Caulfield Review 18-11

Monday, 20 November 2023 by Gavin Haynes

There was certainly an on speed bias at Caulfield so ' worth of noting for the future

R4 Thoroughbred Club Stakes 3yo F G3 1200m

Our 1 x 3 play here was Saltaire who ran 3rd  in a slowly run affair rating 83/92 which was down on expectations confirms my suspicions that she is better kept at 1100m. The winner Brazen Style was only having start 3 coming off a soft MDN win with an SR 77 so her 93/99 was a big step up and suggests she is very much on the up.  Runner up Miraval Rose was also only having 3rd start coming off a 3 length MDN win with 93/98 also some very nice progression. We have seen over the years that at some point in a horses first 5 to 10 runs there is a big jump in ratings usually around 10 points, when that happens is the hard thing to assess. Our 1 x 3 strategy kept us safe. 

R5 Village Stake Open Listed 1100m

A great result for us here with Gold Miner Hypothetical rated at $2.30 winning after being $4.6 when my market went up to an SP of $3.30 and he franked that SR 107 at previous start with Sr 112 in a dominant on speed performance. Runner Up Curran was value despite not firing a shot in 2 this campaign, he was a confirmed XR 107 horse last season and 104/106 here has him right back to best. We dodged  $2.7 Fav Sghrripa rating him at $6 . He had won his previous 2 for us but 104/100 was a new peak for him and is a galloper on the up. 4th placed Prowling caught the eye with 103/103 and looks in for a good campaign. 

R6 The Blue Sapphire G3 3yo G3 1400m

Our 1 x 3 play  and 98 horse Brave Mead ran 2nd at $3.70 in a race very much neg split in style. 102/90,as I have discussed before add the 2 and divide by 2 and get 96 so very much in his wheel house and he had 2 lengths on 3rd. The winner Run Harry Run had won previous 2 in the bush and was another example of a lightly raced type improving markedly early in  career 105/95 here was a big jump and is another most progressive type.  We easily dodged  $3.6 fav Arkansaw Kid rating him at $8, I had him a 91 horse going in so 96/92 was some slight improvement. The Instructor was eased out of things in the last 100m but stewards found no issues except he had lost a plate.

R7 The 1000 Guineas 3yo F G1 1600m

Another big race trifecta in our top 4 with $5.3 rated Joliestar $8 into $4.6 before winning comfortably, she franked her 101/105 at her previous start with 101/97 and has had a lovely campaign. The runner up was Gold Miner Kimochi  5 runs 5 podium finishes this time in, she was 3rd behind Joliestar last time out in the race won by Roll On High putting the winner on high notice. 95/93 was rock solid again. The pattern didn't suit 3rd placed Skybird but 91/93 contained the best closing splits in the race.

R8 Rupert Clark G1 1400m

That 16 gate for Magic Time really concerned me but i did rave about her SR 111 at previous start when wide  the trip, that was on the back of SR 105 at run prior but she put that fear to doubt with 112/108 stamping her as a top class 4yo mare and we can really look forward to her in the Autumn. Munhamek was easy in market and bounced to the moon off 106/110 first up, 92/92 was well below expectations. Runner up I Am Me was bold on speed I marked her down with the 7 furlongs a query but 108/100 was excellent and she has run time in the past with Sr114 at RWK on resume. Sydneysider Strait Acer has had some campaign  with 107/104 outstanding and franked by previous 1400m run which was 106/105 in Sydney.  Bandersnatch and Ske Wiff also deserves honourable mentions both rating 106/104.

HTF Magic Time

R9 - I know he was unders in my world but I was cheering hard for a mate of mine and a long time Horsetorquer who owns a chunk of Claidheamh Dor, my concern was the drop back in trip but he has Sr 107 on resume at 2500m and TH couldnt be smiling more after 105/111. He has a nice stayer with many options.. the eye catcher in the race was the 3rd placed Captain Obvious who was home 22.8 for 99/114

HTF Captain Obvious

R10  How Now Mares G3 1200m

There were only 3 clear chances on ratings in the last leg and Quaddie wise was cheering for the winner Rose Quartz, she had SR 104 on resume first up and was allowed to run along here, aided by track bias but 110/108 was excellent and she is a tidy girl.  Queen Of The Ball after 21.8 down the straight 1100m last time again struggled at 1200m with 92/92. She Dances including Sr 105 2 back and  108/105 was excellent again she has had a great campaign.  The runner up Ghaanati was only making 10th trip to races and ran a huge career peak,, as i said earlier at some point in their first 10 starts horses do this, not sure  what it is but the penny certainly drops. She was home 22.5  and 109/111 marks her as a runner very much on the up.

HTF - Ghannati

We head to Cranbourne for their Saturday stand alone meeting featuring the 1600m Cranbourne Cup and the 1000m Apache Cat