Caulfield full racing tips, best bets & quaddie | 26/11/2022

Race 1: Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m)

We kick off the day with the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes for the juveniles over the 1000m scamper. It is hard to knock the debut victory from Godolphin’s Remedies at Cranbourne when leading throughout and putting 3.5 lengths on her closest rival in a dominant display. She comes to Caulfield for the first time under race conditions and despite drawing barrier 10, we expect Mark Zahra to lob her up on speed, dictate terms and kick clear in the home straight to remain undefeated through two career starts.

• 10
  

  REMEDIES

• 2
  

  CYLINDER

• 3
  

  HEURISTIC

• 1
  

  LITTLE BROSE

Race 2: Sandown Cup (3200m)

The Listed Sandown Cup is far from a jaw-dropping event this year, but if Gin Martini can see out the two miles, she should just be winning this. The John Sargent-trained Rip Van Winkle mare arguably should have won at Rosehill two starts back if it wasn’t for a poor decision by the jockey on the home turn and last time out was simply outsprinted by the smart King Frankel and Kukeracha at Newcastle. This will be her fast start at 3200m, but with Craig Williams on board and with just 54kgs on her back she will be given every chance up on speed. Look for Willow to have her following Good Idea throughout and if she is at her best, Gin Martini should prove to be the superior stayer in the Sandown Cup.

• 6
  

  GIN MARTINI

• 3
  

  GOOD IDEA

• 5
  

  PAPPALINO

• 4
  

  TEAM CAPTAIN

Race 3: Doveton Stakes (1000m)

The Listed Doveton Stakes is a race where we are looking to find some value with the Grahame Begg-trained Rose Quartz. The five-year-old mare has been screaming out for a firmer deck this campaign and she gets that on the weekend. She has four wins from seven starts on tracks rated ‘Good’ and has only filled a placing once when racing on rain-affected tracks. Her form last campaign behind Bermadez is more than good enough for a race like this and with a hot tempo expected over 1000m, should get the race run to her liking. Michael Dee will have her in the second half of the field and with an explosive turn of foot, Rose Quartz can run a cheeky race at a big price with online bookmakers.

• 9
  

  ROSE QUARTZ

• 2
  

  GENERAL BEAU

• 1
  

  BRUCKNER

• 7
  

  JIGSAW

Race 4: Twilight Glow Stakes (1400m)

A strong field of 14 three-year-old fillies are set to line up in the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes and we are siding with last start Mornington maiden winner, The Unicorn. The Chosir filly put 3.5-lengths on her rivals on a Heavy 9 when destroying her rivals in an all-the-way victory. She goes from Heavy to Good ground which should be a positive and, in a race where she should gain an uncontested lead throughout, we anticipate she will be able to keep kicking out in front under Craig Newitt. It’s an open event, but it is hard to pass up the quote about The Unicorn.

• 12
  

  THE UNICORN

• 3
  

  NAICONI

• 2
  

  GREY RIVER

• 1
  

  STREET DELIGHT

Race 5: Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m)

Streets Of Avalon has won two Group 1 events at Caufield under weight-for-age conditions and we expect he will add the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes to his record. Despite being an $8 chance in betting markets and coming up against the undefeated Norwegian Bliss, the veteran looks a great play. He will love getting back onto a firmer deck and from barrier one, Zac Spain should have no issue in lobbing him on the heels of the leaders. At his 71st start, there is no reason why Streets Of Avalon cannot wind the clock back and salute in the Kevin Heffernan.

• 1
  

  STREETS OF AVALON

• 8
  

  NORWEGIAN BLISS

• 3
  

  CROSSHAVEN

• 7
  

  LITERARY MAGNATE

Race 6: Eclipse Stakes (1800m)

Saturday’s quaddie gets underway with the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes where we anticipate French Emperor will bring some much needed ‘X-Factor’ to the event. The four-year-old gelding has strung together three straight wins, none more impressive than his win on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival when fending off his rivals in a BM90. Patrick Moloney hops on board the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr runner and will look to have this bloke settled midfield with cover. If he is afforded that luxury, French Emperor is armed with a strong turn of foot and compared to he is rivals, brings the most upside. He loves firmer going and if we are on a Good 3 by the quaddie, it will not be the first time this week that the French has reigned supreme.

center>Selections:

• 9
  

  FRENCH EMPEROR

• 1
  

  GRANDSLAM

• 4
  

  SIRILEO MISS

• 6
  

  KEATS

Race 7: Zipping Classic (2400m)

A field of nine stayers will be looking to put their names alongside the likes of Zipping and Americain when they step out in the Group 2 Zipping Classic. Outside of struggling in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup on Heavy ground last time out, the Chris Waller-trained Desert Icon brings arguably the best form into the Zipping this year. The six-year-old gelding strung together consecutive victories at Moonee Valley (including the Group 3 JRA Cup), before finishing just over a length behind Saracen Knight in the Herbert Power Stakes two starts back at this track and trip. He looks set to gain an uncontested lead throughout under Craig Williams and with a couple of cheap sectionals, we expect Desert Icon to run away with the Group 2 feature at a nice price.

center>Selections:

• 8
  

  DESERT ICON

• 9
  

  LUNCIES

• 1
  

  VOW AND DECLARE

• 3
  

  SOUND

Race 8: Sandown Guineas (1600m)

The co-feature on Saturday’s card is the Group 2 Sandown Guineas for the three-year-old’s and the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained The Fortune Teller looks hard to go past. Having only been beaten by a length and tail in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas two runs back and beaten just under two-lengths subsequently in a Carbine Club Stakes, the Caravaggio colt clearly brings the best form to the race. Look for John Allen to have this bloke settled in the first half a dozen throughout and armed with a nice turn of foot and with strong form behind him, we expect The Fortune Teller to be a class above in the 2022 Sandown Guineas.

center>Selections:

• 3
  

  THE FORTUNE TELLER

• 13
  

  SEE YOU IN HEAVEN

• 1
  

  KINGS CONSORT

• 9
  

  ANGRY SKIES

Race 9: Summoned Stakes (1600m)

We save our best for last, when the Chris Waller-trained Roots steps out in the Listed Summoned Stakes. The Press Statement mare was a class above in the Inglis Bracelet on VRC Oaks Day where she gave her rivals a start and a spanking as an odds-on favourite. This is no doubt a step up in class, but considering two starts back she went within a long neck of Group 3 glory in the Tesio Stakes, she looks hard to beat. The Tesio Stakes run was when she was in the worst part of the track on that day and getting back on to firmer going should prove to be no hinderance. Mick Dee hops on board for the first time and as long as the track plays fairly for swoopers, we expect Roots to be thundering down the heart of the track and send us home a winner.

• 8
  

  ROOTS

• 3
  

  MY WHSIPER

• 7
  

  TOREGENE

• 5
  

  MAC ‘N’ CHEESE