| What | P.B. Lawrence Stakes Day 2023 |
| Where | Caulfield Racecourse – 22 Station St, Caulfield East VIC 3145 |
| When | Saturday, July 22, 2023 |
| First Race | 11:55am AEST |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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Feature racing heads to Caulfield on Saturday afternoon where a stacked 10-race program is set to greet punters. The Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) headlines the program, and is supported by the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) and Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m). Up to 9mm of rain is forecast for Caulfield on Friday, so we expect to be racing on a Soft 6 come raceday. The rail comes out 9m the entire circuit, with racing set to commence at 11:55am AEST.
Keep reading for our free race-by-race preview and quaddie selections
Race 1: BM70 Handicap (1400m)
Opening events do not get much harder than what we are faced with on Saturday, however Rick’s Cafe presents incredible value. Priced as a $15 chance with online bookmakers, the Rhiannon Schiffer-trained runner returned with a midfield effort in a much harder race than this at Flemington on August 5. With two wins from three starts when second-up and a smart win over the classy So Unusual at Sandown to end last preparation, the mare looks a great bet in the opener. Carleen Hefel will need some luck to find a spot from the wide barrier (19), but if she can find the three wide line with cover, Rick’s Cafe can run a bottler.
14
RICK’S CAFE
11
STEEL JIMMY
10
MAGNETIC PRINCE
2
FIRST MATE
Race 2: Fillies & Mares BM84 Handicap (1400m)
Movader is another who we think can strike at a nice price early on Saturday. The four-year-old mare finished out of the placings for the first time in her 10-start career at Caulfield on July 22, but with a month between runs, we are happy to side with her here. She meets a similar field this weekend and drops 6kg following Matt Cartwright’s 1.5kg claim. The Invader mare should gain a beautiful run in transit from barrier four and with even luck on the home turn, we expect the weight pull against her rivals to be beneficial this time around. At $10 Morvader looks one of the nice each-way plays of the day.
7
MOVADER
1
LIFE LESSONS
6
BEOUR BAY
5
HELL HOUND
Best Value
Race 2 – #7 Movader (4)
4yo Mare | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Jamie Mott (57kg)
$9.50 with Bet365
Race 3: BM78 Handicap (1200m)
Value might be the theme of the day on Saturday as Ranting looks perfectly placed by the Nick Ryan barn. The six-year-old gelding is hard to catch winning twice from 25 starts, but a return to Caulfield could see him back in the winner’s enclosure. Ranting has chased home genuine Group performers such as Benedetta and Dance To Dubai down the Flemington straight to begin his campaign and has been far from disgraced at both. With both of his wins and both of his runner-up efforts coming at Caulfield, his record is too hard to ignore. His last run at the track was at the 1100m on May 7, 2022, where he easily accounted for a BM100 field. From barrier three under Ben Melham, he should gain an economical run in transit and barring any bad luck can explode to victory when a gap appears.
2
RANTING
10
VA VIA
3
HOLYMANZ
12
CALICO JACK
Race 4: Mares BM84 Handicap (1100m)
Our best bet of the day Waverider Buoy comes to Melbourne for the first time and look well placed by Chris Waller and his team. The four-year-old mare has a win and three seconds to her name so far this campaign, having chased home a couple of handy types at Rosehill. She gains the services of Blake Shinn on Saturday and from barrier seven will be able to settle towards the rear of the field and finish with a strong sprint over the top of her rivals. With race fitness and a touch of class on her side, Waverider Buoy looks the goods.
4
WAVERIDER BUOY
12
SKIDAMARINK
8
FLYING ON A LIMB
5
MARBLE ARCH
Best Bet
Race 4 – #4 Waverider Buoy (7)
4yo Mare | T: Chris Waller | J: Blake Shinn (56.5kg)
$3.60 with PlayUp
Race 5: BM84 Handicap (1400m)
From a race where we bet with confidence, to a race where it is easy to make a case for a handful of runners. He’s Our Bonneval lands the on top spot as he returns from a placing at Rosehill on July 22. The six-year-old has been racing in consistent form as of late and brings a side of race fitness to this event, compared to eight of his rivals who are first-up from a spell. Barrier 12 is a touch sticky, but if John Allen can find cover upon settling, He’s Our Bonneval can be saved for one last crack at the leader’s and with a bit of luck, can end a frustrating run of outs.
