Caulfield racing tips & value bets – Memsie Stakes Day 2020
Group 1 racing is back in Melbourne for another season, and we are met with near-perfect conditions on a drying track at Caulfield. Despite the storms in the area on Thursday night, we look set to be racing on a Good 4 on a mostly fine day.
The Group 1 Memsie Stakes is the feature race on Saturday, and there are plenty of questions to be answered in regards to some of the runners. Behemoth is the current favourite after an impressive showing in the Group 3 Spring Stakes in Adelaide a fortnight ago, while Savatiano took out the Group 2 Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield on the same day and defeated six of her rivals going around in the Memsie.
A bumper 10-race card awaits, and we’ll try our best to steer you into a couple of winners.
Caulfield betting tips for Memsie Stakes Day 2020
Persan @ $2.80 Sportsbet
A small and competitive field greets us for the opening race on Memsie Stakes Day. The consistent four-year-old stallion Persan (#5) goes around as favourite and looks incredibly well placed to bring up his fifth win from eight starts this campaign. At his last start five weeks ago at Flemington, he was two lengths behind the impressive High Emocean. Tavirun (#4) has been building impressively throughout this campaign and will be right in the finish, settling up on the speed as he looks to add a fourth win at Caulfield from six starts. Exemplar (#1) has had a soft run in both of his last two starts, but this looks like there’ll be more pressure up front. Double You Tee (#2) and Mirimar (#3) will also look to improve their consistent records, but they may find one or two better.
Persan @ $2.80 Sportsbet
The impressive WA galloper Windstorm (#1) crosses the Nullabor for the first time and comes up favourite despite the top weight and wide barrier, although he has apprentice Liam Riordan on board with his 2kg claim. We are looking to play outside the favourite in this, as 1100m may be a touch too sharp around Caulfield. We have settled on the Paul Snowden-trained colt Rulership (#16). Damien Lane will look to dictate the speed from barrier two and could prove hard to catch. Express Pass (#11) returned in impressive style at Bendigo last start but is still a maiden at Caulfield after four attempts. Chassis (#15) and The Closer (#14) pose good value at an each-way price.
Southbank @ $19/$5 EW Sportsbet
It’s $4.40 the field with Affair To Remember (#14) coming up as favourite, but we would expect those odds to go out prior to the jump. Southbank (#12) returns to Benchmark level for the first time since September last year and has won first up in the past. Paradee (#11) progressed through the grades impressively last campaign, which culminated in taking out the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes. With Damien Oliver keeping the ride, look for the mare to be in the three-wide line with cover from the wide barrier and fighting out the finish.
Nonconformist @ $6 Sportsbet
The likes of Oceanex (#2) and Toffee Tongue (#5) may find the 1400m a little too sharp in a highly competitive field. Morrissy (#8) has been inconsistent this preparation despite winning twice over this track and distance, and he look like a false favourite with plenty of pace in this race. Nonconformist (#6) returns after an incredible three-year-old campaign where he did not miss a place in three starts around Caulfield. The 1400m is a slight query, with the gelding aimed for stronger races over further distances. I Am Superman (#7) resumes after an impressive trial in Sydney, while Yulong January (#4) will appreciate the rise in distance and has the speed to lead the field.
Schabau @ $6.50 Sportsbet
The impressive Young Rascal (#1), now trained by Archie Alexander, commands respect and holds nominations for the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup. While he is more than capable of carrying 6kg more than his rivals, he may find 1600m too sharp. Polly Grey (#7) is bound to win a race this preparation but prefers the wet. Orderofthegarter (#3) resumed impressively six weeks ago at Flemington and will be right in the finish. However, the classy Schabau (#9) resumes here and looks the one to beat. Having missed the placings only once in 10 career starts, he will settle just off the speed and look to come over the top of them with William Pike on board.
Humma Humma @ $10 Sportsbet
The Heath 1100 Stakes, a Group 3 race over 1100m, has brought together some serious speed. Dollar For Dollar (#8), Great Again (#3), Runson (#4) and Diamond Effort (#13) will all look to be up on the tempo, so it could be quite a charge out of the chute. If Dollar For Dollar can keep up his impressive trial form, he may prove hard to catch at each-way odds. Superstorm (#2) looks primed to build up to a potential Cox Plate campaign, but he may find this too sharp. Lyre (#14) won the Blue Diamond Prelude and Blue Diamond Stakes in her two-year-old campaign and returns to the track where that was accomplished. Garner (#6) and Banquo (#7) have genuine claims and speed to burn. However, we have gone with the impressive mare Humma Humma (#12), who has a striking first-up record (5:3-1-0) and last year won the Listed Alinghi Stakes at this track and distance with a barnstorming run down the outside. If she lives up to her trial form, she could be the one with the last shot at them.
Tagaloa @ $4 – BEST BET Sportsbet
An emerging superstar opens the quaddie in Tagaloa (#1), who should prove far too strong and take out the Group 3 H.D.F McNeil Stakes. The blinkers go on for the first time, and if Michael Walker can settle the colt midfield with cover from barrier eight, he should be taking care of these. The hardest to beat would have to be Hard Landing (#2), who returned in impressive fashion last start at Moonee Valley. Genuine claims for the likes of Flying Award (#7) and Ranting (#11) as savers in the quaddie.
Game Keeper @ $4 Sportsbet
The Heatherlie Stakes sees a couple of in-form gallopers clash and looks a leg to go quite wide in the quaddie. We like Tony McEvoy’s Game Keeper (#14) in what is an open market, and we’d expect to get better than $4 on the day. He was an eye catcher late in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star when outsprinted, but 1700m looks ideal for a campaign aimed at the Caulfield Cup. Sirrconi (#8) is one that has been in top form, while Plein Ciel (#11) cannot be left out. Dr Drill (#4) and Shandy (#16) also go in.
Glenfiddich @ $10 Sportsbet
The Magic Million Memsie Stakes is the feature race of the day, and the talent involved is superb. You can easily make a case for all but a handful of these, while the fair weather could make this one of the best Memsies in recent history. Behemoth (#7) comes up favourite after his impressive first-up display in the Spring Stakes; he will be right in the finish again with Craig Williams on board from barrier two. Arcadia Queen (#12) finished off the PB Lawrence Stakes nicely and will take benefit with her second start at the track as she looks to add to her Group 1 Kingston Town Classic win from 2018. Cascadian (#9) and Mystic Journey (#11) are two runners to strongly consider, as their best performances will have them fighting out the finish. Savatiano (#13) was thoroughly impressive in the PB Lawrence Stakes and is unbeaten at the track and distance, and this looks a great chance to finally get that Group 1. However, for the first time in recent history, a three-year-old runs in the Memsie Stakes and is the one who has received plenty of early support in the market. Glenfiddich is yet to win a Group race, but the great trainer Peter Moody will have this colt primed after some impressive recent jumpouts. With only 50.5kg on his back, he may prove hard to catch.
Rubisaki @ $2.80 Sportsbet
The final race of the day sees the impressive Rubisaki (#1) from the Patrick Payne stable return. This mare went unbeaten in her autumn campaign and excels at this distance. If she doesn’t get too far back in the field, this race seems perfect for her to resume in. Bless Her (#12) is unbeaten after five starts this time in and will settle closer to the speed than the favourite as she aims to extend her winning streak at Caulfield. Madam Rouge (#3), Perfect Jewel (#4) and She Shao Fly (#11) are bankers to add into the quaddie.
Leg 1: 1-2-7-11
Leg 2: 4-8-11-14-16
Leg 3: 7-9-11-12-13-15
Leg 4: 1-3-4-11-12
$600 for 100% Sportsbet