VOBIS Gold races galore all day today accompanied by the $800,000 Showdown feature event for the two-year-olds.
The Caulfield track has held up very well given the last few weeks of racing and it should be no different today. No wind and rain plus a cool forecast and rail in the 3 metre position means results will be tempo and talent related.
Race 1 - 12:15pm
Neds Same Race Multi Handicap (1400m)
Shot Of Irish (2) blinkers back on here and he's a brave horse when fit and firing. 51-day let-up not ideal but if he's near his best he'll be in the finish.
Jumbo Ozaki (6) raced wide and up on the pace doing well to hold on for second behind a potential group horse called Big Night Out. Craig Williams sticks. Drawn perfectly and he maps well.
Villa Sarchi (10) found more trouble than the early settlers last start. Should have finished much closer to the smart Buffalo River. Wide gate the concern but he gets back and runs on anyway. Gets his chance again.
Simply Optimistic (4) a tad unlucky last start and has won well over this distance before when he raced in New Zealand. 1100m up to 1400m might be a bridge too far though.
Race 2 - 12:50pm
Blue Gum Farm VOBIS Gold Distaff (1400m)
Honey Esprit (5) should lead comfortably here. She's an almighty chance to catch them all off guard and looks a great each-way play in a race where she'll ask a few horses with chinks to catch her.
Twitchy Frank (1) racing well enough but she's very short here and stewards notfity she has synthetic hoof filler applied. At $2.6? No thanks.
Clarice Cliffs (6) similar to Twitchy Frank she's racing well but just struggling to get nose first to the line.
Marcada (10) might also be worth a peanut or two at huge odds.
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Race 3 - 1:25pm
Spendthrift Australia VOBIS Gold Sprint (1200m)
Pippie (2) she's a little marvel this mare. Jumps, leads and tries her heart out. Getting into odds-on territory with her but she's a Group 1 winner and she's fast!
Vainstream (8) will get the good track he needs and has been racing well. Might not be up to the calibre of the top pick but has to be respected.
Teleplay (3) whatever she does here she will improve on but she's coming off two brave wins last preperation which could see her sneak into the placings.
Sirius Supect (5) rarely runs a bad race. He's probably not sharp enoguh to lead Pippie, but he'll camp himself up on the speed and be there in the finish if the favourite doesn't turn up.
Race 4 - 2:00pm
Surewise VOBIS Gold Heath (2000m)
Mr Quickie (1) is the best horse in this race but he is the price of a good thing. No edge backing him here at the current quote of $1.8
Grand Crown (5). This fella will roll into the lead or sit outside the leader. He's fit and comes off a solid win albeit in Adelaide but might pinch a break on the favourite.
Think We're Due (7) is racing in great form as well. Like Grand Crown, he'll contest for the front and Ben Melham stays onboard after piloting him to an all the way win at Cranbourne.
Declares War (4) had to duck and weave up the inside rail at Sandown last start and maybe just peaked on his run in the last little bit. He should be fully fit now and be another challenger to the favourite.
Race 5 - 2:40pm
IRT VOBIS Gold Mile (1600m)
Yes he's an enigma but it's last chance saloon for So Si Bon (3). Gets blinkers and the tongue tie. Hayes, Hayes & Dabernig stable throwing the kitchen sink to get him over the line here. Tough to see him missing a place.
Mamzelle Tess (6) finally stuck her neck out to get a well overdue win. Coudl be the little confidence booster she needed. The horse she beat in that race - Bam's On Fire - came out last week at Caulfield and smashed her opposition.
Mahamedeis (7) has raced in much tougher mile races than this. Not sure about the 1000m up to 1600m. A far from ideal set-up but if he's near his best then look out for him last.
Benitoite (10) was a victim of circumstance last start. Got caught in no man's land and was found wanting late in the race. Positive here is that Damien Oliver stays aboard.
Race 6 - 3:20pm
The Showdown (1200m)
Big field assembled for this two-year-old. Hard for trainers and owners not to be tempted by the prizemoney.
Archipeta Beach (15) looked smart winning on debut at Geelong. Tough to line up the heavy track form from that meeting but a filly off a win is a big tick.
Chrome Angel (13) ran a cracking race on debut too and Craig Williams hops on.
Halvoya (18) has been well backed in early markets. Firming from as much as $17 into single figures. Her two most recent trials at Cranbourne showed she has ability.
Race 7 - 4:00pm
Neds Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m)
Eduardo (4) is a lightly raced sprinter who had a premature preparation last time in with some soundness issues. If he's over that, as looked to be the case in a recent Cranbourne trial, he'll be mighty hard to beat.
Lyre (9) has been given a nice little freshen up and jumpout heading into this race. Amazingly, has not won a race since last year's Blue Diamond but gets her best to chance today.
Crystal Dreamer (1) rank a cracker in the Oakleigh Plate behind speed machine Pippie. Has to be a winning chance here.
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Race 8 - 4:40pm
Avenel Equine Hospital VOBIS Gold Dash (1100m)
Felicia (14) has talent. Off an extended break here the market is suggesting she's ready to come to the races and be mighty hard to beat today. Love the fact Damien Oliver wanted the ride on this filly. Great chance.
Broadwayandfourth (2) gets back on a dry track here. He's drawn very wide but he should be in clean air the top of the straight. Just a bit under the odds at around the $5 mark.
Sartorial Splendor (1) might be ready to do something today. Copped a heavy track last start and he should lead comfortably here. Big improver.
The Corstens pair Stand to Attention (4) and Heka Express (11) are good long odds chances as well.
Race 9 - 5:15pm
The VOBIS Sires Guineas (1600m)
Moonlight Maid (8) was okay first-up but should derive a big fitness benefit from that run. She's the class in this race but might be a run short.
Affair To Remember (12) will need an 'Olly' masterclass to get her over the line here after drawing wide again. She'll get back but she'll be flying home late in the race.
Ocular (3) raced in Wednesday grade last start when beating home all bar Golden Gorge at Sandown and going down by a whisker. Gets the senior jockey in Dwayne Dunn and drawn to settle a lot closer than last start.
Score (9) usually finds market support and has had a good preparation thus far. Not sure the mile will suit him but with Mark Zahra electing to stay on he has to be considered.
Best bets
Slevo's best
Best bet: Race 3, #2 - Pippie
Next best: Race 7, #4 - Eduardo
Best each-way: Race 5, #6 - Mamzelle Tess
Best roughie: Race 8, #4 - Stand To Attention
Paul's best
Best bet: Race 5, #3 - So Si Bon
Next best: Race 4, #5 - Grand Crown & #7 - Think We're Due
Best each-way: Race 2, #5 - Honey Esprit