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Caulfield Betting Tips for February 22, 2025 - Race-By-Race preview for Blue Diamond Stakes day

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Thu 20 Feb 2025 06:46

Alex Marsh 20 Feb 2025

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Caulfield hosts a ten-race program on February 22 with expert tips provided
Key picks include Treasurethe Moment in Race 5 and Lofty Arch in Race 4
Diverse race conditions and top contenders promise an exciting race day

Expired

The Blue Diamond Stakes headlines a big Caulfield program on February 22. (Getty)

Caulfield hosts a ten-race program on February 22 and preview for Saturday is included below.

Caulfield Tips February 22
Race 1 - 12:15PM HKJC World Pool Handicap Tips (1100m)
Race 2 - 12:45PM Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap Tips (1100m)
Race 3 - 1:20PM Stow Storage Autumn Classic Tips (1800m)
Race 4 - 1:55PM Carlton Draught Zeditave Stakes Tips (1200m)
Race 5 - 2:30PM Sportsbet Angus Armanasco Stakes Tips (1400m)
Race 6 - 3:05PM Catanach's Jewellers Mannerism Stakes Tips (1400m)
Race 7 - 3:40PM Lamaro's Hotel Futurity Stakes Tips (1400m)
Race 8 - 4:15PM Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes Tips (1200m)
Race 9 - 4:55PM Sportsbet Oakleigh Plate Tips (1100m)
Race 10 - 5:35PM Sportsbet Victoria Gold Cup Tips (2000m)

Caulfield Tips February 22

Race 1 - 12:15PM HKJC World Pool Handicap Tips (1100m)

Best: 7. Tonkin. Tricky little opener, which sees Tonkin favoured to open her second campaign with a winning hat-trick and the speedy Godolphin filly was scratched from an easier Moonee Valley race for this.

Tonkin beat a subsequent metro maiden winner (Sirena) via a Mornington breakthrough before bolting at The Valley, with her 1000m event going almost seven lengths faster than a hot maiden won by Documentary.

She opened up a 4.5-length margin on La Vie En via that second-up romp, with the runner-up arriving to that January 24 contest off a big maiden win and Tonkin is now on the 54kg minimum.

Value: 1. Miss Aria. This daughter of Zoustar is classy and while 1100m is on the short side for her, the market support at longer odds ahead of her Group 2 Rubiton Stakes return was no shock.

The four-year-old simply ran into better out-and-out sprinters at the distance, however, she was sound late in the inferior going (second-fastest last 600m and 400m of the meeting).

Staying at 1100m is the knock and she's giving weight to all of her rivals in the race, but Miss Aria is well down in grade and now back against her own sex, ability should take her a long way.

Race 2 - 12:45PM Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap Tips (1100m)

Best: 9. Winnasedge. He was consistent in five runs over his first campaign and after bringing up win two via a Bendigo BM64, Winnasedge recorded a third-of-seven finish at Group 3 level.

The runner-up from that event (Pisces) bolted in with a Group 3 at his next start, while the Nick Ryan-trained galloper rounded out the prep with a fourth-place finish at Flemington.

Not much went right via his Sandown return, where Winnasedge spotted them av start and raced keenly before doing his best work late (race fastest last 200m), while he's since completed a decent jump-out.

Value: 1. Bellinger. The seven-year-old was each-way odds via his first-up victory over this track/trip and he followed that fresh win up with an Adelaide triumph on December 7.

Sectionally, the third-up performance was much better than it looked to the eye in what was a tactical affair and last start at Sandown, he was touch a outclassed behind an in-form Quinella.

This is an easier task for the honest Bellinger, who has strong form lines from last season, with runs vs Pereille, Shezanalister, Rey Magnerio and Baraqiel all reading well for this grade.

Race 3 - 1:20PM Stow Storage Autumn Classic Tips (1800m)

Best: 5. Emphasize. This is a different-up, with Emphasize back to 1800m and he may not be afforded the fast tempo that was available when saluting over 2000m on February 8.

