zealand runner scored a tough win over 2025m last start and the rise to 2400m should suit well for this. We’re not sure it has the same turn-of-foot as its fellow Kiwi rival Up ‘n’ Rolling, but it has more toughness and any easing of the track brings it right into contention.
Race 1 tip: Up ‘n’ Rolling to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 2 – BM78 Handicap (2000m)
Goodwill hasn’t won for awhile now, but this is the time where the Robert Hickmott-trained runners win. The imported six-year-old has had only nine starts in an interrupted career, but it has placed at its last five starts in Australia and it deserves a winning turn. The son of Monjeu was hitting the line well at Caulfield last start and that form should be a good guide for this.
Andrea Mantegna is another lightly-tried import for Darren Weir which ran a narrow second behind Sin to Win last start. The five-year-old hasn’t quite lived up to early expectations, but it has posted a recent win over Goodwill and it has always looked best at this distance. It’s not the most consistent type in this field, but it should have plenty of support from punters.
Race 2 tip: Goodwill to win at Neds.com.au
Race 3 – BM70 Plate (1600m)
Woulda Thought So is a quality three-year-old for Lindsay Park which finished second on debut before winning narrowly at Ballarat last start. The well-bred So You Think gelding steps up in grade which is a positive this time in and it won’t have to spend much energy from the inside barrier. This is a wide open betting race and we’re expecting value each way odds here.
Stablemate Mutamayel has winning credentials and valuable experience. The Snitzel colt has won two of its four starts to date and it kept giving when third at Flemington last start. It kicked off its career with two consecutive wins before running a disappointing seventh in the Morphettville Guineas, but that’s stronger form than this and it should be in the mix.
Race 3 tip: Woulda Thought So to win at Unibet.com.au
Race 4 – BM84 Handicap (1400m)
Wall Street Wolf has rattled off three straight wins and they have been impressive performances. The Lindsay Park-trained gelding won by 4.75 lengths two starts back at Geelong before beating a handy field at Ballarat last start by a length. That win over the likes of Barthelona should stack up well despite being up in grade and it’s well-weighted for this.
Steel Frost has also won three consecutive races and there was plenty to like about its most recent win. The Will Clarken-trained five-year-old scored an impressive win at Caulfield last start and it has scored three wins since running 11th in the Country Championship at Randwick. It has been revitalised this campaign and punters will no doubt be backing it in again.
Race 4 tip: Steel Frost to win at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 5 – Ladies Day Vase (1600m)
Hell or Highwater rattled off three straight wins this campaign before running third behind I Am a Star in the Stocks Stakes. The Hayes/Dabernig-trained five-year-old has won eight from 24 starts and three of those have come at Caulfield. It has never finished out of the money in five starts at this distance and its form this campaign has stood up at the top level. It should prove tough to beat at the weights.
Flying Jess is flying after running second in the Stocks Stakes. The four-year-old has won only two of its 17 starts, but it has won almost $1.5 million due to a number of quality performances in big races. Its last twp starts have included stakes placings and it had no luck in the Let’s Elope Stakes two back. It continues to run at big odds, but that’s unlikely for this.
Race 5 tip: Flying Jess to win at Neds.com.au
Race 6 – Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m)
Jukebox is a professional type which has won three of its four starts and a last start placing in the Danehill Stakes. The Aaron Purcell-trained three-year-old won the Inglis 2YO and the Vain Stakes before that defeat and it didn’t lose any admirers in running second behind Catchy. It has been kept fresh by avoiding the big group one races and it only needs some luck from out wide here.
Crown Witness is the new horse on the scene having not been beaten in three starts to date. The Stuart Webb-trained filly was too tough for Catchy in the Quezette Stakes last start and that was a top line performance given how early in its career that came. It looks like a bomb-proof runner which enjoys racing on the speed and drawing the inside barrier is going to make it a winning chance.
Race 6 tip: Crown Witness to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 7 – Italktravel Handicap (1200m)
Keen Array returned to form when winning the Gilgai Stakes last start and it’s a confidence runner. The Lindsay Park-trained sprinter scored from in front down the Flemington straight and although Caulfield is a harder task, it has three wins from six starts there. It’s the best horse in this race when it’s right and punters saw good signs last start.
Rich Charm is a noted speedster which has won six of its 15 starts to date. The five-year-old has exceeded expectations to date with wins in the Grand Handicap Sprint and Vobis Gold Sprint. It had no luck behind Badajoz last start on this track and despite not owning great second-up form, punters should be weary of its sprinting ability at the light weight.
Race 7 tip: Keen Array to win at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 8 – BM84 Handicap (1700m)
Anaheim doesn’t have a great strike rate, but it’s a high-quality thoroughbred. The Busuttin/Young-trained four-year-old scored a top win at Caulfield when beating Sin to Win last month, but it couldn’t muster its best in the Benalla Cup last start. That came behind subsequent winner Lord Fandango and that form should stack up well this spring. Punters should get solid each way odds here.
Tiamo Grace has been average so far this campaign, but it didn’t have much luck last start and it’s better than that. The Weir-trained four-year-old won the Wakeful Stakes three starts back at Flemington and it’s had only two runs since. Those haven’t been great runs, but it gets better with time and the each way money should be on here.
Race 8 tip: Anaheim to win at Neds.com.au