| What | Caulfield Races |
| Where | Caulfield Racecourse – 22 Station St, Caulfield East VIC 3145 |
| When | Saturday, November 27, 2021 |
| First Race | 12:35pm AEDT |
| Feature Race | Zipping Classic – Race 7 |
| Watch Live | |
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Streaming Live at Sportsbet |
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Zipping Classic Day has a different look about it this year, moving from Sandown to Caulfield, and a bumper crowd of up to 30,000 is expected on course for the nine-part program. HorseBetting’s Victorian horse racing analyst presents his race-by-race preview, best bets and free quaddie numbers for the afternoon, which is set to kick off at 12:35pm AEST. The track is rated a Good 4 with the rail out 6m for the entire circuit.
Race 1: Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m)
The Listed Merson Cooper Stakes kicks off Zipping Classic Day with a field of 10 two-year-olds set to battle it out over 1000m. We’re hoping the Peter Moody-trained Brereton can continue his impressive start to his career and build on his second-up win down the Flemington straight with another victory here. It is hard to dislike his racing pattern, with the son of Zoustar predominately racing up on speed and being able to offer a kick inside the final 200m. He took a sit at Flemington in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate and managed to go home just the better when nosing out Renosu. From barrier three, Luke Nolen should have no issue in getting Brereton to the front of the field, where he can hopefully dictate terms and lead throughout.
Selections: 1-6-9-10
Race 2: Sandown Cup (3200m)
True Marvel certainly lived up to his name when absolutely dominating his rivals in a BM78 Highweight at Moonee Valley on November 12, going on to win by 16 lengths eased down over 3800m. The two-mile trip here should bring him no concerns, and with just 54kg on his back, he looks one of the better bets early on in the Caulfield card. Plenty of his rivals in the Sandown Cup field have struggled in recent times, so having won three times from his last four starts, we expect that momentum to be the difference as True Marvel claims a Stakes-level race at the first time of asking.
Selections: 2-4-8-1
Race 3: Twilight Glow Stakes (1400m)
Our best bet of the day comes up in the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes as the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Decent Raine looks to bring up consecutive wins for the first time in her career. Having destroyed her rivals at Ballarat in the Eureka Stockade last weekend, it looks to be a simple decision to back her up here and take out a Stakes race before potentially heading to the paddock. This field is no harder than what she beat on November 20, and with Jye McNeil retaining the ride, the pair look the clear best bet on the card. From barrier 11, Decent Raine will need a touch of luck early on, but if she is afforded that, then the Dissident filly should be far too good for this lot.
Selections: 1-2-3-5
Race 4: Doveton Stakes (1000m)
The Listed Doveton Stakes looks to be one of the quickest sprints you will see this weekend, with Enthaar, Yulong Command and Starry Legend all looking to get this over and done with pretty quickly. However, we have opted to side with the Lyn Tolson & Leonie Proctor-trained Curran, who looks set to take a sit off the hot speed. Despite being well beaten in the final race on Melbourne Cup Day, the four-year-old gelding absolutely eats up the 1000m with two wins and a minor placing from three starts, and with Matt Cartwright sticking on board, they look hard to go past here. If they can gain a bit of luck in finding cover early on, Curran has a strong turn of foot and should be the one with the last crack at some vulnerable leaders.
Selections: 7-9-12-13
Race 5: Summoned Stakes (1600m)
Following an unlucky fourth at Moonee Valley on November 19, Perfect World looks to have what it takes to cause a bit of an upset here. Despite jumping up from a BM70 to a Group 3 for mares, the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained daughter of Pride Of Dubai draws to gain a suck run in transit from barrier one and looks set to swamp some potentially vulnerable leaders. This looks to be a strong form race going forward, with plenty of these having the ability to win it.
Selections: 11-9-7-2
Race 6: Sandown Guineas (1600m)
The Group 2 Sandown Guineas kicks off the Caulfield quaddie, and we think this will finally be the day Port Louis breaks through for his maiden win. The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained colt consistently seems to find one better, which was the case with Bend The Knee in the Listed Springtime Stakes at Flemington on November 6. Having hit the lead inside the 300m, he looked to have the race shot to pieces but simply couldn’t go with the eventual winner. From barrier 11, John Allen will look to take this son of Maurice back to the rear of the field, and with a well-timed run, Port Louis should be finishing over the top of his rivals to bring up a deserved win.
Selections: 2-1-12-6
Race 7: Zipping Classic (2400m)
The Group 2 Zipping Classic is the feature event on Saturday at Caulfield, and despite Spanish Mission being a $1.55 favourite, we are hoping Wentwood can salute at a double-figure quote. The Maddie Raymond-trained seven-year-old drops back to 2400m having been beaten by race rivals Warning and Sound in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on November 6. The trip looks to suit Wentwood more than the 2600m last time out, and considering he loomed up with 250m to go in that race, we think he will take some beating here. There is no doubt Spanish Mission is the class runner in the race, but we would rather the $17 about Wentwood than the odds-on quote his rival will go around at.
Selections: 4-1-2-3
Race 8: Eclipse Stakes (1800m)
One of the more interesting runners on the Caulfield card is the Lee Creek-trained Royal Mile, who is set to have his first run in Melbourne following a glowing start to his career in South Australia. With six wins from 11 starts, including a last-start win over 1550m at Morphettville on November 6, he is a horse with plenty of ability. The 1800m third-up from a spell looks to be ideal, and considering Jacob Opperman is travelling to Caulfield for just the one ride, all signs point to a plan with one thing in mind. This horse is tactically versatile, so he can either go forward from barrier eight or take a sit off the speed. Whatever Opperman opts to do, we expect Royal Mile to be heading back to Adelaide with the Eclipse Stakes in hand.
Selections: 10-7-6-1
Race 9: Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m)
Streets Of Avalon is a Caulfield 1400m specialist with five wins at the track and distance, including two Group 1 races. He gets in well at the weights with each of his market rivals – in particular I Am Superman, Rainier and Age Of Chivalry – also going around with 59kg. If we rule a line through his last run in the VRC Sprint Classic, his run prior in the Manikato Stakes suggests he is in decent enough form to take out a race like. From barrier one, he draws to do no work, and if Zac Spain is afforded a touch of luck at the top of the straight, Streets Of Avalon could be too hard to run down in the last.
Selections: 1-3-11-7
Saturday quaddie tips for Caulfield
| Caulfield quadrella selections | |
|---|---|
| Leg 1: | 1-2-6-12 |
| Leg 2: | 1-2-4 |
| Leg 3: | 1-6-7-10 |
| Leg 4: | 1-3-5-7-11 |
| Investment: | $240 for 100% |