11/4/2020 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets – Caulfield, Easter Cup day

Nine races will be run and won at Caulfield on Saturday. The weather forecast is for showers, the track is soft (6) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.

Easter Cup 🏆: View the Field for the Easter Cup

7 Land Of The Brave (Bet Now: $4.00 TOP ODDS) for me in the opener. Team Corstens trains this Starspangledbanner colt, who comes here with two jumpouts under the belt this prep in readiness for start one. Latest of those came last week at Flemington when leading throughout and he ran sizzling time for the 800m under no real pressure. Looks a good and confident he can go close on debut.

12 Tarcoola Diva (Bet Now: $13.00 TOP ODDS) is one of a couple at decent odds that can run well here. She debuted in the Gold Rush at Bendigo and while she was never going to threaten Swats That, I think she should have finished much closer after getting no room to work with in the straight. Should appreciate 1200m and is bred to handle cushion in the track.

6 Indictment (Bet Now: $20.00 TOP ODDS) is a son of Street Boss for Ken Keys that is on debut. This colt had a jumpout at Cranbourne back on March 23 and that hitout caught my eye. On speed most of the way, given a good solid piece of work and won well. Stable can get them ready for a debut win, so I’d be watching the market and seeing what it does.

7 Anjana (Bet Now: $5.00 TOP ODDS) is worth one more chance. Yes, stable is going like a busted, but this mare has had excuses in both runs back from a break. Run off her legs first up here in the Oakleigh Plate before going to the Birthday Card at Rosehill when back and wide, very wide, to the point of being in the quicksand behind Miss Exfactor. One more chance to produce her best in a very winnable race.

5 Acting (Bet Now: $7.00 TOP ODDS) is the very interesting runner. Month between runs for the Busuttin/Young team since contesting the Coolmore Classic over 1500m when the instructions were to be ridden with cover. She pulled hard, went to the front and really, was a beaten horse 600m out. Plenty of excuses in the Stewards Report, so starting again, back to this level, and Our Gladiator should ensure a good tempo, plus I love the booking of Williams.

9 Queen Annabel (Bet Now: $14.00 TOP ODDS), back to Mares grade, looks a leading chance. Ran over 1100m at Bendigo two weeks ago when getting the soft trip just off the speed and loomed large to win but couldn’t quite finish it off, settling for a close up fifth to Coruscate. Back to Mares grade should suit and her overall form this prep reads pretty well.

5 Zousonic (Bet Now: $3.00 TOP ODDS) looks the pony to bet on. Smashed the clock when breaking the maiden tag at Sandown two back before going to the Bendig Guineas and gee was an eye catcher late behind Riddle Me That, really warming to the task. The knock is remaining at 1400m, but off what he’s done his past couple, clearly the one to beat.

8 Debt’N’Deficit (Bet Now: $6.00 TOP ODDS) is a stablemate of Zousonic that also comes through the Bendigo Guineas. She got back in the run and closed off strongly from off the pace when fifth to Riddle Me That. Think she’s going really well this girl and if she can use gate one to advantage, I think she’s one of the hardest to beat here.

6 Heyington Station (Bet Now: $4.00 TOP ODDS) looks well suited up to 1400m. Resumed over 1200m at the Valley and was a clear eye catcher from the back when fourth to Overkill. Runner up in that race, Wings Of Pastrami, went within a lip of winning at Stakes level last Saturday, so the form reads well. He’ll be strong at the end. Just depends where he gets to from the gate.

14 Too Good Too Hard (Bet Now: $3.80 TOP ODDS)…if you were on, you would have been filthy in how he didn’t win first up three weeks ago at Mornington. She didn’t turn it up or anything when hitting the front on the turn. Just bumped into a track specialist and an in form galloper, I’m Telling Ya. Fitter, looks hard to beat, even though a slight query back to 1100m.

10 Leiter (Bet Now: $4.20 TOP ODDS) is starting to put it together for Tom Hughes. Loved the way he knuckled down to win two back over 1200m at the Valley before going to Caulfield when given a lovely sit just off the speed under Ben Thompson and tried hard when pipped late by Gododdin. Think back to 1100m is okay and finds a very winnable race.

Fitter and back in depth somewhat are two big ticks for 4 Barthelona (Bet Now: $18.00 TOP ODDS), who resumed over 1100m a fortnight back at Bendigo when off the speed and surged hard late to just miss out on the win when a narrow second to Coruscate. Not quite as dynamic when produced second up compared to first up but does find a winnable race.

12 Bellx (Bet Now: $6.00) is the one with upside compared to some of these. The Hayes/Dabernig stable trains this filly, who was over a month between runs when racing over 2200m at Bendigo a fortnight ago where she didn’t help her cause by wanting to lay in under pressure when a close up fourth to Skiddaw. Fitter, extra ground and should improve given the break between runs.