The positive is that this progressive three-year-old is back against his own age after holding off Inevitable Award and that runner-up is no slouch (Flemington winner second-up this prep).

He jumped cleaner and settled closer via his impressive maiden triumph at Sandown last month, so Emphasize is capable of landing in a more prominent position this time around under Craig Williams.

Value: 7. Cecchetti. This Matt Cumani-trained colt always looked a prep or so away in his first campaign and yet he still showed potential over those four runs earlier in the season.

Cecchetti should've finished closer behind the subsequent Victoria Derby winner (Goldrush Guru) via an Adelaide visit and he then rounded his spring with a third at Listed level.

The son of Fiorente ran the fastest last 200m of that Flemington race despite being in restricted room and while he's likely being aimed at Derbies, I'm a little surprised that $25+ is available.

Race 4 - 1:55PM Carlton Draught Zeditave Stakes Tips (1200m)

Best: 1. Lofty Arch. His only defeat in three appearances was a fifth-place finish up the Flemington straight at start two and he arrived to that Group 2 attempt off a tough debut win.

The son of Snitzel denied the challenge of Certain Rise in that Cranbourne success and with two wins from his next two outings (latest at Listed level), the runner-up well and truly franked the form.

Lofty Arch got a black-type win of his own over this track/trip before a spell and with three nice jump-out's leading into this fresh assignment, he's found a very winnable race here.

Value: 8. Yes Lulu. Her Magic Millions 3YO Guineas run can be forgiven, where the Ciaron Maher-trained filly was back and wide in a fast-run 1400m, and she's been freshened-up.

Also, a strong seven furlongs may have just seen Yes Lulu out in that last attempt and she arrived to Queensland off back-to-back Melbourn victories on the Caulfield Heath circuit.

After a maiden kill, Yes Lulu proved too brilliant for an in-form Miss Altair over this distance and a handy Miraval Rose was third (Listed winner next start and Group 3 placed last week).

Race 5 - 2:30PM Sportsbet Angus Armanasco Stakes Tips (1400m)

Best: 1. Treasurethe Moment. She does look quite forward for a resuming Oaks winner, with a softer workout at Cranbourne in a strong heat before completing a more searching hit-out at Sandown.

Treasurethe Moment was ridden out late and past the line in her latest showing on February 12 over 800m, while the star filly showed her versatility over shorter distances prior to her staying victories.

Will she improve from this? Yes, but Treasurethe Moment has a clear class edge on these fillies and while she's giving weight to her rivals in this first-up tilt, she might simply too good for them.

Value: 5. Actuality. A big, strong filly from the Moody & Coleman yard, Actuality was spelled after saluting as a well-back backed fav in September and she's ticking over well this prep.

Fresh at 1100m was fine, with the daughter of Snitzel narrowly defeated first-up, but staying at that trip in stronger company worked against her via a Group 3 attempt here second-up.

She's from a strong Japanese family, being a close relation to Neorealism and Real Impact (both Group 1 winners) and Actuality can get into better rhythm early over 1400m from a kinder draw.

Race 6 - 3:05PM Catanach's Jewellers Mannerism Stakes Tips (1400m)

Best: 6. Coeur Volante. It was just an even 1200m return from Coeur Volante in a Group 3 that's already produced two subsequent winners and blinkers have now been applied to this mare.

It's somewhat of a D-Day for Coeur Volante, who looked a potential star in the making via her early three-year-old campaign and the highlight was a stylish Group 2 victory over this track/trip.

Blake Shinn has kept the faith with the four-year-old and with a key gear change, along with a solid jump-out since the return run, she needs to be putting a field like this away if she's to have a big future.

Value: 7. Bon Mistress. She's hasn't figured in stakes company via five attempts to date, but there's still been some competitive performances among those previous tries.

