Patrick's One to watch:

PRIX DE TURN (CAULFIELD GUINEAS)

Interesting run up.  Having had only one race day start and that was an eye catching placing at Sandown behind the talented extreme flight over 1400 metres.  He is prepared by Matthew Brown who has only had his licence a short time.  Ironically his father raced with great success this horse’s sire Turn Me Loose.  And Turn Me Loose is a former Toorak Handicap winner and is an exceptionally bred sire who was prepared by the Baker Stable.  Bred by the Alchemy Family Trust and Windsor Park Pty Ltd this colt is from Prix du Sang who was a daughter of the American bred mare.  Drawn disastrously in the outside gate but monitor going forward this spring.

 

Cranbourne – Friday night

IMPECUNIOUS (PINKER PINKER PLATE)

Former New Zealand mare who was bred at Waikato Stud and showed at her last start in Australia when fifth at Moonee Valley that not only was she reaching her peak but the 2000 metres of this country race will suit ideally.  Don’t forget, she is group one placed.

GRAVITELLE (PINKER PINKER PLATE)

English bred mare from New Zealand who won in good style at Ellerslie against benchmark 74 grade.  She was most impressive and obviously has shown enough going through the grades at home in New Zealand to tackle this $100,000 race.  Be mindful she is a stoutly bred English mare who has only been lightly raced.  Taking another step towards a tilt at this year’s Victoria Derby.  Was run off his feet at his first Victorian start but going to 1800 metres this time, a distance he has been successful at in the past.  

Caulfield – Saturday

JUSTACANTA (WEEKEND HUSSLER STAKES)

Burst through a narrow opening at Flemington last Saturday to score in strong style.  Obviously has thrived since then as this most astute stable wouldn’t have backed up the eight year old gelding.  Same trip here, similar company and worth plenty of thought again.

KAHMA LASS (WEEKEND HUSSLER STAKES)

Debut in Australia at Randwick in February but was obviously not right as the Richards Stable turned her out.  Made some late ground at Caulfield last time and will be fitter for that run in mid-September.  Most astute stable so consider highly on Saturday.  

PROBABEEL (CAULFIELD STAKES)

Having one of her last runs before the Cox Plate but she was brave and tough last start at Sandown when she finished a solid second to Zaaki in the Underwood Stakes.  Zaaki is arguably the most talented horse in the southern hemisphere but this resilient mare continues to improve at the highest level.  

FORGOT YOU (CAULFIELD GUINEAS)

Gifted three-year-old who has put together two gritty victories at Moonee Valley one of which is over the distance he will be running over on Saturday.  Admittedly, rising in grade but has been victorious at 1600 metres against a good field something that many of his rivals haven’t managed to do.  

RIVERPLATE (CAUFIELD GUINEAS)

Has struggled since his eye-catching placing at Sandown when making his Australian debut.  He hasn’t had a lot of luck mid-race in his two past failures.  He is in an astute stable and they have called on blinkers for the first time and have taken the stallion chain off.

TOFANE (TOORAK HANDICAP)

Courageous group one winning mare who was brave when having her first start at the 1600 metres when fourth to Caulfield and Melbourne Cup favourite Incentivise at Flemington.  She is a class mare, drawn perfectly in gate 3 and will relish another crack at the 1600 metres this time.

SIERRA SUE (TOORAK HANDICAP)

Probably the most improved race mare in Australasia.  In fact, this Kiwi galloper should probably have won her last four starts as the five-year-old ran into the backsides of Superstorm at Moonee Valley on September 4.  She franked that misfortune by coming from near last at the top of the straight to win the group one Rupert Clarke Stakes.  She’s fit and her gate of 11 will be no hindrance as she’ll get back in the early stages.    

ELEPHANT (TOORAK HANDICAP)

Has defied the handicapper and has impressed the local racegoers since the oddly named five-year-old arrived on Australian shores.  After being backed all over Australia he scored at Caulfield in mid-August and then was beaten by an eyelash at Moonee Valley in a group two event.   He showed that he is not deterred by his taxing preparation by strolling in at Sandown under group three conditions last time.  He will be able to exploit barrier five so he is very much a major player in this company.

SECOND SLIP (TOORAK HANDICAP)

Interesting runner by the New Zealand based Alamosa from another New Zealand family in Scarlett O’Hara who is by Fast And Famous, winner in a vastly improved showing. He raced with plenty of potential when in New Zealand however, since migrating to South Australia he has put together five wins from just eight starts.  He is talented, he’s got no weight and has powerful early pace that can often be advantageous in Toorak Handicaps.

THE CHOSEN ONE (HERBERT POWER STAKES)

Struggled under the weight for age conditions at Sandown behind Zaaki, however, he looked very good when a fast finishing third behind Superstorm and Elephant in a group two event at Moonee Valley two starts back.  That was a telling performance and while he is up in weight here, the 2400 metres and the drop in grade will be a strong pointer to his chances.  

DEFIBRILLATE (HERBERT POWER STAKES)

Tough stayer who started his career in New Zealand but has gone from strength to strength since landing in Australia late last year.  His fourth in the Japan Racing Association Stakes at Moonee Valley in a group three event was full of merit.  Fitter here and will be avoiding the Caulfield Cup and will be aimed at races of this standard.  Strongly consider.

FUN FACT (HERBERT POWER STAKES)

Showed a glimpse of his best form when third at Rosehill in a group three staying event.  While rising in grade this could suit at odds.

 

Randwick – Saturday

COTEHELE (STAN FOX STAKES)

From the powerful O’Shea stable, this son of Tavistock looked very good at Goulburn last time and although rising in grade could threaten for a place.

SWORD OF STATE (ROMAN CONSUL STAKES)

From the powerful Richards Stable and is much better than his first start in Australia last month when four lengths behind Home Affairs at 1100 metres.  He is much better than that and is certainly well worth considering here.

AMARELINHA (ANGST STAKES)

High class galloper on his day putting together three successes in a row when home in New Zealand earlier this year.  Struggled a touch last time but worth thought.  

ALL SAINTS EVE (ANGST STAKES)

Has struggled a touch in his two starts to date but can improve sharply.

ALL HALLOWS-EVE (ANGST STAKES)

Another Kiwi galloper who could also improve under the conditions of this race and is also by Sacred Falls, one of the great stallions of the past.

BARGAIN (ANGST STAKES)

Raced by the Chittick family and is by Ocean Park – one of New Zealand’s finest racehorses of the past 10 years.  Has trialled well and could threaten first up here.

HIGH SUPREMACY (SILVER EAGLE STAKES)

By Savabeel from a High Chaparral the perfect cross on breeding.  Came from nearly last at Randwick to win a benchmark 78 last month while climbing in a grade it would not surprise to see him run a forward race.

INVERELL (SPRING CHAMPION STAKES)

Bred in New Zealand and has slowly shown staying ability and might surprise at odds.

NEVER BEEN KISSED (SPRING CHAMPION STAKES)

Another bred by the Waikato Stud’s sire Tivaci from another Kiwi mare, Movie who was by Savabeel.  Shocked most punters last week with her dominant win in the group one Flight Stakes, a performance that has branded her a filly of the future.  Facing the colts and geldings here but winning form is good form.  

BELLUCI BABE (DYSON SPRINT)

Solid winner at Gosford last time and is well worth thought in this grade.