Race 1 - 12:15PM SEN Handicap Tips (1700m)
2. Mr Verse was sharply up in grade last time for a BM84, yet was respected in the market. While not disgraced in that September 20 attempt, I’m not convinced he runs a strong 2000m.
Back to 1700m is a plus and two starts back he defied the track pattern when saluting over the Sandown mile. Up in the weights, but he's back in grade.
13. Blindedbythelight has opened her second campaign with back-to-back victories and A Diva franked the form with a big win on Wednesday. Harder here, but progressive and carries 4.5kg less for the hat-trick attempt.
7. Nation's Call is due for some luck. Not much went his way last campaign and he was in restricted room fresh. Has won a jump-out since the return run.
12. Gallant Prince is up in class but racing well. Arrives off a much-deserved win, which followed a brave second when covering ground with 60kg.
Selections: 2,13,7,12.
Race 2 - 12:50PM Thoroughbred Club of Australia Plate Tips (1200m)
The map could prove sticky for 5. Point Barrow, but she's a classy filly that I've got plenty of time for and this looks a very winnable event to bounce back in.
We've been with her the last two attempts, which includes a stylish Sandown victory before a slashing third at Moonee Valley, where she ran the second-fastest last 200m of the entire Manikato Stakes meeting.
Arriving off an eye-catching debut victory at Ballarat is 15. Tres Magnifique, and there's still a lot of natural improvement to come with this filly. The extra 200m shouldn't worry her on Saturday.
Big watch on 4. Sheza Alibi on stable debut for Moody & Coleman. Won two from four in Queensland. Was three-wide throughout in the latest when runner-up to a smart Autumn Boy. Lead-up work just fair, though.
7. Vivid Sun’s first defeat can be forgiven, where she was ridden close to a strong speed when stepping to 1400m. Was a beaten fav there.
Selections: 5,15,4,7.
Race 3 - 1:25PM Sportsbet Herbert Power Stakes Tips (2400m)
Tough race. 9. Plymouth was able to break a 12-month drought when successful in the Benalla Cup last time out and while he didn't romp home, it was a needed confidence booster.
Competitive in good company throughout his three-year-old season and gets in on the 53kg minimum for this 2400m attempt. Was building well ahead of his recent success.
The veteran 1. Smokin' Romans could be the value now fitter fourth-up and coming back from Group 1 WFA level. Gave a good sight when handing a smart Revelare 6.5kg here two starts back. Drawn out but looks the main speed influence.
Not sure where 7. The Map is at, but there's a platform now with three runs completed and a distance run under the belt. The Adelaide return was sound before heading to Melbourne.
5. Whisky On The Hill found his right race at Mornington and has won three of four at this distance. Draws softly again.
Selections: 9,1,7,5.
Race 4 - 2:00PM Catanach's Jewellers Vase Tips (1600m)
A typically competitive mares race. Not a heap of confidence, but a longshot could be 10. Bon Mistress. Had a cleanout run first-up at Sandown and off a slow speed, she ran the fastest last 200m of the October 1 program.
Back up in grade here and raw ratings perhaps don't see well under set weights and penalties, however, she's hardly foreign to this level and from three second-up tries, there's two wins and a second.
5. Oh Too Good would clearly be the one to beat off her Flemington return when narrowly missing in a stronger affair, but she did put in a stinker last time at Moonee Valley, albeit has no second-up form. Has won all three third-up attempts.
6. Sea What I See was flying over her second campaign last year when winning six straight. Well held on August 30 when resuming off a year's absence, but bounced back vs an in-form Hard To Cross in the Golden Nugget.
1. Rumbled Again is honest and often overlooked by the bookies.
Selections: 10,5,6,1.
Race 5 - 2:35PM The Big Screen Company Weekend Hussler Tips (1400m)
8. King Zephyr never handled The Valley first-up when balancing up late for third and he quickly atoned at Sandown as the good thing of the September 27 meeting.
Now gets down to 54kg in search of his first black-type victory and he's always looked the X-factor type who could measure up in decent company. Just wonder if he's a big-track horse and is short here, but oozes class.
2. Benagil is an interesting returner. Won the Group 1 Australasian Oaks in April and was then luckless on a Queensland Oaks path. Moved well in two Flemington jump-outs ahead of this.
1. Amenable has been competitive at Group 1 level a few times and has only ever been caught when fresh, with both wins and three seconds recorded first-up.
7. Snow Patrol has been off the scene for nearly 16 months due to injury. Has beaten a subsequent dual Group 1 winner (Southport Tycoon) first-up over this track and trip.
Selections: 8,2,1,7.
Race 6 - 3:15PM Sportsbet Might And Power Tips (2000m)
Five horses had accepted for the Might And Power Stakes and it's down to four with Light Infantry Man going Sydney. The market points to a two-horse battle between Treasurethe Moment and Buckaroo, and that’s exactly how it shapes on both ratings and exposed form.
5. Treasurethe Moment’s remarkable winning run came to an end in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes on September 26, where she finished runner-up behind Pride Of Jenni. That defeat followed a sequence of nine consecutive victories, which underlines her consistency and class.
The Matt Laurie-trained mare resumed in style with a dominant performance in the Memsie Stakes, defeating a strong field in what has proven an excellent form race this spring. That win confirmed her as one of the premier middle-distance mares in the country.