Also, Bon Mistress was on a Heavy 8 surface in her last start black-type showing, where she was specked at a long odds following back-to-back victories and she responded fourth-up on a good ground.

Bon Mistress was unlucky and unsuited by the race shape at The Valley before a short spell, while the daughter of Bon Hoffa did work quite well in a soft jump-out at Cranbourne on Monday.

Race 7 - 3:40PM Lamaro's Hotel Futurity Stakes Tips (1400m)

Best: 1. Mr Brightside. He lost no admirers via a narrow first-up defeat in the CF Orr Stakes, where the eight-time Group 1 winner was reeled in by Another Wil, who had a softer run in transit via that February 8 clash.

The seven-year-old has a terrific second-up record (five wins and a second from seven attempts) and he won last year's Futurity Stakes second-up as a $1.50 favourite.

He's drifted out in the market since the barrier draw; however, Craig Williams has so often got it right on this popular veteran and Mr Brightside has shown tactical versatility throughout his career.

The track/trip stats are excellent, with five wins and two seconds over the Caulfield 1400m, and he covered ground when defeating I Wish I Win (second fav here) in the 2023 Memsie Stakes.

Next Best: 4. Tom Kitten. Although his Group 1 win came over 2000m, this Godolphin galloper was successful first-up over this distance last campaign and he was gelded following his three-year-old season.

With 20 starts to his name, Tom Kitten is exposed enough on paper, but I still feel there's some upside with the son of Harry Angel and he has worked well in two lead-up trials ahead of this.

After contesting age restricted races, it's never easy for early season four-year-old's, especially those who have been on Derby paths and yet he was still competitive throughout his last campaign.

Tom Kitten was on equal weights with Ceolwulf in the Epsom and he followed that Group 1 placing up with a fourth in the King Charles III Stakes before a third-place finish in The Golden Eagle.

Value: 9. Place Du Carrousel. It does look unconventional placement at 1400m for Place Du Carrousel, however, it's also common for Australian stables to get more sprint into the legs of a European import.

The French Group 1 winner does look forward enough for Saturday's return assignment, with a jump-out win and trial victory recorded, and Mark Zahra sticks from the most recent hit-out.

Her spring campaign was aborted after two performances, with the mare pulling up with genuine excuses after a return flop in the Underwood Stakes and she did start fav for that 1800m Group 1.

There isn't much genuine weight-for-age depth to this field and while there's obvious distance queries, any horse that can split Via Sistina and Buckaroo has to be respected on class.

Race 8 - 4:15PM Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes Tips (1200m)

Best: 14. Cherish Me. It looks a very even edition of the Blue Diamond and searching for his first win in this juvenile feature is gun trainer Ciaron Maher, who has three runners accepted in the field of 16.

Cherish Me is his top seed, a two-year-old who was aimed for the Blue Diamond following a slick debut triumph in the Geelong Diamond, which gave her a ballot free route into this Group 1.

Ciaron Maher has to be respected when he plans these big fresh target races a long way out with a talented youngster (Hitotsu and Coolangatta come to mind in that regard).

She easily accounted for Cavalry Girl in her Geelong success, where Cherish Me ran the fastest last 200m of the meeting and that runner-up franked the form at Flemington via her next start.

Next Best: 3. Extractor. He finished alongside of a talented West Of Swindon via his Golden Gift debut and behind her in that race were Icarian Dream (Group 3 winner) and O'Ole (Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner).

Spelled after that November 9 tilt, Extractor looked as if he'd need the run fresh going off a workmanlike trial on January 28 and that proved to be the case when third in the Lonhro Plate.

Despite lacking the turn-of-foot of the eventual Quinella over 1000m, it was still a solid return from the Michael Freedman-trained colt and he does look suited by the rise to 1200m now.

With the youngster having completed just one trial before that recent resumption, there's clearly room to improve on Saturday and his Sydney form should be holding up here.

