Caulfield full racing preview & best odds | Saturday, February 10

Race 1: BM100 Handicap (2000m)

Independent Road has returned a different horse this campaign, winning on three occasions from five goes. The seven-year-old gelding narrowly denied Flash Feeling at Moonee Valley on January 27 in a perfect front-running display over the 2040m. He does go up 5kg from that run, hence the better price, but in a race with little pressure on him out in front, we’re confident Jye McNeil can pinch it from the front once again.

• 2
  

  INDEPENDENT ROAD

• 1
  

  BERMADEZ

• 9
  

  FLASH FEELING

• 4
  

  SUPARAZI

Race 2: BM78 Handicap (2400m)

Oceanic Flash has not won in over two years, but the six-year-old from the Andrew Payne barn looks to have found the race to break that drought. He is a stayer who gets better with runs under his belt, and his third-up effort at Flemington when finishing second suggests he is ready to win on Saturday. He was forced to sustain a long run 900m out from home, and only just peaked on his run late after hitting the lead 300m out from home. From barrier three, Mick Dee will have the son of Sacred Falls covered up until the home straight, and as long as he can build through his gears, Oceanic Flash should prove to be the superior stayer over 2400m.

• 7
  

  OCEANIC FLASH

• 6
  

  PEARL RAIN

• 10
  

  GALILAEUS

• 8
  

  CHEVALIER DU FAU

Race 3: BM70 Handicap (1600m)

Former West Australian First Encounter kicked off life in Melbourne with an eye-catching fourth at Sandown over 1600m, and despite staying at the trip, we’re confident he can run a big race at a big price. The four-year-old son of Dundeel was first-up off a six month spell on that day, and the small field of five just seemingly didn’t suit him. He is forced to carry 60.5kg once again, but with the run under his belt and a more hotly-contested affair expected, the John Leek (Jnr) stable looks to have placed this bloke perfectly. With a well-timed sprint from the rear of the field, First Encounter can blouse his rivals in style in this.

• 6
  

  FIRST ENCOUNTER

• 9
  

  ANOTHER WIL

• 4
  

  ZAMBORGHINI

• 11
  

  JABBAWOCKEEZ

Race 4: Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m)

Despite being an odds-on favourite, we’re happy to take on Southport Tycoon purely because of his $1.85 quote. Sandgroper Zipaway comes to Melbourne with top-tier formlines, including his narrow third-place finish in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) behind Dom To Shoot and Zaaki. The three-year-old gelding tired late on in a hotly contested affair, and considering he was beaten a nostril by Zaaki, we’re confident he can cause an upset here. The son of Playing God will most likely be giving his rivals a start on the home turn from barrier seven, but with a strong finishing burst, we’re confident he can overcome the 1.5kg weight difference against the favourite, and zip away with victory.

• 1
  

  ZIPAWAY

• 4
  

  SOUTHPORT TYCOON

• 2
  

  CARBONADOS

• 3
  

  FLYING TRAPEZE

Race 5: Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1600m)

Ciaron Maher’s Yonce has been progressing nicely in two runs this campaign, and looks primed to strike third-up from a long injury layoff. She return with a steady performance over 1100m at Caulfield, before coming out and finishing a luckless fifth in the Listed John Dillon Stakes behind Ayrton and Buffalo River who both line up in Group 1 company later in the card. John Allen will have the Proisir mare settled in the moving line with cover, and as long as she finds clear air at the right time, Yonce should have no issue in overpowering her rivals late.

• 4
  

  YONCE

• 5
  

  UNUSUAL CULTURE

• 1
  

  YOUNG WERTHER

• 6
  

  FOXY CLEOPATRA

Race 6: Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m)

The first of the Blue Diamond Prelude’s is for the boys, and based off his win in the Blue Diamond Preview (C&G), it is hard to see how High Octance gets nutted on Saturday. The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained colt was as green as grass in his debut win, but still managed to put close to a length on his rivals in dominant fashion. Barrier one on Saturday will mean he gets all the favours in running under Blake Shinn, and if the pair can get off the fence on the home turn, we’re confident High octane will space his rivals and in doing so, further rocket into Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) calculations.

• 1
  

  HIGH OCTANE

• 4
  

  STAY FOCUSED

• 3
  

  BODYGUARD

• 5
  

  HOLMES A COURT

Race 7: Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (1100m)

The juvenile fillies will kick off Saturday’s quaddie in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude, and we’re confident Matisse can salute at a nice price. The Microphone filly put in an eye-catching run when third on debut in the Blue Diamond Preview (F) on January 26, and with even luck she goes much closer to winning. She only went down by a half-length on that day, and with natural improvement and potentially a vulnerable favourite first-up, Matisse can spring an upset. Barrier 16 is a touch concerning, but if Damian Lane can have Matisse settled in the three wide line with cover, she showed plenty on debut to suggest she will take a power of beating with even luck.

• 8
  

  MATISSE

• 1
  

  BOLD BASTILLE

• 2
  

  HAYASUGI

• 6
  

  KUROYANAGI

Race 8: Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m)

The fact Asfoora is even-money or better with top horse racing bookmakers is ridiculous. Henry Dwyer’s five-year-old mare has three wins from as many starts at the Caulfield 1100m, and she can add further black-type success to her already glittering record. Look for Mitch Aitken to stalk the speed through from barrier six, and when asked to quicken on the home turn, Asfoora should have no issue in putting this race away in a couple of strides.

• 4
  

  ASFOORA
  

• 9
  

  REY MAGNERIO

• 14
  

  HYPOTHETICAL

• 11
  

  QUEEN OF THE BALL

Race 9: Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m)

The Group 1 CF Orr Stakes is the first Group 1 race of the new year in Australia, and punters are set to be treated by the return of Mr Brightside. Will the champion be vulnerable first-up from a spell? Or will he blow his rivals away? Veight, Pericles and Pride Of Jenni have all had backing in final field markets, so it looks to be more than a one-act affair.

Click here for our full preview of the 2024 CF Orr Stakes

Race 10: Group 3 Peter Le Grand Stakes (1100m)

So Glamorous has not been seen since claiming victory over 1400m at Caulfield in BM70 company, and as she steps into Group company for the first time in the Peter Le Grand Stakes, we’re confident she can stack up. With two wins and a second to her name from three starts, she looks to have plenty of upside, and under the care of Grahame Begg, is sure to be competitive in a field like this. Despite being eight-weeks between runs, she looks to gain every advantage in running drawn barrier one under Jye McNeil. So Glamorous will need a touch of luck on the home turn, but if she sees clear air at the right time, she can cause an upset in the last.

• 10
  

  SO GLAMOROUS
  

• 7
  

  BLANC DE BLANC

• 8
  

  ESTRIELLA

• 2
  

  EXPLORING