Caulfield Review – Feb 24, 2024

Caulfield Meeting Review

Date: 24/02/24

Track: Good 4

Rail: True

Race 1: Open – 2000m

Tempo: Absolute crawl early.

Race Overview: Hard to run time when they went so slow early. No margins and the race doesn’t excite me overall.

Dunkel ($3.30) – Not one of my horses and I keep thinking he is reaching his ceiling but he keeps winning. They will need to take him up in grade to get some weight relief but I won’t be with him.

Ashrun ($11) – Super last 400m. Going well. Keen to follow him this prep.

Last Word: Ashrun the main horse I want to follow.

ASHRUN  worth a follow.

Race 2: BM (84) – 1100m

Tempo: Tempo only moderate for this class and distance.

Race Overview: Race dominated by the leader but they did run home well. I have the race rating 2L inside standard.Last Word: Should be winners out of this.

Twin Perfection ($41) – No money for him but he jumped straight to the front. Was advantaged by the pattern on the day and the soft tempo. Find it hard to believe he can repeat this performance.

Midtown Boss ($2.6) – Was ready to sack him then I looked at the times and the way the race was run and I’m not sure I can. No doubt he has been disappointing and costly but there is a good horse in there somewhere.

Kin ($4.20) – Going well but camp having trouble finding the right race. Was held up slightly but kept finding the line.

Last Word: I think a lot of people would be looking to drop off Midtown Boss and Kin but I think they can win in similar grade next start.

TWIN PERFECTION  will find it hard to repeat that performance?

Race 3: Angus Armanasco Stakes – 1400m

Tempo: Moderate early tempo.

Race Overview: They didn’t break standard in this race. Lack of margins and some unlucky runners suggest the overall race has gone poor.

Sassy Boom ($8) – Supported in betting due to the emerging pattern and got the job done. Very limited and won’t win another race now.

So Glamourous ($5.5) – Good effort to make up so much ground against the pattern.

Autumn Angel ($4.40) – Honestly, that was a really, really poor ride. Horse is going well. Probably the only horse with any hope coming out of this race.

Last Word: The Sydney fillies have panels on this lot.

SASSY BOOM  won’t win another race.

Race 4: Zeditave Stakes – 1200m

Tempo: Didn’t go overly quick for the class. Outside standard to the 600m.

Race Overview: Late sectionals only fair and not a lot of separation in the field. Concerning.

Raikoke ($10) – Market just kept nailing the pattern. This horse was specked at the bigger odds and landed in front. With the advantage of the pattern and the race not rating well I want to be against him next start.

Brave Mead ($2.25) – Beaten by the pattern which was favouring on-pacers. Clearly the best horse in the race.

Last Word: Brave Mead the only horse I can take out of it.

BRAVE MEAD  worth a follow.

Race 5: Autumn Classic – 1800m

Tempo: Solid tempo for this class and distance.

Race Overview: Great margins and time was ok. I would’ve loved for them to run a little bit quicker but I think there is some nice horses in this race.

Immediacy ($4.80) – I couldn’t understand why they were opting to put the blinkers on given how it was winning but it seems they have found a couple of lengths. I think hes a good horse but he is going to get to some pretty big Grand Finals in his first prep.

Caracas ($3.20) – Absolutely off the map but couldn’t match the sprint of the winner. He’s a good horse.

Last Word: Immediacy and Caracas are definite Derby horses.

IMMEDIACY  is a Derby horse.

Race 6: Peter Young Stakes – 1800m

Tempo: Very slow.

Race Overview: Sprint home and they didn’t run any time. Race lacked depth.

Campionessa ($2.70) – Solid enough win but doubt she can beat Gold Trip if she went the way of the Aus Cup.

Vow And Declare ($21) – Ran well but his presence in the finish makes me worry about the quality of the race.

Gold Trip ($3) – Ran a similar rating to what he did first up last campaign before exploding second up. Pattern and tempo against so don’t be too harsh on him not winning this race.

Last Word: Gold Trip is spot on for the Australian Cup.

GOLD TRIP  is cherry ripe for the Australian Cup.

 Race 7: Futurity Stakes – 1400m

Tempo: Fast!

Race Overview: They were just inside standard for the class. Race had a long tail so I think only the first 2 home are genuine G1 horses.

Mr Brightside ($1.50) – Solid win at first 2 runs this campaign. Think he has another length or 2 up his sleeve for the Grand Finals.

Pericles ($9.5) – Much improved run. Think they can settle him a bit closer to the speed third up now and he can win another race.

Last Word: Only interested in the first 2 home.

MR BRIGHTSIDE  = Weapon.

Race 8: Blue Diamond Stakes – 1200m

Tempo: They went outrageously fast early.

Race Overview: Given the track was leaderish they went really quick here and set it up for a strong finisher. Well inside standard time for this class but a slow last sectional.

Hayasugi ($16) – Hasn’t done much wrong and nice win but I think there is a better horse in the race.

Lady Of Camelot ($4.40) – Phenomenal run outside the lead on a deadly tempo. Not entitled to kick like she did. The best horse in the race.

Coleman ($3.40) – Really plain effort. Can go around without me if they persevere with campaign.

Traffic Warden ($31) – Sneaky little run. 1400m might suit.

Last Word: Lady Camelot was massive!

LADY OF CAMELOT  was massive.

Race 9: Oakleigh Plate – 1100m

Tempo: Strong enough early tempo.

Race Overview: Really dominated by the on-pace horses and they finished in a clump. Horse has rated ok on times but the margins worry me.

Queman ($17) – One of many horses on the day that took advantage of the on-pace domination. This was his day and not sure where they could place him to win again. That might be it for him.

Benedetta ($7.50) – Held up and couldn’t get clear until it was too late.

Asfoora ($9) – A complete forgive. Missed the start, held up. Have they missed her opportunity for a G1 now.

Last Word: Was a race that looked as if the form wouldn’t hold up but it generally does in the Oakleigh Plate.

QUEMAN  might have put the cue in the rack.

Race 10: Mannerism Stakes – 1400m

Tempo: Moderate in the middle stages.

Race Overview: Race went about 1 length inside standard for the class.

Revolutionary Miss ($5.5) – Too good for this class. Going well enough to be competitive in the mares G1’s.

Eternal Flame ($4.2) – Going well and could never win from that far back. Hoof on the till.

Last Word: Revolutionary Miss is going as well as ever.

Horses to Follow:

• Ashrun
• Brave Mead
• Immediacy
• Caracus
• Lady Of Camelot
• Gold Trip