Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Back-to-back
Caulfield, G1 Moet & Chandon Memsie S., $1,00,000, 1400m
Behemoth (All Too Hard) looks well placed here ahead of his tilt at back-to-back victories in this time-honoured feature.
The David Jolly-trained gelding got the nod over Beau Rossa (Unencumbered) on protest first up in the G3 Spring S., and will be improved stepping up to a distance that he boasts three victories from four starts at.
He has drawn awkwardly in barrier nine but can cross and land in behind the leaders due to the early speed drawn around him.
Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) resumes off a nine-week layoff after winning back-to-back Group 1s during the Queensland winter carnival.
The Mike Moroney-trained mare is yet to win in five first-up attempts but steps out over her pet distance with residual fitness on her side.
G2 Hobartville S. winner Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) makes his way back over from New Zealand after rounding out his autumn campaign with an unplaced performance in the G1 Doncaster H.
Behemoth
G1 Railway S. winner Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) is having her first start for the Danny O’Brien camp after making her way over from Western Australia.
The lightly raced Bob Peters-owned mare is yet to miss the money in 12 career starts and boast five victories over this distance.
Expect her to prove hard to hold out if she gets the breaks at the top of the straight. The aforementioned Beau Rossa is an exciting prospect but may find this field a touch too classy at this stage of his career.
Race in two
Caulfield, G3 W.W. Cockram S., $200,000, 1200m
Multiple Group 1-winning mare Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) makes her return to racing after being narrowly denied by Nettoyer (Sebring) at the conclusion of her autumn preparation.
The Jamie Richards-trained mare has this field's measure on exposed form, and if she runs up to the level that she did when beating Arcadia Queen (Pierro) in the G1 Futurity S. she’ll be awfully hard to beat.
She strikes a suitable firm surface here but has drawn the far outside, barrier 10.
Instant Celebrity (Not A Single Doubt) looms as the main danger to Probabeel’s chances.
The G1 Robert Sangster S. winner has only had eight career starts and could overhaul Probabeel without surprising.
Expect her to get the gun run in the box seat from barrier three under star hoop Craig Williams.
The quality of this race drops right off after the aforementioned two. However, if there is one mare to jump out of the ground it could be Rich Hips (Written Tycoon).
Rich Hips (yellow cap) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained galloper was an impressive first-up winner at this track last preparation and then backed that up by finishing 4.6l behind Krone (Eurozone) in the G1 Coolmore Classic.
She has drawn superbly and maps to get every chance to make her presence felt.
Parlophone (I Am Invincible) has recaptured her early promise with two sound second placings this time in. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper is the fit mare in the race and could capitalise on her resuming counterparts.
Flying the flag
Caulfield, G3 H.D.F. McNeil S., $200,000, 1200m
G1 Blue Diamond S. hero Artorius (Flying Artie) has trialled superbly ahead of his racetrack return.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained colt boasts the scalps of star Godolphin colts Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) and Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}), with the latter running straight past General Beau (Brazen Beau) on resumption last fortnight.
Artorius
The only knock on Artorius is that he will be spotting a fit and firing General Beau in a small field. However, if the speed is on and Luke Currie finds clear air at the top of the straight, expect a tightly contested finish between the pair.
Mr Mozart (Snitzel) looms as the main danger in the race after running home nicely behind Ingratiating and General Beau in the G3 Vain S.
He draws awkwardly in barrier nine but could be the progressive type that jumps out of the ground.
Lone filly Heresy (Street Boss {USA}) was strong to the line behind exciting talent Gimmie Par (Not A Single Doubt) on resumption in the G3 Quezette S. last fortnight.
She will relish the extra trip but may find the boys a bit too classy.
Fresh Crusade
Caulfield, G3 McCafe The Heath 1100 S., $200,000, 1100m
Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) has a clear class edge on his rivals here.
The G1 William Reid S. winner is yet to win over this distance, but presents forward enough based on the merit of his strong trial victory at Rosehill last fortnight.
The Team Hawkes-trained 5-year-old draws wide in barrier 10, but can produce the closing sectionals required to run over the top late.
Fitness told the story for Oxley Road (Exceed And Excel) on resumption at Flemington earlier this month when nabbed by Miss Albania (Magnus) over the concluding stages.
Masked Crusader
He will have improved for the run and is capable of fending off Masked Crusader with fitness on his side.
Amish Boy (Star Witness) is a notorious “non-winner” having only won once from 16 career starts. However, he boasts multiple narrow finishing behind top-class sprinters in Isotope (Deep Field) and Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}).
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained galloper was last at Ipswich in June and should carry a touch of residual fitness into this contest.
He’s the second-best horse behind Masked Crusader on exposed form but will need the breaks to go his way at the right time.
Viridine (Poets Voice {GB}) proved that he’s got plenty of zip left in his 7-year-old legs when running fourth in a competitive edition of the G2 Missile S. earlier this month.
He meets this field again at relative weights and could make his presence felt at a distance he is proven over.
Moment of truth
Caulfield, Listed Tile Importer Heatherlie S., $160,000, 1700m
Angel Of Truth (Animal Kingdom {USA}) was ultra-impressive producing a flashing-light second well short of his best trip in last fortnight’s G2 PB Lawrence S.
The Team Hawkes-trained gelding will relish the extra 300 metres on offer and should prove hard to beat against a field that consists mostly of resuming gallopers.
Angel Of Truth
The only knock is that he hasn’t featured in the winner’s stall for some time now.
