Saturday racing time again, and we have some cracking feature events all around the country today, on what is sure to be a very exciting afternoon of gallops action. Racing returns to Caulfield for Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes Day, to be run over the 1200m. Meanwhile at Rosehill, it looks as though the rain will be heavily featured during the running of the Listed Winter Challenge. There’s also black type racing at Morphettville, with a cracking edition of the Listed Lightning Stakes to be run and won. Take a look at PlayUp analyst Lewis Willoughby’s top five for the day.
Caulfield R3 #6 Propelle $3.70 at PlayUp – I made this mare a good bet when she went around last start at Caulfield over the 1100m, and I struggled to pick myself up off the floor as she finished 4th beaten 2L, when having absolutely no room over the finish line. She should’ve finished much closer, if not won, and i’m tipping she can bounce back today. Sticks to the track and distance, that’s no issue, and will be greatly suited by returning to a dry track. With even luck this time, I think she can turn the tables here and win. Selections: 6-9-5-1
Caulfield R7 #4 Viridine $3.10 at PlayUp – Comes off a very gallant run in defeat last start behind Jungle Edge in the G3 John Monash, by race time the track was rated a heavy 8 and unfortunately that spelt game over for Viridine. He still managed to hit the line really hard in what was a great run. Back on a dry surface here, and holds weight in equal grade. Back up to 1200m as well is a major key, three wins over this distance at good level reads well. Drawn perfectly in barrier four, he can atone and win here. Selections: 4-5-8-1
Rosehill R4 #6 Roheryn $2.70 at PlayUp – Comes here second up off the back of an extremely dominant victory last start, gave the field a big gap at the top of the straight and gunned them down with great acceleration, running the fastest last 600/400m sectionals of the meeting, and producing a new career peak rating. Fitter again here, and has been kept fresh into this run with a stick over trial at Hawkesbury. His best runs come fresh, so I like this tactic of spacing his runs out. He has great stats at the Rosehill 1100m, and can position close enough in this small field to be in striking distance. Selections: 6-3-2-1
Rosehill R5 #8 Nemingah $13.00 at PlayUp – Comes off a very good effort last start in the Listed Grafton Cup, finishing 4th behind Sixties Groove, Carzoff etc. He sat handy up to the speed on that occasion, and stuck on well. Gets a massive drop in grade here back to BM78 level, and looks exceptionally weighted still. He maps to sit up outside the lead in a race that looks devoid of any tempo, which can play right into his hands with the expected on pace bias. He loves racing in the wet going, with three wins and two placings’ from seven attempts. There’s no way he should be double figure odds. Selections: 8-7-9-1
Rosehill R7 #9 Special Missile $8.00 at PlayUp – Tipping the bottom weight here in the feature event off the day. Special Missile comes off a great run in the Listed Glasshouse up in Brisbane not long ago, and was sent to the front and annoyed by a long price runner in the lead, he lost a touch of ground on the turn and the winner snuck up underneath him. I still liked the way he attacked the line, and coming here in equal grade, with the step out to 1500m I think will really suit. He sneaks into the race with only 54kg also, which is 5kg off the top weighted horse, so clearly a big advantage. I have him marked much shorter than his current price, and he should go very close. Selections: 9-6-7-4
