Caulfield tips, value bets & quaddie picks | October 9
| What | Caulfield Guineas Day 2021 |
| Where | Caulfield Racecourse – 22 Station St, Caulfield East VIC 3145 |
| When | Saturday, October 9, 2021 |
| First Race | 12:15pm AEDT |
| Feature Race | Group 1 Caulfield Guineas – Race 8 |
| Watch Live | |
A bumper 10-part card is scheduled for Caulfield on Saturday afternoon for Caulfield Guineas Day, and HorseBetting’s Victorian horse racing analyst presents his race-by-race preview, best bets and free quaddie numbers. The track is rated a Soft 5, the rail returns to the true position, and racing is set to get underway at 12:15pm AEDT.
Race 1: Debutant Stakes (1000m)
Caulfield Guineas Day kicks off with the traditional Debutant Stakes for the two-year-olds, where all but one of the 12 accepted runners are making their debut. Based on recent jumpouts, the three runners for the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr stable look the ones to work around. Immortality and Commodity worked together on the course proper during the week with little separating them, while Brereton from the Peter Moody stable and Magic Carpet for Godolphin have also shown enough at the jumpouts to suggest they will run a smart race first up. It is a race to bet with little confidence in.
Selections: 4-2-1-12
Race 2: Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m)
Call me crazy, but this race suits So Si Bon down to the bone. The proven son of So You Think returned with a fourth-place finish behind Chaillot in the Testa Rossa Stakes, and despite needing to lug 60kg here, he looks the one to beat. Having drawn barrier one with Luke Nolen on board, we expect to see him stalk the speed set by Buffalo River, who will look to break his rivals’ hearts. With proven class and an economic run in transit expected, So Si Bon should be too strong late as he brings up another stakes-grade victory.
Selections: 1-2-4-6
Race 3: Caulfield Village Stakes (1200m)
Regardsmaree is sure to appreciate the step back in grade having struggled in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, and if he can be back to somewhere near his best, the $16 looks to be a steal. Lombardo is set to make this a cracking tempo over 1200m, which should suit a backmarker like Regardsmaree from the in-form Nick Ryan yard. Rhys McLeod hops back on board and is hoping to continue his strong affiliation with the five-year-old son of So You Think. The pair have two wins from three runs when paired together, and despite the form and light weight of Lombardo, we prefer the $16 about Regardsmaree, instead of the $1.80 about his rival.
Selections: 4-7-3-9
Race 4: Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m)
One of our better bets on Saturday comes up in the Listed Thoroughbred Club Stakes, when the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Crystal Bound is pushing to make it consecutive stakes-grade victories. The three-year-old Not A Single Doubt filly was a tough winner in the Listed Cap D’Antibes down the Flemington straight on September 11. With four weeks between runs and drawn barrier one with Jye McNeil it looks to be a perfect recipe for success for Crystal Bound. Look for McNeil to take a sit off the leader’s heels. Crystal Bound has shown to be a push-button sprinter, so if he gets an even amount of luck, he may just be too good for this lot.
Selections: 3-8-10-5
Race 5: Schillaci Stakes (1100m)
Stepping back in grade from the Group 1 Moir Stakes, we expect September Run to get herself back into the winner’s stall. She has not won since her Coolmore Stud Stakes victory in October 2020 but has been racing in good enough form to suggest she is the one to beat here. The Exceed And Excel mare finally gets to a bigger track and is set to go around Caulfield for the first time. In the small field of eight, she will not get as far back in the running as she has been doing, and considering she is the highest-rated sprinter heading into the race, she should prove too hard to hold out. Having stormed home in the McEwen Stakes first-up, and we expect to see September Run fly down the centre of the track and prove too good for this lot.
Selections: 4-5-1-6
Race 6: Caulfield Stakes (2000m)
The Caulfield Stakes (Might And Power Stakes) is the first of three Group 1 races on the card, and it simply is a one-act affair with Zaaki rated a $1.28 chance after bolting in the Underwood Stakes on September 25. The only query is how far will he win by as he continues on his path towards the Cox Plate. He is clearly the best horse in the country and with a lot of these struggling to win, it is hard to see how Zaaki gets beaten.
Selections: 2-1-5-3
See our full preview of the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes
Race 7: Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m)
Brooklyn Hustle was backed off the map in the lead-up to the Moir Stakes and was never in it having gone via the cape when entering the home straight, but if she can right those wrongs, we expect her to be hard to beat here. Craig Williams hops back on board for the first time since pairing with her to claim this year’s Dane Ripper Stakes at Eagle Farm on June 12. She is a ‘get back and run on’ sprinter, which from barrier 12 on the back of a hot tempo is not the worst trait to have. She had health issues post-race last time out, so we are willing to forgive her once again, because if she is at her dynamic best, she should simply blow her rivals away in the opening leg of the quaddie.
Selections: 1-3-4-8
Race 8: Caulfield Guineas (1600m)
The 2021 Caulfield Guineas looks to be a match race between Anamoe and Artorius, and the former is the clear pick. Barrier 15 is not ideal, so Damien Oliver will need to go back and might need a bit of luck along the way. If he is afforded even luck and is within striking distance at the home turn, Anamoe should be adding another Group 1 to his impressive resume.
Selections: 1-2-6-4
See our full runner-by-runner preview of the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas
Race 9: Toorak Handicap (1600m)
Following a fantastic Group 1 debut in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, I’m Thunderstruck looks a clear top selection in the Toorak Handicap with just 52kg on his back. He has drawn perfectly in barrier four and is sure to be given plenty of time to move through the gears approaching the home turn. He was only beaten by a half-length in the Sir Rupert Clarke by Sierra Sue and Dice Roll, both of whom he meets again better at the weights, and should prove too good for them here. He has plenty of natural talent, and at just his second Group 1 start, he looks to be the one to be with.
Selections: 11-6-3-4
See our full preview of the Group 1 Toorak Handicap
Race 10: Herbert Power Stakes (2400m)
Win and you are in to the 2020 Caulfield Cup, that is what is on offer for the winner of the Herbert Power Stakes and we expect our best bet of the day, Floating Artist to book himself a spot into next weekend’s Caulfield Cup. The stayer from the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace yard has been making his way through the grades this campaign and has put together three wins in a row, including beating Persan and also Defibrillate, who he meets on Saturday better at the weights. His win at Sandown on September 25 was one full of arrogance where he took the lead at the 400m mark, got challenged at the 200m and then kicked clear with plenty left in the tank. If he brings a similar effort on Saturday, he should prove far too good.
Selections: 7-4-5-1
Saturday quaddie tips for Caulfield
| Flemington quadrella selections | |
|---|---|
| Leg 1: | 1-3-4 |
| Leg 2: | 1-2 |
| Leg 3: | 3-4-6-11 |
| Leg 4: | 4-5-7 |
| Investment: | $72 for 100% |