I am concentrating at headquarters on Saturday but the Caulfield Cup has always been good to me so I'm backing one each-way at double-figures.
KAONIC (Randwick Race 2 No 6)
I'm confident this Chris Waller-trained colt can win on Saturday and perhaps eye off the Carbine Club at Flemington on Derby day two weeks later. Caught the eye at the trials before a slashing debut at Warwick Farm over 1400m when third behind Sparky Lad. Stepped up to 1550m around Canterbury at his second outing and, despite striking serious traffic issues, his acceleration got him out of strife and carried the son of Savabeel to a one-length victory. Lightly-raced so gets in well on 56.5kg. Big track suits and should be enough pace up front to bring him into the race when it counts.
BET: WIN
ODDS $3 @Bet365
KING DARCI (Randwick Race 5 No 3)
Expecting a big run from the Tim Martin-trained King Darci. A soft gate and the 1400m journey around Randwick looks an ideal combination for this consistent five-year-old. Specked at odds when returning off a 63-day let-up but was trapped deep and entitled to drop out when beaten 3-3/4 lengths behind Chalk/Redouble here. A lack of pressure should shape this into an on-pace affair and with Adam Hyeronimus getting back aboard (4 rides: 2-1-0) and King Darci being a 1400m specialist (4:3-1-0) – this looks an each-way bet to nothing.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS $8.50 @ Sportsbet ($10 PowerPlay)
ALBUMIN (Randwick Race 6 No 4)
Willing to gamble here on Albumin. The grey has been ridden quietly at his past two starts and has attacked the line on each occasion. The inside gate should allow Josh Parr to settle a touch closer in the run and going off his sectionals/weights in the Roman Consul Stakes – he should have the edge on Single Bullet and Chauffeur. He's going to need a genuine tempo up front which should eventuate through the likes of Malahat, Piracy, Mustafa and Single Bullet. That's the gamble – getting the necessary tempo then a clear shot at them in the straight.
BET: WIN
ODDS $7 @ William Hill ($8 PricePump)
MORTAR PLATOON (Randwick Race 8 No 5)
This is my weekend speculator but I'll be surprised if he doesn't run a big race – provided the track is close to good. This Chris Waller-trained import was brilliant second-up last campaign winning on the Beaumont course – showing a sharp turn of foot. Then struck some soft and heavy tracks which he didn't fire on before being nosed out in the Stayers Final at Hawkesbury (on a good 4). Resumed this preparation off two sound trials and was jagged right out the back off an outside gate at Rosehill – working home solidly to get within three lengths of Mapmaker. It should be a different scenario second-up, he's got a soft gate, there looks genuine pace up front and with in-form 3kg claimer Lee Magorrian aboard, I'm confident you'll see sharp second-up improvement – hopefully enough to cause an upset.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS $27 @ Sportsbet ($35 PowerPlay)
INFERENCE (Caulfield Cup Race 8 No 9)
Team Hawkes have followed a copybook traditional path towards the Caulfield Cup so with big odds on offer – I'm backing them to get the result. This is the horse which should have won the Victoria Derby as a three-year-old – he was a good thing licked! Came back next preparation and won the Group I Randwick Guineas before finishing runner-up behind Kiwi boom horse Gingernuts in the Rosehill Guineas. Spelled after finishing sixth on a bog track in the Australian Derby, a Caulfield and perhaps Melbourne Cup plan was then put in place with weight-for age races at all four starts this time in – Warwick Stakes (1400m), Makybe Diva (1600m), Underwood (1800m) and Caulfield Stakes (2000m). So here he is – back to 2400m with only 53.5kg. And he handles all types of going. Each-way for me.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS $15 @ Sportsbet ($19 PowerPlay)
