Last Saturday, both Caulfield and Randwick hosted feature racing, with several Group races taking place across the day. From those two meetings, we have found three runners that are worth putting in your blackbook with your chosen bookmaker so you can follow them at their next start.
Caulfield
Rail position: True entire circuit
Race 6: Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (1100m) | Time: 1:03.66
- Horse to follow: Matisse (3rd)
Matisse has been a model of consistency to begin her career, with the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained filly finishing third in both the Blue Diamond Preview and Blue Diamond Prelude. Her run in the Prelude was one of the better performances from the back of the field for the entire meeting. After drawing barrier 14, Damian Lane had no other option than to take his medicine and settle towards the rear of the field before flashing down the outside in the final 400m. This daughter of Microphone recorded the second-fastest 600m (33.60s) and 400m (22.25s) sections of the entire meeting.
When to bet: After finishing in the placings in both lead-up races to the Blue Diamond Stakes, the Freedmans will more than likely push onto the Group 1 feature in two weeks’ time. If Matisse can draw an inside gate, she will be one of the better chances.
Randwick
Rail position: True entire circuit
Race 3: Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m) | Time: 1:38.32
- Horse to follow: Infinitive (4th)
After a strong performance fresh, Infinitive was expected to improve second-up and go very close to winning last Saturday; however, the four-year-old mare was held up near the rear of the field upon straightening. It was only at the 150m mark that the Chris Waller-trained galloper found a gap and pushed her way through to run home into fourth place. Kerrin McEvoy couldn’t have done anything more to help this girl, as he came off the fence before the home turn to find more room. As this daughter of Hellbent ran through the gap and savaged the line, it is easy to argue that Infinitive should have won the race.
When to bet: Waller and his team tested Infinitive in Group races last preparation over 1600m and 2000m, and when you consider her most recent start was in Benchmark 78 grade, she should be able to handle a rise in class and distance next start.
Race 7: Inglis Millennium (1100m) | Time: 1:03.91
- Horse to follow: Rag Queen (3rd)
Rag Queen was one of the better runs in defeat at Randwick last Saturday, as the two-year-old filly showed a blistering turn of foot to flash home into third place in the Inglis Millennium. The David Payne-trained filly was sent around as a +3000 chance with online horse betting sites, even though she was one of a few runners that had won on debut before tackling the $2 million race. With only three runners behind this daughter of D’argento at the 400m mark, she lengthened her stride nicely in the final 300m while changing tracks and nearly nabbed second place off Rue De Royale in the final bound.
When to bet: Given how well Rag Queen ran through the line over 1100m, it would be no surprise to see David Payne run her in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes over 1200m at Randwick on March 2, where she would have a big chance against her own age group and sex.
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