Easter Cup at Caulfield form, odds and free tips, April 15
IT’S Easter time and what better way to celebrate than backing a winner in the Group 3 Easter Cup at Caulfield this Saturday.
A big field will line up which includes the popular Tom Melbourne and Second Bullet. Both horses have attracted plenty of support in the betting markets and punters are getting great odds for every runner.
The 10-race card also features the Group 3 Victoria Handicap and the Bill Collins 2YO where some quality juveniles are in action.
The card starts with the Jack Elliot Handicap at 11.50pm where last start winner Ma Jones is the current favourite.
Race 1 – Jack Elliot Handicap (1600m)
Quilate scored a solid win two back at Sandown and it gets in with a good weight of 52.5kg. The Michael Kent-trained mare is having its first try around Caulfield which is never easy, but it’s capable of running well and it has been nicely backed at $5.50.
Ma Jones dropped in grade to score easily last start and the confidence will be high for this. The Darren Weir-trained mare is twice a winner at this distance and it handles all track conditions. Ben Allen takes some weight off its back which will help and punters are confident at $4.80.
Fife has won only one from eight starts, but it’s rarely far away from the action and it finished off well last start. The Robert Smerdon-trained mare has placed in three from four starts at this distance and it’s not the worst chance down in the weights.
Race 1 tip: Ma Jones to win ($4.80) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 2 – Bill Collins 2YO (1100m)
Al Passem was a winner on debut and it’s from a quality stable of juveniles. The Ken Keys-trained colt was at double-figure odds on debut and is at similar odds for this. If it has improved a length from its win it could feature in the placings here.
Many Rewards has been the best-backed runner on debut. The Cindy Alderson-trained gelding was an impressive trial winner to prepare for this and its breeding suggests it should be keep in high regard over this distance. Handy chance at $3.30.
Easy Beast hasn’t had an official trial, but there’s support in the betting markets. The Richard Laming stables love to punt and it has been backed into $4.20. It’s by new sire Super Easy and if it’s anything like its dad, it should sprint nicely.
Race 2 tip: Many Rewards to win ($3.30) at Bet365.com
Race 3 – Bert Bryant Handicap (1100m)
Chase The Horizon scored consecutive wins last campaign before running on late at Moonee Valley. The Henry Dwyer-trained four-year-old has won and placed in four starts on this track and it usually fires fresh up. Punters should consider taking the $6.50 on offer.
Firsthand is another which fires fresh, having won two from three starts in this state. The Hawkes-trained son of Star Witness scored a good win at Canterbury in November before running third at Rosehill behind the talented Upscale. It has drawn awkwardly in barrier 10, but it only needs luck in the big field to figure in the finish.
Miss Vista is a quality mare which hasn’t done much wrong to date. The George Osborne-trained mare has won three of its four starts and it wasn’t disgraced when running third behind subsequent winner Ameristralia. It showed its grit when winning at Moonee Valley last start and the only query is whether it can see out the distance. $6.50 is a nice price to find out.
Race 3 tip: Miss Vista to win ($6.50) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 4 – Spicer Thoroughbreds Handicap (1400m)
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Another Coldie has done a good job winning three of its six starts without attracting much attention. The Weir-trained colt scored a narrow win last start and there’s no doubting Weir’s ability to get them fresh for another target. Consider as the favourite.
Punters can’t remember the last time Waterloo Sunset won, but it doesn’t get an easier chance than this. The Lindsay Park-trained filly finished fifth in the Bendigo Guineas which was a fair effort and another run down in the weight should see it going close. Each way chance at $5.
Throssell scored the elusive win last start at Pakenham and it could kick on with it now. The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding has won twice at this distance and it simply didn’t cope with racing against Australia’s best. This is a huge drop in class and it gets a valuable 3kg claimer.
Race 4 tip: Waterloo Sunset to win ($5) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 5 – Geoff Murphy Handicap (1100m)
Moonlover was super impressive when winning at Cranbourne last start and it could make the rise in grade. The Matt Laurie-trained filly was a five-length winner and it certainly appreciated dropping back in grade after contesting the Twilight Glow Stakes. Tricky draw, but it should be respected at odds of $8.50.
Artemis Rose is a highly-respected filly which scored an impressive win at Hawkesbury last start. The Hawkes-trained three-year-old scored a one-length win in a time of 56.15 seconds over 1000m. That’s a slick time and the amount of support in the betting at $3.60 suggests another tidy effort is on the cards.
