Caulfield racing tips & quaddie picks | Saturday, April 23

Race 1: BM78 Handicap (1400m)

The opening event is a BM78 affair over 1400m where a capacity field of 16 horses are set to go around, and we’re hoping Vasmee can continue his strong form. He is a natural front-runner, so his early speed should negate the tricky draw (16). Having won four of his six starts this campaign, he is low flying and looks the one to beat in the opener. Thomas Stockdale, who hops on board claiming 2kg, will look to dictate terms throughout, and on rain-affected tracks at Caulfield – especially early on in meetings – it tends to be hard to run down a leader.

• 6
  

  VASMEE

• 8
  

  MIMI’S AWARD

• 9
  

  BELTORO

• 13
  

  COOLTH

Race 2: VOBIS Gold Distaff (1400m)

One of our better bets of the day comes up in the VOBIS Gold Distaff as the Symon Wilde-trained Sirileo Miss looks to bring up consecutive wins. Having dead-heated with Foxy Frida at Bendigo on April 2, the four-year-old mare returns to a track she won at last campaign over 1600m in Group 3 company. From barrier 11, Damien Oliver will need a touch of luck in landing the Pride Of Dubai mare a spot in the one-one, but if he can do so, the race may be over inside the first 400m. We’re happy to launch into the $2.20 on offer from Bet365.

• 1
  

  SIRILEO MISS

• 2
  

  STARELLE

• 5
  

  COMICA

• 4
  

  STAY GOLD

Race 3: VOBIS Sires Guineas (1600m)

We will be looking to make our presence known early with the bagmen as our best bet of the day, Tobaysure, steps out in the VOBIS Sires Guineas. Outside of a defeat by the barest of margins to the smart Jester at Sandown two runs back, the Cable Bay gelding has been in outstanding form this campaign. Coming off a dominant Class 1 win at Pakenham on March 31, he has gained the right to have a crack at a race like this. From barrier eight, we expect to see Daniel Moor gain cover around midfield, and when asked for an effort, Tobaysure should prove too good for this lot. There could be some Group 1 races coming his way in the spring.

• 6
  

  TOBAYSURE

• 8
  

  CHARTRES

• 9
  

  DON DIEGO

• 13
  

  EVENTUALLY

Race 4: VOBIS Gold Heath (2000m)

The formidable duo of Patrick Payne and Billy Egan are set to combine with Double You Tee, who is set to resume off a four-month spell. He had a spring to forget, but coming off a trial win, he looks over the odds at $26 with Ladbrokes. Despite not winning in over 14 months, the Written Tycoon gelding can never be counted out, and with Grandslam set to make this a genuinely run affair, it leaves the race set up for Double You Tee to finish strongly down the centre of the track.

• 1
  

  DOUBLE YOU TEE

• 6
  

  AIN’TNODEELDUN

• 2
  

  GRANDSLAM

• 8
  

  AGNELLI

Race 5: VOBIS Gold Dash (1100m)

Having won five in a row prior to a narrow defeat at Mornington on March 26, the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Midwest looks well-placed to get back into the winner’s stall. Despite drawing out wide in barrier 10, the three-year-old gelding looks to be the leader on paper and, if he can find the rail, should prove hard to run down under the guidance of Jamie Kah. This will be his first crack at 1100m, but if he brings the type of winning form he has shown this campaign, then Midwest is clearly the one to beat.

• 1
  

  MIDWEST

• 3
  

  ICE PICK NICK

• 4
  

  SCISSOR STEP

• 2
  

  ARCADED

Race 6: The Showdown (1200m)

The fourth running of The Showdown is the feature event on Saturday afternoon at The Heath. Make sure to check out our full runner-by-runner preview of The Showdown.

Race 7: VOBIS Gold Sprint (1200m)

The sprinting marvel of the Sydney Autumn Carnival, Shelby Sixtysix is set to have his first start in Victoria and on recent form is clearly the one to beat. Despite struggling in the TJ Smith Stakes, he was a smart winner of The Galaxy the start prior and brings exceptional form lines to a race like this. A genuine tempo is expected over the six furlongs, and as long as Jye McNeil can get the muddy marvel some cover around midfield, Shelby’s finishing burst should be the difference.

• 2
  

  SHELBY SIXTYSIX

• 12
  

  SWATS THAT

• 1
  

  THE ASTROLOGIST

• 5
  

  LOMBARDO

Race 8: VOBIS Gold Mile (1600m)

Despite not showing too much in his first two runs back this campaign, the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Junipal tends to get going when third-up from a spell. The seven-year-old gelding has one win and two runner-up efforts from three third-up runs, so he looks the one to beat in the VOBIS Gold Mile. From barrier six under the guidance of John Allen, we expect to see him settling two pairs back with cover so he can gain a nice tow into the race and produce a strong finishing burst. It was not too long ago he was touted as a genuine Group 1 miler, and if he is to earn those types of plaudits again, Junipal simply needs to win this.

• 3
  

  JUNIPAL

• 11
  

  LA CHEVALEE

• 12
  

  ADELE AMOUR

• 1
  

  SO SI BON

Race 9: Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m)

We round out the day with the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes, where we will be hoping General Beau can send us home a winner at a double-figure quote. He was beaten 1.3 lengths in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes, and the step back to Listed level should see him play a crucial role in the finish. La Mexicana looks set to make this a genuinely run 1100m sprint, so look for General Beau to be the one launching down the centre of the track late with a well-timed finish.

• 2
  

  GENERAL BEAU

• 9
  

  EXTREME WARRIOR

• 11
  

  LA MEXICANA

• 4
  

  SWORD OF MERCY