Caulfield race-by-race preview & tips | All-Star Mile Day 2024

Race 1: Listed Victoria Gold Cup (2000m)

Carini was only beaten 1.3 lengths in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 2, and as he steps up to the 2000m, he clearly looks the one to beat in the Caulfield opener. The five-year-old gelding has two wins from three starts at 2000m, and gets conditions to suit in the small field of seven on the weekend. Damian Lane will land him on the heels of the leaders throughout, with even luck, Carini should have no issue in disposing of his rivals in the Listed Victoria Gold Cup.

• 7
  

  CARINI

• 3
  

  MURAMASA

• 5
  

  MANKAYAN

• 4
  

  GEAR UP

Race 2: VOBIS Gold Reef (1600m)

Fistsoffury was the best of the beaten bunch behind rising star Another Wil at Flemington last time out, and gets his chance to go one better on Saturday. Despite being beaten 4.5 lengths, the son of Dundeel still held a comfortable margin back to the in-form Ceerseven in third on that occasion, to suggest his run was still pretty good. Jye McNeil will use barrier one to his advantage and stalk expected race leader Ambassadorial wherever he goes. With even luck in the home straight, Fistsoffury should prove too hard to hold out.

• 1
  

  FISTSOFFURY

• 7
  

  SOCKS NATION

• 2
  

  AMBASSADORIAL

• 3
  

  MAGNOLIA LODGE

Race 3: BM70 Handicap (1200m)

Nick Ryan has always had a high opinion of his classy colt Wolfy, and the Tivaci progeny gets his chance to get back to the winners stall in BM70 company. The three-year-old resumed in Group 3 company when beaten 4.5 lengths behind Raikoke and Brave Mead, so this is a genuine drop back in company for him. With plenty of pace expected in the 1200m event, the race looks perfectly set up for Wolfy to absorb the pace at the rear of the field, and thunder home down the heart of the track.

• 10
  

  WOLFY

• 9
  

  WHITE BEAR

• 5
  

  FURIOUS

• 1
  

  KENTUCKY CASANOVA

Race 4: VOBIS Gold Comet (1000m)

Sparks will fly in the VOBIS Gold Comet and as he steps back from Group 1 company in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m), Lempicka looks well-placed in this. With severeal of the key market fancies expected to chop each other up out in front, it will leave Lempicka with the sit on them a fair way out from home. Armed with a thunderous turn of foot, Lempicka should have no issue in overpowering the leaders in smart fashion.

• 3
  

  LEMPICKA

• 6
  

  END JOURNEY

• 1
  

  JIGSAW

• 4
  

  VIVIANE

Race 5: Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m)

First Immortal is one of the stayers on the rise in this country, and despite winning once from four starts during the autumn, it was hard to not be impressed with what he put forward. This will be his first raceday start since being beat in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) as favourite. He arguably should have won first-up over the mile during the spring, so despite returning at a trip short of his best, he clearly has the speed in the legs if required to sprint sharply. Blake Shinn will need a touch of luck to not get caught three wide from barrier seven, but if the pair can lob mid-field with cover, First Immortal has plenty of upside in a race like the Listed Anniversary Vase.

• 4
  

  FIRST IMMORTAL

• 1
  

  NUGGET

• 2
  

  KEATS

• 6
  

  ARRAN BAY

Race 6: Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1100m)

Bold Bastille should simply prove too speedy for her rivals in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes on Saturday. She disposed of her rivals at Flemington when producing some slick late splits, and a repeat of that sustained speed should be more than good enough to be winning again on the weekend.

• 2
  

  BOLD BASTILLE

• 1
  

  SKY CAP

• 7
  

  YES LULU

• 8
  

  COMANCHE MISS

Race 7: The Mystic Journey (1200m)

Waltz On By returned with an eye-catching second at Flemington over 1100m and despite her $6 quote with horse racing betting sites, has found the right race to break a winless drought that stretches back almost 12-months. The four-year-old mare has a horror record at the track (6: 0-0-0), but if she runs up to her effort fresh from a spell, she’s a genuine chance in The Mystic Journey. Craig Williams will look to have settled outside lead in a race that lacks much speed, and from there her tactical advantage on some of rivals might just prove to be the determining factor.

• 4
  

  WALTZ ON BY

• 11
  

  PEACE TREATY

• 2
  

  MY BELLA MAE

• 1
  

  PAPILLON CLUB

Race 8: All-Star Mile (1600m)

The All-Star Mile of 2024 looks to be a race in two, with Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni the only two runners at a single figure quote. Can Mr Brightside run down Pride Of Jenni or will their be a major upset in Saturday’s feature?

Click here for our full preview of the 2024 All-Star Mile

Race 9: Country Mile Series Final (1600m)

A capacity field of 16 of the best milers on the country circuit will do battle for the $250,000 Country Mile Series Final. As always, races like these are a genuine dartboard job, Dashing Duchess is the on top selection, but literally any of the 16 combatants can salute in this. Field job in the quaddie for sure.

• 7
  

  DASHING DUCHESS

• 4
  

  HASSELTOFF

• 5
  

  JUCCONI

• 1
  

  SIR ATLAS

Race 10: Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1200m)

Sweet Ride has had zero luck in his three runs this campaign, but has been far from disgraced in tougher races than what he face on Saturday. First-up he was beaten 1.4 lengths behind subsequent Oakleigh Plate winner Queman, then saw plenty of backsides at his next two runs at Caulfield and then again at Moonee Valley. He will need some luck from barrier two, but surely this time around, he can land one off the fence in his bid to find clear running. At his best, Sweet Ride has the class to salute against the likes of Rey Magnerio and Grand Impact. The $17 on offer is simply the wrong price.

• 6
  

  SWEET RIDE
  

• 3
  

  BRUDENELL

• 10
  

  GRAND IMPACT

• 9
  

  REY MAGNERIO