Enthaar one to beat
G1 Neds Blue Diamond S., $1,500,000, 1200m
This time-honoured juvenile feature looks Enthaar's (Written Tycoon) to lose on exposed form. However, from barrier 14, Mark Zahra will be forced to work hard early to cross or be left posted wide without cover.
His rival hoops know the class of the filly they are up against and will ensure that the race is run in slick time, in hopes that she can fold under the pressure.
With speed galore drawn to his inside Damien Oliver can settle towards the rear and produce a flashing late run aboard exciting colt Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}).
He clocked the race-fastest final 200 metres in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) when narrowly missing behind General Beau (Brazen Beau) and will appreciate stepping out to 1200 metres.
It is worth noting that Oliver has elected to ride Anamoe over stablemate and last start Flemington winner Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}).
Anamoe
Arcaded (Street Boss {USA}) is forward robust filly who is yet to put a foot wrong, winning two from two by a combined margin of 5.8l to commence her career. The only concern is that both wins have clocked below class-average figures.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Artorius (Flying Artie) was well-beaten on debut by Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) but has since produced a devastating 4.5l win at Sandown over 1300 metres.
He will be spotting the leaders a significant margin turning for home and could be caught for speed dropping back to six furlongs.
High pressure affair
G1 Neds Oakleigh Plate, $500,000, 1100m
This event looks a mouth-watering contest with Ancestry (The Brothers War {USA}) and Anders (Not A Single Doubt) likely to string the field out at a solid clip, with the latter sure to cross from barrier 17 under Glen Boss.
He was a dominant winner fresh last preparation, beating G1 Golden Rose S. and G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) by 4.8l.
He backed that up with a 3.3l romp in the G3 San Domenico S. There he beat multiple Group winner Peltzer (So You Think {NZ}) by 3.3l. Despite the sticky gate, he’s only got 50kgs on his back and can potentially run his rivals into the ground.
Anders winning his jump-out on January 19
Ancestry himself is building an imposing record, winning his last four races in a row and seven of his last eight. This is a big rise in class, but he’s got a high cruising speed that will allow him to handle a high-pressure contest.
Dirty Work (Written Tycoon) is an under-rated sprinter who boasts a 1.4l fourth to Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) and a 2l third behind Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Nature Strip (Nicconi). Despite his class and strong 1100 metre record, weight-for-age conditions leave him at a disadvantage to key rivals.
The Bob Peters-owned mare Celebrity Queen (Redoute’s Choice) makes the journey across the bite after finishing second in the G1 Winterbottom S. and G3 AJ Scahill S. during the Ascot carnival. She is three from three first-up and two from two over 1100 metres, but all of those triumphs have come in weaker grade.
Former boom 3-year-old Hanseatic (Street Boss {USA}) resumes after bleeding in the G3 Blue Sapphire S. He’s drawn the far outside, barrier 18, but can benefit settling toward last off a hot speed.
Zoutori (Zoustar) is a class animal but will be required to lump 58.5kg here fresh. From barrier seven she will be back in the pack and subject to a wall of horses on straightening. However, she gets the services of metropolitan premiership leader Jamie Kah.
Behemoth to complete trio
G1 Lamaro’s Sth Melbourne Futurity S., $500,000, 1400m
Behemoth (All Too Hard) can add a third Caulfield 1400 metre Group 1 to his resume here. He’s yet to taste defeat at seven furlongs and maps to get a lovely run, similar to that seen when winning last year’s G1 Memsie S. at this track and trip.
Craig Williams will need to be at his best, but he’s produced the goods in this situation before. All he needs is an opening at the top of the straight to be winning.
Star New Zealand mare Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) was superb when winning the G3 Bellmaine S. first-up over 1200 metres last fortnight. Her grand final is next month’s The All-Star Mile, but there would be no surprises if she can add a third Group 1 to her resume here.
The Team Hawkes-trained Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) returned well in last fortnight’s Inglis Sprint, when finishing third. This is his first attempt at weight-for-age, but he’s a high-class colt who is all but certain to measure up.
Arcadia Queen (Pierro) is among the best horses in the country, but in saying that she looks vulnerable first-up at 1400 metres. William Pike will have no choice but to take a sit and look for her to be hitting the line hard.
Crosshaven (Smart Missile) was a gallant third behind Streets Of Avalon (Magnus) in last fortnight’s G1 Futurity S. and will again prove hard to run down from the front.
Mr Quickie (Shamus Award) has won three from five at 1400 metres and has finished in the top three four times first-up.
Powers back on
G2 Carlton Draught Peter Young S., $200,000, 1800m
Regal Power (Pierro) can bounce back this preparation after having his spring campaign derailed by a lung infection. He won last year’s The All-Star Mile at this track, but has only placed once first-up.
From the far outside, barrier 10, Pike will have no choice but to roll back to last and produce out wide. Expect him to be hitting the line with intent off what looks to be a genuine tempo.
Shared Ambition (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}) returned to form with an unexpected first-up win over a mile in the Listed Davali Thoroughbreds Cup. There he accounted for lightly-raced European import Mount Popa (Ire) (Maxios {GB}) and the talented gelding All Time Legend (Zoustar), despite meeting the pair 8kgs worse off.
