3 minute read
As the 2023 Spring Carnival comes to a close, Caulfield will play host to Zipping Classic Day.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
Traditionally having been run at Sandown the feature race day, will for the second time, be run at Caulfield in what has been one of the biggest changes to the carnival in recent years.
The $750k Group Two feature will headline a ten race card which will also include the running of the Group Two Sandown Guineas, along with six other back type events.
The rail will be out 5m for the entire circuit and the track is currently rated a good 4.
Our Ladbrokes preview can be found below.
RACE 1 - 12:10PM: ive > MERSON COOPER STAKES 2YO SW LISTED (1000 METRES)Eneeza comes here with the advantage of race experience.
The Exceed and Excel filly made her debut in the Group Three Ottawa Stakes on Oaks Day and there was a lot to like about her performance.
Racing up on speed she never looked completely comfortable down the Flemington straight but fought strongly over the final stages to hold second.
She will have taken good natural improvement from the outing and Damian Lane sticks with her.
1 unit – ENEEZA
RACE 2 - 12:40PM: BECOME AN MRC MEMBER HANDICAP BM70 (1800 METRES)Starianne returned from a break in superb order, kicking off her campaign with a solid win at Pakenham, beating subsequent stakes placegetter Forbidden City.
She then stepped up to 1700m at Flemington and although she had cover, she was always wide and just held her ground to the line.
Relatively lightly raced with just the eleven starts, the daughter of Sebring looks very promising, having performed well in some stronger races, including the Group One Australasian Oaks where she finished fourth.
Fitter for the two runs back, she looks ideally placed here at 1800m and has drawn to get a soft run under Daniel Moor.
1 unit E/W – STARIANNE
RACE 3 - 1:10PM: WHISPERING ANGEL HANDICAP BM80 (2400 METRES)Cadmus has performed well in all three runs this campaign and has earned his place in this field.
The former import kicked off his campaign with a super effort at Sale.
Held up for a long he way he charged through late to get the job done.
He returned to winners stall again last time with a gutsy effort over 2040m around the Valley where he made a long sustained run around them and he will be well suited stepping up to 2400m.
A winner over this trip at Ascot before heading down under, he looks a very promising stayer and will appreciate the drop to 55.5kgs
1 unit – CADMUS
RACE 4 - 1:45PM: MERCEDES-BENZ BERWICK TWILIGHT GLOW STAKES 3YO FILLIES LISTED (1400 METRES)Mirival Rose comes off a terrific effort in the Group Three Thoroughbred Club Stakes where she was beaten by the narrowest of margins.
The daughter of Grunt scored a commanding win when resuming over 1100m in a Kyneton maiden and took the rise in grade all in her stride last start.
After settling outside the leader she hit the line strongly and just missed.
She's shown good improvement at each of her three outings and she gets in beautifully here at the set weights.
The 1400m looks ideal and Jordan Childs retains the ride for Grahame Begg.
2 units – MIRIVAL ROSE
RACE 5 - 2:20PM: LAMARO'S HOTEL ECLIPSE STAKES GROUP 3 (1800 METRES)Ain'tnodeeldun is racing in career best form and comes here on the back of a Group Three victory in the JRA Cup.
After a solid first up effort over 1400m the son of Dundeel has put together three consecutive wins and looks well placed to continue building his picket fence.
There was plenty of merit in his most recent success.
After settling second last in the small field he looped around them and fought bravely to the line to score by a nose.
With five weeks since that last run he drops back to 1800m and he has won three from four over this trip.
He gets in beautifully with just 55kgs on his back and Billy Egan stays aboard as he looks to remain unbeaten on the gelding.
1 unit – AIN'TNODEELDUN
RACE 6 - 3:00PM: KEVIN HEFFERNAN STAKES GROUP 3 WFA (1400 METRES)Vilana has been racing well without much luck.
Two starts back he was always very wide in the Group Two Damien Oliver but stuck on gamely to be beaten just over a length.
Contesting the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes last start he settled midfield on the fence and was badly crowded over the final stages.
He drops back in grade and gets in nicely under the weight for age conditions.
Jamie Kah takes the mount on the Godolphin entire.
1 unit – VILANA
RACE 7 - 3:40PM: NEDS SANDOWN GUINEAS 3YO GROUP 2 SW (2025 METRES)Arkansaw Kid has been finishing his races off strongly and looks well suited here up to the mile.
A winner of the Listed Gothic Stakes three starts back, the colt produced a terrific effort in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes to be beaten only 2.45 lengths in fourth.
Last start in the Blue Sapphire Stakes he settled back in the second half of the field and was doing his best work late, taking ground off the eventual winner over the final stages.
Dual Melbourne Cup winning jockey Mark Zahra goes onboard for the Hayes team and he's sure to afford him every chance from gate six.
1 unit – ARKENSAW KID
RACE 8 - 4:20PM: WHISPERING ANGEL ZIPPING CLASSIC GROUP 2 WFA (2400 METRES)Vow And Declare won this race last year and he looks on target to do it again.
The 2019 Melbourne Cup winner has been racing in terrific form, finishing the runner up in both the Caulfield Might And Power Stakes and JRA Cup before a gallant performance in the race that stops a nation.
With three and a half weeks between runs the drop back to 2400m looks ideal and he's well suited under the weight for age conditions.
Billy Egan has been onboard for all of his runs this campaign and he'll again do the steering.
1 unit – VOW AND DECLARE
RACE 9 - 5:00PM: TILE IMPORTER SUMMONED STAKES GROUP 3 MARES SW (1600 METRES)Thalassophile has been racing well and hasn't had the best of luck this time in.
Held up at a vital stage around the Valley two starts back, the Not A Single Doubt mare finished off strongly into second.
Last start she stepped out over 2000m and settled back second last in a leader dominated race and made good ground late.
With three weeks since that last run Chris Waller has elected to drop her back to the mile and apply the blinkers for the first time.
She's a class mare on her day and with any luck she'll be right in this.
Damian Lane goes onboard and she's set to get the right run from barrier five.
1 unit – THALASSOPHILE
RACE 10 - 5:40PM: PREMIER SIGNS DOVETON STAKES (1200 METRES)Jigsaw drops back in grade after competing at Group One level.
The speedy son of Manhattan Rain was racing in career best form this time last year with four wins in succession, including the Group Two Australia Stakes.
He's just had the two runs this campaign where he produced a solid performance down the Flemington straight first up before he tried to go with Imperatriz in the Manikato Stakes last time but just couldn't sustain the rain.
A late scratching from the Apache Cat Classic last Saturday due to the downgrade to the track, he was given an 800m jump out on Monday to keep him up to the mark.
Daniel Moor has formed a great association with the gelding and can afford him every chance form the low draw.
1 unit – JIGSAW