6
HE’S OUR BONNEVAL
4
AMENABLE
8
CARINI
1
DEVOTED
Race 6: Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m)
Having claimed the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap on August 5, it is simply too hard to go past It’sourtime in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes. Despite having six minor placings without a victory in seven starts at the track, the Danny O’Brien-trained sprinter looks to be in a purple patch which can put an end to those minor placings. He found Ingratiating and General Beau a touch too good for him in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes two runs back but accounted for General Beau last time out. This is no harder than what he faced at Flemington and if It’sourtime can hold his form, he should take a power of beating.
3
IT’SOURTIME
6
SAVANNAH CLOUD
1
BANDERSNATCH
2
ROCKETING BY
Race 7: Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m)
Opening the quaddie is the first of the Group races and we expect former Kiwi Ulanova to strike in the Quezette Stakes. The three-year-old filly is already a Group 1 winner in New Zealand and has a racing pattern which should suit the Caulfield 1100m perfectly. She draws barrier three under Michael Dee and if she can find the rail easily enough, we expect she will prove too hard to run down. We concede there is a few who will want the lead early, but with a touch of class on her side, Ulanova can kick off her Australian career in style.
1
ULANOVA
3
CHARM STONE
5
SKIRT THE LAW
8
SHESALLSHENANIGANS
Quezette Stakes
Race 7 – #1 Ulanova (3)
3yo Filly | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Michael Dee (59kg)
$10 with PendleburyBet
Race 8: Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100M)
The market has the Group 3 Vain Stakes down to a two-horse affair and despite Cylinder being an odds-on favourite, we are hoping Little Brose can get the better of him. Last season’s Blue Diamond Stakes winner has not been seen since finishing midfield in the Golden Slipper but looks to have returned a treat ahead of his three-year-old campaign. Michael Dee sticks on board from barrier six and should look to stalk Cylinder wherever he goes. With a win already under his belt at Caulfield, Little Brose could have that slight edge over his more fancied rival in what shapes as a cracking battle.
1
LITTLE BROSE
- 2
CYLINDER
4
I AM UNSTOPPABLE
6
OUROBOROS
Vain Stakes
Race 8 – #1 Little Brose (6)
3yo Colt | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Michael Dee (59kg)
$6 with Ladbrokes
Race 9: Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m)
Having won the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes last year, it is simply too hard to go past Mr Brightside in this year’s edition. The All Star Mile winner from earlier in the year is an even-money favourite and has every right to be in a field like this. He will appreciate any rain that does fall and from barrier 10 should be in the first six upon settling with cover. With a genuinely run race expected and Group 1 class on his side, Mr Brightside should be kicking off what looks to be a fruitful spring campaign in style.
- 1
MR BRIGHTSIDE
- 15
ATTRITION
3
TUVALU
4
AEGON
P.B. Lawrence Stakes
Race 9 – #1 Mr Brightside (10)
6yo Gelding | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Craig Williams (59kg)
$2.10 with Dabble
Race 10: BM100 Handicap (1600m)
We will be looking to round out the day in style as Berkeley Square looks to be one of the better bets on the program. Dan O’Sullivan’s four-year-old made an eye-catching return when hitting the line strongly at Flemington first-up over 1400m and will only appreciate the rise to 1600m on Saturday. With a win to his name at his sole second-up run, we can only assume he benefits with a run under his belt. Despite drawing a touch awkwardly, Berkeley Square tends to get back in his races as is. With an explosive turn of foot and a touch of luck, Berkeley Square should be sending us home a winner.
9
BERKELEY SQUARE
7
SIBAAQ
14
DENY KNOWLEDGE
1
RIGHT YOU ARE
Next Best
Race 10 – #9 Berkeley Square (18)
4yo Gelding | T: Dan O’Sullivan | J: Jye McNeil (58kg)
$5 with Boombet
Caulfield quaddie tips for P.B. Lawrence Stakes Day 2023
Caulfield quadrella selections
Saturday, August 19, 2023
- 1-3-5-8
- 1-2
- 1-3-15
- 7-9-14
Investment: $72 for 100%
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