Homesman (USA) (War Front {USA}) and Paradee (Epaulette) will ensure a solid gallop, with the latter kicking up from barrier one while the former is likely to cross from barrier 10 under Jye McNeil. Both have the class to be winning this after saluting over 1800 metres at their most recent starts.
Nonconformist (Rebel Raider) looks ready to improve on a solid third placing in the G3 Carlyon Cup stepping up in trip. However, he maps awkwardly from barrier 11 and could potentially be posted wide the trip.
3-year-olds renew rivalry
G2 ZircoDATA Autumn Classic, $200,000, 1800m
Khoekhoe (Turffontein) and Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) renew their rivalry here, after finishing neck and neck over 1800 metres at Flemington during the spring.
Young Werther looked plain first-up over 1400 metres in the G2 Autumn S., but will no doubt improve stepping out over a more desirable trip. Khoekhoe is a winner at this distance and track, but is yet to prevail fresh in two attempts.
Khoekhoe (white silks)
Milton Park (Written Tycoon) put in a forgive run over a mile at Flemington last start and can rebound here from barrier six. He has the tactical speed to put himself into the race and will likely settle in the box seat.
Parure (Fastnet Rock) accounted for Narvaez (Vancouver) last start, but will need to improve lengths from that run if she is to challenge the more credentialled contenders.
Lightly-raced filly Butter Chicken (NZ) (Savabeel) ran solid time when winning a Pakenham maiden last month. She will have improved since that effort but like Parure needs to find another gear to be winning.
Filly’s fight it out
G2 Neds Angus Armanasco S., $200,000, 1400m
Malicorne (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) looks the one to beat after being nosed out by a good one in La Mexicana (I Am Invincible) last start. There she finished more than 1l the better of spruik filly Pinkham (Written Tycoon).
Impecunious (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) returns after being scratched at the barrier last month when well supported. Her win here over 1200 metres in her Australian debut was dominant, suggesting that she has Group ability.
Safe Passage (Snitzel) is shooting for three in a row this time in and while she’s racing in good order, 1400 metres may see her brought undone. Her most recent win was at BM64 level against far inferior opposition than she meets here.
Lightly-raced filly Miss Guggenheim (Dundeel {NZ}) resumes after finishing a luckless seventh in the G2 Edward Manifold over a mile in the spring. She’s got the class to win a race of this calibre but is looking for further.
Yes Baby Yes (Dissident) failed to figure in two recent runs in Queensland, prior to that she won the G2 Lexus Fillies by 3.8l. There she accounted for Ecumenical (Zebedee {GB}) who finished fourth in the G1 Thousand Guineas.
Class on show
G3 Premier Signs Mannerism S., $160,000, 1400m
Perfect Jewel (Redoute’s Choice) is a proven fresh performer who boasts success here over 1200 metres in the G3 Cockram S. She returns to Victoria in good order after producing a forward trial showing over 1000 metres at Belmont.
Drawing barrier seven in the small field is the only negative, but she’s by far the superior mare in the race and is well weighted under set weight conditions.
Perfect Jewel
Rich Hips (Written Tycoon) resumes here after accounting for Group 1 winner Lyre (Lonhro) in the G3 HKJC S. during the spring. Her recent trial victory over 800 metres suggests that she can make it three consecutive fresh victories.
Sovereign Award (Shamus Award) was outclassed when resuming in the G1 Futurity S. last fortnight. She stays at 1400 metres despite doing her best work from the front at a mile and beyond.
Lunakorn (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) is yet to race beyond BM78 grade and will need to go to another level if she’s any chance of measuring up against Perfect Jewel. The booking of Jamie Kah is a positive but even she may struggle to burst clear from barrier one.
Class vs Scope
G3 Neds Zedative S., $160,000, 1200m
Lightly-raced gelding It’sourtime (Time For War {USA}) measured up against a field of high-class 3-year-olds in the G2 Autumn S. last start. Prior to that he won convincingly over 1100 and 1200 metres to commence his career.
The Peter Moody-trained Oxley Road (Exceed And Excel) was a strong debut winner down the Flemington straight. He clocked figures above class average that day and will only be improved by the rise in distance.
The Godolphin pair Valaquenta (Street Boss {USA}) and Conceited (Brazen Beau) bring a wealth of high-class form into this event.
Dead-heat duo return
Listed Neds Mornington Cup Prelude, $150,000, 2000m
Defibrillate (NZ) (Shocking) and Hang Man (Ire) (Windsor Knot {Ire}) return to the scene of their controversial dead-heat.
Despite sharing the spoils over 1800 metres, Defibrillate looks the likely improver stepping out to 2000 metres and 0.5kg better off at the weights. He spotted Hang Man more than 2l in the run and was pulling away from him crossing the line.
Wolfe (Jpn) (Novelist {Ire}) looks ready to peak fourth-up and dropping back from 2400 to 2000 metres. He’s drawn barrier eight of nine, but can cross without any hassle due to the lack of speed engaged. From there he can control the speed with Yulong Investments' import Blenheim Palace (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is looking to build upon a commendable Australian debut.
Jamie Kah will have no choice but to ride Aussie Nugget (Dansili {GB}) cold from the far outside, barrier nine. This is the 5-year-old’s first attempt beyond 1800 metres but from the way he savaged the line last start over a mile suggests that he is ready for the challenge.