3 Coin Collector (Bet Now: $3.70) does look the most obvious from that Bendigo race. Held up in the early part of the straight before eventually getting clear and winding into his work strongly, just missing out on picking up stablemate Skiddaw. Off that, he should eat up 2400m here and looks one of the hardest to beat from that form reference.

5 Royal Crown (Bet Now: $6.50) is the interesting one. Good win two back over 1800m at Sandown before going to 2200m at Bendigo where he was out wide in making his run and it was a day where out wide, where he was, wasn’t A1 ground. Off the run on face value, 2400m is a query, but I think he should be okay with it.

Leaning towards 7 William Thomas (Bet Now: $6.00). John Price trains this gelding, who has been pretty good in two runs back from a break. Far from disgraced first up at Flemington behind Fabergino before going to the Hareeba where it was pretty much a barrier trial for him, getting no luck at all in the straight behind Diamond Effort. Hopefully gets three wide cover here and launches late, like he has done in all three previous second up attempts.

2 Order Of Command (Bet Now: $8.00) is a Squamosa gelding that is first up for Danny O’Brien. Hasn’t raced since the Kevin Heffernan at Sandown when down the track but far from disgraced behind Teleplay. Can’t find a jumpout for him but he is a horse who does perform well first up, likes give in the track and draws well I think.

8 Bella Martini (Bet Now: $8.00) is better suited as the prep goes on, but she does have a bit of class about her when she’s right. Resumes for Team Hawkes after a pretty disappointing Spring. Dodged the Autumn Carnival and looks to be going well based on her recent Flemington jumpout. Cushion in the track helps her cause too.

10 Scarlet Dream (Bet Now: $6.00) looks to be in for a fruitful prep for Team Hawkes. Resumed in the Anniversary Vase a few weeks ago at Caulfield and really, she should have won, but didn’t get clear air in the straight but the ride from Poy wasn’t the best. Love her up to 2000m and off the resumption, has to be rated highly here.

9 Salsamor (Bet Now: $6.00) is a hard fit/in form galloper for the Busuttin/Young team that is looking for four on the bounce. Ran over this track/distance last Saturday when getting the A1 run in transit near the speed and in a real slog to the line, was too good. Think this will be a truly run 2000m, so his race fitness is definitely an advantage and gets weight relief.

Fitter and up to 2000m are two big ticks for 5 Ventura Storm (Bet Now: $81.00). As he is getting older, I think the stable have realised, or I hope anyway, that he’s not a top tier stayer and this looks more his level as he gets older. Resumed in the Bendigo Mile in what was pretty much a tune up for him and considering the track pattern, the run wasn’t too bad. Has class and that will carry him a long way.

12 Bam’s On Fire (Bet Now: $4.40) is flying for the Maher/Eustace team. Attempted to lead throughout in the Sunline at the Valley on William Reid Night and was given a 12/10 steer in front by Bowman. Just found one better in Mamzelle Tess. I think 1600m does see her right out, so back to 1400m I like and she can use her turn of foot at the end.

5 Wild Planet (Bet Now: $2.90) is a talented animal for Team Hawkes who is five weeks between runs since sitting just off a good speed over 1400m at Flemington, getting the A1 run in transit, and class was too much for his rivals. There was talk he would head towards the All Aged but given how strong that race is going to be, they’ve taken the easier approach. Hard to beat, can win…but personally, couldn’t take the short-ish odds.

11 Manolo Blahniq (Bet Now: $12.00) looks as if he’s been specifically targeted for this race. Was pretty much a barrier trial first up down the Flemington straight behind Fabergino before going to the Hareeba where he was very good late from the back behind the low flying Diamond Effort. 1400m at Caulfield is his A1 set up and third up, can only see him running well.

1 Sikandarabad (Bet Now: $14.00) is a Hayes/Dabernig trained galloper that comes through the Golden Mile at Bendigo. He was another that wasn’t suited by the way the track played. Got into a good spot, was there to be a winning threat on the turn but once he peeled wide, he pretty much hit a brick wall. Love the booking of Callow and has more upside than most.

8 Super Titus (Bet Now: $5.50) should be suited up to the mile. Few weeks between runs since resuming in the Echuca Cup over 1400m where the stop/start race shape was somewhat against him but didn’t mind the way he finished his race off behind Hanger, who has run well since. 2/3 second up and looks well placed against these.

2 Guizot (Bet Now: $7.00) is a Caulfield specialist and I think he can bounce back here. Comes through the Bendigo Mile where he was back in the run and came wide on the turn. As the meeting progressed, it was apparent that coming wide was like going into quicksand, so a total forgive for mine behind Hellova Street. Returns to his favourite track and should prove hard to beat.

BEST BET: Race Seven Number 10 Scarlet Dream

NEXT BEST: Race Two Number 6 Anjana

LONG SHOT: Race Six Number 7 William Thomas

 

Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):

Leg One: 2, 7, 8, 14, 15

Leg Two: 10

Leg Three: 5, 12

Leg Four: 1, 2, 8, 10

$50 Investment = 125% of the dividend if successful