We are back at Caulfield on Saturday for the Season Finale with a Good 4 track at present, the rail is out 4m for the entire circuit and an expectation that the track will play evenly for all runners.
After watching the early two and three-year-old races we reach the feature of Race 7, the Group 3 Race-Tech Bletchingly Stakes (1200m).
It is a small field of seven runners, and we find it hard to go past the Ciaron Maher-trained Recommendation after his dominant 7L win last start. He is 3:3 second up, has had ten starts for four wins and four minor placings over the distance and boasts a great Group 3 record.
In-form jockey Blake Shinn keeps the steer, and we think he is the deserved favourite. Stablemate Mrs Chrissie is sure to give a bit of cheek from the low draw, but she has been up for a while now and we cannot see her turning the tables this time round.
Race 8, Sportsbet Race Replays Handicap (1600m), looks to be a competitive affair and you could make a case for several runners.
Jimmy The Bear just gets the nod ahead of Lounge Bar Rubi for us, coming off his last-start 2.3L victory at Mildura. We like runners at Caulfield who have previously won at the track, and his form line reads well. He has had three starts at the track and distance for two wins, while banking two wins and three minor placings from eight starts all up at Caulfield.
Drawn well in barrier 2, he should settle in the first couple of pairs and be in a great spot heading into the straight. The booking of Billy Egan gets the final tick from us.
The final race on the card is Race 9, Sportsbet Feed Handicap (1400m). This looks to be another tough race to pick, with several runners rating very highly.
The Open, Elouyou and Sandpaper look competitive, but in the end, we settled on Rhapsody Chic who is good value at around the $6 mark currently. He has not had a start at Caulfield yet, but boasts a 100% strike rate at the 1400m, and is the form horse with three wins from three starts so far this prep.
He arguably saves his best for rain-affected tracks so hoping that the forecast showers roll through late in the day. That said he has not been that far away in the dry. It promises to be a big finish to the season!
Best of luck, and happy punting.
As published on Thoroughbrednews.com.au