CAULFIELD GUINEAS BET - TULSA (Caulfield - Race 9 No. 15): The Tulsa team are entitled to seek a review of the 'randomiser' after drawing gate 16 at their past three starts! Fair enough to strike that kind of horror draw in the two lead-ups but to cop the same gate again in the Group I final is staggering. Tulsa's late-weaving run in the Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington when sixth behind Bon Aurum was the run of the race then it was hard to find a better effort than his last-to-second performance in the Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield. Will relish a truly run mile and is still on an upward spiral. Granted he will get back so is going to need plenty of favours but at $13 does look a great each-way chance and can win with any luck.
1000 GUINEAS BET - PASADENA GIRL (Caulfield - Race 8 No. 1): This Peter Moody-trained Savabeel filly has only been out to the mile once before and that is when she towelled up a Group I field, beating the boys to take out the 2015 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. She has been set for this race, catching the eye and clocking fast sectionals when resuming in the Atlantic Jewel (1200m) then whilst safely held second-up in the Tranquil Star (1400m) was closing hard late and that should have her spot on for the mile around Caulfield. Hugh Bowman has the magic touch at present and the last time he rode Pasadena Girl was in the Champagne Stakes. The set weights scale really does advantage her. It appears the stars are aligning.
CAULFIELD STAKES BET - KERMADEC (Caulfield - Race 6 No. 7): Kermadec is a grand final horse and this is another grand final. Yes the Cox Plate in a fortnight will be a grand final as well but this is a weight-for-age Group I contest and trainer Chris Waller knows how to win Group I races - 51 of them in total coming into this meeting. A good thing beaten in the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington as a three-year-old, that tragic day has been long forgotten (expect by those who backed him) with wins in the Group I Doncaster Mile (1600m) and most recently the Group I George Main Stakes (1600m) ensuring this four-year-old son of Teofilo will one day retire gracefully to green pastures and ample female company. But a Caulfield Stakes & Cox Plate double is his present focus, and getting to 2000 metres for the first time could be seen as a risk, but the manner in which he attacks the line suggests he will eat it up. $3 on offer - that's a steal.
TOORAK HANDICAP BET - STRATUM STAR (Caulfield - Race 7 No. 2): Surprised bookies are betting as much as $8 about this last start Group I Rupert Clarke winner. Overcame barrier 15 to salute on that occasion and has a much more favourable draw this time in gate two. The four-year-old Darren Weir-trained entire just doesn't know how to run a bad race - he has missed a place only once from his past 14 starts! His three tries at the mile have resulted in placings behind Kermadec, Petrology and Wandjina, all at group level, so the trip won't be an issue and his final sectional split in winning the Rupert Clarke was the quickest of the race. Looks assured of the gun run, for a gun jockey and comes from a gun stable. You guessed it - he's a gun bet.
SPRING CHAMPION STAKES BET - VANBRUGH (Randwick - Race 6 No. 1): The only thing not to like about this horse is the price. Trained by Chris Waller (tick), comes through the right form-line being a comfortable winner of the Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill two weeks ago (tick). Gets into a set weights affair with a NSW Benchmark rating eight points (equivalent to 4kg) higher than any of his rivals (tick). He's beaten most of his rivals with only the Queenslander Too Good To Refuse carrying a different form-line into this event. We'll take a banana-bender on any day of the week (except if it's rugby league). The drawback is the price - $2 is the best you can get and we doubt you will be securing anything but red odds come race time. But he ticks every box and there is nothing wrong with backing a Group I winner.
STAR BET - COUNTRYMAN (Randwick - Race 4 No. 6): Hard to see Countryman getting rolled in this. Two runs back went down in a fighting finish behind the talented Centre Pivot and the pair burnt off their rivals on that occasion which included third placegetter Magic Hurricane! A surprising seven day back-up on this 'fresh is best' galloper combined with a drop back from 1400m to 1200m provided an expected result when fifth (beaten only on length) in the Group III Show County. Trainer Gai Waterhouse has gone back to the 'fresh is best' strategy, Countryman hasn't raced since August 22 but did look very sharp in a Randwick trial here three weeks back. Strikes his pet distance over 1400 metres, gets a few rivals first-up looking for more ground and maps to enjoy all of the on-pace favours with minimal pace or pressure expected. Ideally placed and with $6 on offer is this week's Star Bet.
HE'S A STAYER BET - BONDEIGER (Caulfield - Race 5 No. 6): Each-way all day here with plenty of $12 about. We are convinced he's just an out-and-out stayer. Closed off best second-up when third over the 2000-metres here last start and sectionals were the best of the race. Gets out to 2400 metres now and the last time he attempted a similar journey was when runner-up in the 2014 Victorian Derby (2500m) - beaten in a photo by Preferment! There is some suspect staying form around plenty of his rivals on Saturday but any staying form-line with Preferment involved is rock solid. We've made him an each-way all day bet but we'll be shocked if he doesn't win. Bet up.
$50 QUADDIE STRATEGY - RANDWICK: A $50 investment will return 18.52 percent if successful.
1st leg: 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
2nd leg: 1
3rd leg: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 13
4th leg: 1, 2, 9, 10, 12
$50 QUADDIE STRATEGY - CAULFIELD: A $50 investment will return 11.11 percent of the dividend if successful.
1st leg: 1, 2, 4, 7, 15
2nd leg: 1, 2, 6
3rd leg: 1, 3, 5, 6, 13, 15
4th leg: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5