In the Feehan, she lost no admirers when finishing a clear second after enduring a slight setback leading into the run. It was simply the blowout she needed second-up off that minor issue.
Now over the Caulfield 2000m, she profiles perfectly for this third-up assignment and looks well placed to bounce straight back to the winner’s list.
2. Buckaroo demands respect, having resumed with an eye-catching third in the Memsie Stakes, where 1400m proved too sharp.
He then finished runner-up in the Underwood Stakes behind Sir Delius, who franked that form with victory in the Turnbull Stakes.
4. Globe could lead Treasurethe Moment, while 3. Hezashocka is the outsider of the small field.
Selections: 5,2,4,3.
Race 7 - 3:50PM Hyland Race Colours Toorak Handicap Tips (1600m)
4. Feroce looks to have been set for the Toorak as his third-up target, and his two lead-up runs provide the right base. He resumed over 1100m in a fast-run affair and boxed on well without threatening, before again chasing gamely when third in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
Both runs have come at strong tempo, and he’s been finding the line with purpose each time. Now to 1600m — the trip of his Australian Guineas win earlier in the year — he gets back to his ideal distance.
The four-year-old has always shaped as a genuine miler, and with two fitness-building runs behind him, he should be ready to peak. With race hardness and conditions to suit, he looks an excellent each-way hope in another deep Toorak.
5. Sepals is a deserving favourite, though he rises sharply in weight after his Sir Rupert Clarke win under 52kg.
Even so, he’s a tough and genuine galloper who has continued to progress with racing, and that last-start victory was stronger than it looked — he sat on a solid tempo, absorbed pressure and still found plenty late.
10. Damask Rose is third-up and ready to show her best after two solid runs since arriving from New Zealand, while 3. Evaporate has improved with racing in previous campaigns and arrives off a Sandown Stakes win that fits perfectly as a lead-in to this mile test.
Selections: 4,5,10,3.
Race 8 - 4:30PM Sportsbet Caulfield Guineas Tips (1600m)
9. Autumn Boy emerged as a leading Caulfield Guineas prospect following his strong winter form and an excellent spring return, which included back-to-back wins as a late two-year-old and a fast-finishing second when resuming on September 13. He looked a touch plain in the Golden Rose, but that came in a race run at record time, and he was forced to get back in a field dominated up front.
Staying at 1400m worked against him there, and the step to a mile third-up looks ideal. His racing pattern suggests he’ll be stronger over further, and from barrier one he can settle closer and make use of his tactical speed.
With a solid foundation through two fast-run races this campaign, he’s well placed to rebound and stamp himself among the standout three-year-olds of the spring. His profile and progression both point to him being the one to beat.
16. Observer was a horse to follow from his first campaign, kicking off with a solid debut before bolting in at Sandown. He was then rolled as an odds-on favourite at Flemington in what looked an end-of-prep run, but that form has since held up well.
His September 24 return was full of merit, covering ground when runner-up, and he’ll strip fitter stepping to 1600m.
14. Planet Red wasn’t far away in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude, finishing third in a race that didn’t suit those back in the field. He’s bred to appreciate the mile, while 2. Wodeton remains consistent, though yet to match the hype of his dominant debut win.
Selections: 9,16,14,2.
Race 9 - 5:10PM Henley Homes Schillaci Stakes Tips (1100m)
A quality sprint with several genuine hopes. 6. Tropicus is a Caulfield specialist, having won three of four here, with his only miss coming in last year’s Guineas when not running out the mile. He sat on the speed and dominated a fast-run Heath on August 30, defeating Arkansaw Kid, who franked the form with a Group 2 win next start.
The four-year-old looks suited staying on the fresh side and arrives off a tick-over jump-out, which he narrowly won, appearing to move better than both Giga Kick and Niance.
4. Nadal is something of a query runner after being twice scratched on race day, suggesting he’s had some minor issues. When right, however, he possesses a powerful turn-of-foot and his best form would see him right in the finish.
2. Golden Boom strips fitter for two Melbourne runs and was brave in the Group 1 Moir after covering ground from a wide gate. He draws to get a much softer run here and should be prominent on speed.
9. Niance was well supported in the Moir Stakes and wasn’t disgraced without much luck. She’s unbeaten from three starts at Caulfield.
Selections: 6,4,2,9.
Race 10 - 5:45PM HKJC World Pool Northwood Plume Stakes Tips (1200m)
12. Vestas was a stylish debut winner and should’ve gone back-to-back when luckless at Group 3 level before being spelled after contesting a hot form race at the Sunshine Coast. She didn’t progress in two Melbourne runs last prep, though the pattern was against her first-up.
On ratings, this is an ask, but several rivals have had plenty of racing to build those higher figures. Moving beautifully in two Cranbourne jump-outs, she’s worth respecting on aggressive placement.
1. Ameena is the one to beat on exposed form, dropping out of the Group 1 Manikato where she stuck on well after chasing a strong speed. She was Group 1-placed in April and brings genuine class, though most of her best form has come early in a campaign and she now tackles this third-up.
4. Fancify crosses from South Australia for Michael Hickmott and looks well placed. A Group 3 winner in Melbourne second-up last spring, she resumed with a solid runner-up finish on September 13 and should roll forward as one of the main on-pace hopes.
8. Extratwo hasn’t had much go right in two runs this prep but has been sound through both. She finished third here last start, and that form has been franked with Miraval Rose scoring impressively since.
Selections: 12,1,4,8.