Overstep is having its first run at Caulfield and it showed good promise when running third at Flemington last start. The Waller-trained filly led the field throughout, but was overhauled late by the likes of Hear The Chant. That’s strong form so consider.
Race 5 tip: Artemis Rose to win ($3.60) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 6 – Robert Taranto Handicap (2425m)
Boom Time has faced some good fields this campaign and it deserves plenty of attention. The five-time winner scored a win on this track in the Victoria Cup in February and its two runs since have come at top levels. It found the line well last start in the Mornington Cup and a similar effort should take it close.
Hans Holbein is a talented import which scored an easy 3.5-length win at Bendigo last start. The five-year-old has won twice at this distance which is a major positive for punters and it handles most track conditions. The punters have come solidly for it at $2.10 and we think that price is about right.
Self Sense has been nicely supported at $6.50 following a good finish in the Mornington Cup. The David Brideoake-trained gelding has won twice on this track which helps and any easing of the track would bring it right into contention. It will need to lift slightly to feature.
Race 6 tip: Hans Holbein to win ($2.10) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 7 – M & D Dillon Constructions Handicap (1200m)
Miss Gunpowder is twice a winner fresh up and it has been well backed for this. The Lindsay Park-trained mare is the current $4.20 favourite and the 1.5kg claim from Beau Mertens will do it plenty of good. This is a wide open field and it has a runners chance.
Sebring Sun has plenty of quality as it showed when winning last start. The four-year-old scored a narrow win at Bendigo and despite having only won three from 21 starts, it’s always had plenty of ability. Ben Allen takes some weight off its back and it should be in with a shot.
Lake Como raced away with the win last start at Flemington and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t run well again. The Pat Hyland-trained mare scored by three lengths and it’s a four-time winner at this distance. Stephen Baster rides at a nice weight of 55kg so consider.
Race 7 tip: Lake Como to win ($6) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 8 – Mypunter.com Victoria Handicap (1400m)
Hooked is an inconsistent type, but it’s too good to leave out. The Smerdon-trained horse is having its first start at Caulfield and it comes into this having last run in the William Reid Stakes. They were too quick for it on that occasion, but it showed plenty when running second at Flemington first up. Has each way claims at $6.
Hellova Street has rattled off three consecutive wins which included the Super Saturday Stakes at Flemington. The Tasmanian six-year-old has beaten some quality thoroughbreds in its time and it scored a rare Victorian win for Tasmania last start. There’s no reason it can’t handle running in this grade and it has been duly backed at $3.60.
Arod showed plenty of promise when arriving in Australia, but its last two runs have been anything but inspiring. The Waller-trained import will find this much easier than racing in the Doncaster, but it finished almost 18 lengths from the winner and that’s a poor effort for a highly-regarded type. Getting back onto dry ground will help so monitor conditions.
Race 8 tip: Hellova Street to win ($3.60) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 9 – Le Pine Funerals Easter Cup (2000m)
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War Legend has run well in three start this campaign which included a win at Sandown fresh up. The Michael Moroney-trained stayer produced a strong finish to run third in the Golden Mile last start and that form should stack up nicely for this. It’s a nicely weighted chance at $8.
Tom Melbourne is a punters favourite, but its form this campaign has been less than desirable. The Freedman-trained gelding finished over 20 lengths behind Humidor in the Australian Cup and although there’s no superstars in this field, it wouldn’t have beaten much home in that race. Drawing wide in barrier 19 should be negated by its gate speed and punters seem confident at $4.
Dark Eyes has won three of its last four starts, but will need to bounce back after running 11th in the Mornington Cup. The Waterhouse/Bott-trained gelding is unbeaten in two starts at this distance which is ideal and it did have plenty of excuses last start. It will need some luck in running, but consider at nice odds.
Race 9 tip: Dark Eyes to win ($10) at Bet365.com
Race 10 – Bravo Greg Miles Handicap (1600m)
The Chairman resumes after a good campaign which included wins at Bendigo and Flemington. The Mick Price-trained runner usually needs time to show its best, but this field is only moderate and it goes best at this distance. The $7.50 suggests there is market support.
Most of the money has come for French Emotion at $3.60. The five-year-old finished second in the Sunline Stakes last start and that form is very good for this. The Waller-trained daughter of Snitzel has more exposed form than most and punters are getting a good price considering.
Great Esteen is rarely far away from the prize and it has warmed into this with two placings. It has won on this track twice and it will appreciate having a claimer in the saddle.
Race 10 tip: French Emotion to win ($3.60) at CrownBet.com.au