Value: 6. Autumn Mystery. On breeding, Autumn Mystery should progress more in his three-year-old season, however, this gelding appears to have some X factor and he now gets out to 1200m for the first time.

He was green when placing on debut at Mornington before making in-roads in a slowly run Flemington affair, where he came from the rear in a race that was tailormade for the winner.

His Prelude effort here warrants a shot at the stumps, with Autumn Mystery back and held-up before switching course and finding the line late on the inside, which was the inferior going.

Should he come through this well, then the Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 8 looks his right race and in an open Blue Diamond, a top three/four finish wouldn't shock.

Race 9 - 4:55PM Sportsbet Oakleigh Plate Tips (1100m)

Best: 2. Estriella. From four Group 1 outings, Estriella hasn't been in the money and her most competitive showing at this level was fourth-of-nine when resuming in the Moir Stakes last September.

There's still time for her, with the Ciaron Maher-trained galloper only a four-year-old and there's been an intent to ride her colder in two summer workouts ahead of this fresh attempt.

She caught the eye in the latest trial at Cranbourne, which Blake Shinn sticks from and with barrier nine at his disposal in a field that has plenty of speed around him, the gun hoop will have options.

As far as her overall ceiling goes, this is somewhat of a D-Day for Estriella, who could easily progress on to stronger sprint races should she deliver on the promise that was shown early.

Next Best: 10. Sghirripa. It was a South Australian victory in last year's Oakleigh Plater, with Queman providing an upset result under Harry Coffey and Sghirripa was the more fancied 'Crow-eater' in that edition.

The five-year-old was completely unsuited by the pattern of that meeting, where he was back, wide and chasing, yet at 11.29, he recorded the fastest last 200m of the 2024 Oakleigh Plate.

Sghirripa wasn't able to progress in five subsequent runs last year and following a second-up failure at Group 2 level, he was tipped out and the gelding arrives here off a slick February 11 trial win.

He's one of the best-weighted contenders in this line-up, as Sghirripa carries 2.5kg less than he did 12 months ago and he's been competitive in all three attempts over this track/trip.

Value: 17. Espionage. While he's been off the scene since last April, there'll be intent with Espionage via this fresh tilt, with this one of the more winnable Group 1's he'll find to beef up his stallion resume.

An injury forced the son of Zoustar out of the 2024 spring, with Espionage once touted as a genuine Everest contender, although big owners (and Gai) will say that about most sprinting entires.

Three-year-old's have been hit-or-miss in the Oakleigh Plate over recent years, although it was traditionally a good option for youngsters (Portland Sky last one to win - dead-heated in 2021 with 50kg).

He gets a natural lightweight hoop on in Dean Yendall, who is a six-time Group 1 winning jockey and Espionage has worked well in two hit-outs leading into his Oakleigh Plate attempt.

Race 10 - 5:35PM Sportsbet Victoria Gold Cup Tips (2000m)

Best: 8. Dashing Duchess. One of the main contenders in a competitive nightcap is Dashing Duchess, who caught the eye first-up over 1600m via the JRA Plate (race fastest last 200m).

The mare was campaigning over staying trips for most of her last campaign, hence the big price via her February 8 return and Symon Wilde isn't a noted first-up stable (they improve with racing).

Admittedly, it was a Warrnambool maiden, but Dashing Duchess has still recorded a monster second-up win over this distance and she's a lightly race five-year-old who still has some upside.

Value: 6. Etna Rosso. Chris Waller generally allows his middle-distance/staying horses to find their feet early in a prep and the champion trainer would've been pleased by the return from Etna Rosso.

The Newcastle Cup winner settled at the rear from first-up at Randwick and while he never threatened, his late work was encouraging (second-fastest last 200m and 400m of the race).

Etna Rosso saluted in fine style second-up over 1900m early in the season before progressing to stakes company and off his New South Wales form, this looks well within his reach.

Verdict

Caulfield - February 22

Our best & value bets for Saturday's Caulfield meeting are:

Treasurethe Moment

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