G1 VRC Oaks winner Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) has found her groove again posting three solid third-placed performances in a row.
Expect the Danny O’Brien mare to settle back in the field and be hitting the line strongly ahead of a preparation targeted towards another tilt at the G1 Melbourne Cup.
Scottish Dancer (Dream Ahead {USA}) posted a big win when at this track and trip earlier last month when swooping from back in the field.
He was luckless last start over a mile at Flemington and should prove competitve again with fitness on his side.
Godolphin import Ziegfeld (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) has been solid without winning in all three of his starts on Australian soil.
The 5-year-old gelding wasn’t beaten far into fourth last start and had a slow recovery rate post-race. He’s up to this level but will need plenty of luck from barrier 16.
Slipper winner resumes
Kembla Grange, G3 XXXX San Domenico S., $160,000, 1100m
Stay Inside (Extreme Choice) steps out for the first time since winning the G1 Golden Slipper S. in devastating fashion.
The Richard and Michael Freedman-trained colt has produced two solid trial showings and should be forward enough to be winning on resumption against a high-class field.
Tommy Berry sticks in the saddle and will need to overcome a less than desirable draw, barrier six of eight.
Remarque (Snitzel) was awfully unlucky not to etch his name on the G2 Missile S. honour roll on resumption at Randwick.
He has a fitness edge on Stay Inside and could power over the top late with luck in running from barrier two.
Paulele (Dawn Approach {Ire}) bolted in on resumption at Randwick to win with plenty in hand.
Paulele
The James Cummings-trained colt is yet to face rivals of Stay Inside’s class but should measure up based on what he’s shown to date.
Look for G1 Champagne S. winner Captivant (Capitalist) to savage the line late in preparation for races like the G1 Golden Rose S. and G1 Caulfield Guineas.
Full of Heart
Kembla Grange, G3 The Agency Illawarra Premier’s Cup, $160,000, 2000m
Heart Of Puissance (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) steps out of Victoria for the first time when he resumes here.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained entire has always given the impression of a Group horse but is yet to prove it under race conditions.
Kerrin McEvoy has been booked to ride and will need to be at his best to find an out from barrier one.
Quick Thinker (So You Think {NZ}) gets back onto a suitable Soft surface after knocking up in to a distant last at Hawkesbury last start.
Quick Thinker (white cap)
The OTI-owned galloper draws favourably in barrier four and will be able to put himself right up on speed.
Mubariz (GB) (Dansili {GB}) presents rock-hard fit and ready to win after fighting hard to take out third position at this track and trip last start.
He will carry 0.5kg more than Heart Of Puissance but gets a significant on the other key chances, including Spirit Ridge (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Dashing Willoughby (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}).
Watch him rise
Kembla Grange, G3 Fujitsu General Ming Dynasty, $160,000, 1400m
Coastwatch (Fastnet Rock) presents third-up and ready to win after almost running down the classy Tiger Of Malay (Extreme Choice) albeit with a significant weight advantage.
He gets a 3kg weight swing on the main danger Subterranean (Rebel Dane) and should get a lovely run in transit from barrier one.
The only concern is if James McDonald can’t find an out at the top of the straight.
Arnaquer (Astern) was an impressive winner on return earlier this month before putting together a nice trial at Hawkesbury on Monday.
The Jean Dubious-trained colt is a progressive prospect and should be able to find the lengths required to measure up against the aforementioned Coastwatch and Subterranean.
The Annabel Neasham-trained Military Expert (Redoute’s Choice) comes through an excellent Newcastle maiden victory but will need to make up a few lengths to match motors with his proven rivals.
Tiger Of Malay
Clarken in control
Morphettville, Listed Leon Macdonald S., $107,250, 1400m
Ironclad (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) resumes in pursuit of five consecutive victories on Australian soil.
The Australian Bloodstock-owned and Will Clarken-trained gelding has proven himself over 1200 metres fresh and should have no concerns stepping out below his preferred 1600-metre journey.
Former South African Group 1-winning jockey Callan Murray takes the ride while Todd Pannell will partner Ironclad's fit and firing stablemate Second Slip (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}), who himself was victorious on resumption at Caulfield last start.
Second Slip (NZ)
Second Slip draws favourably in barrier three and should relish the extra 300 metres despite having finished outside the placings in two attempts at 1400 metres.
The classy Ritratto (Fiorente {Ire}) settled off the speed and closed strongly to finish a distant third behind two Group 1 gallopers in Behemoth (All Too Hard) and Beau Rossa (Unencumbered) on resumption in the G3 Spring S.
Ritratto will appreciate getting out over further ground this time around, while there is a small case to be made for the consistent Will Clarken-trained mare Specialism (Safeguard) based on the merit of her three runs this time in.
Too close to decide
Belmont, Listed Idyllic Prince S., $125,000, 1300m
Too Close The Sun (Carlton House {USA}) will be hard to catch out in front here second-up.
The Lindsey Smith-trained gelding can roll forward from barrier six and take up a position with ease under William Pike before dictating the tempo.
The classy Samizdat (Not A Single Doubt) looms as the main danger in the race after running over the top of Tellem We’re Comin (Blackfriars) on resumption over 1200 metres.
He possesses an electric turn of foot but will be spotting Too Close The Sun a significant margin on straightening.
Neufbosc (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) resumes off the back of three pleasing trials but is more than likely to find his rivals too sharp fresh while the aforementioned Tellem We’re Coming is capable of turning the tables on Samizdat here with a run under his belt.
