3 minute read
A busy time for Caulfield continues in the run up to Christmas and, while Saturday's meeting lacks the starpower of the spring, festive season winners are every bit as important for the pockets of punters.
The Melbourne Mail's lean run post carnival continued last week as the rain fell and Foxy failed at Ballarat. Explosive Thinker came out and pitched up a winner at the Valley - can we claim that? No... no we can't. The Mail must (wait for it...) deliver! And deliver we plan on doing this festive season starting with Caulfield on Saturday where we begin by putting one up at the pointy end of the betting.
That horse is the favourite in the fourth race on the card, Running By, who goes second-up off a return that screamed 'stocking stuffer!'
That came at Sandown, fresh off a 242-day layoff, in a race where the useful winner got a hold of things off the front and the rest were left running on in vain.
Running By was the best of those 'rest' with her splits hinting at her being back in terrific order and ready to improve quickly; just as she did last time we saw her second-up back in April when she ran second in the Bendigo Guineas and posted a rating that would - matched or bettered - likely take care of these.
It's not a total walkover; Rumbled Again was terrific first-up at Cranbourne and Longtimedreaming stopped the clock soon enough at Donald to respect her again, but Running By has been a notch above them and the signs are there that she can be again. Anything bigger than toss of the coin odds appeals.
The races, judged both by the ratings and early markets, get deeper as the day goes on and that is certainly the case in the eighth on the card where chances are plentiful.
One of those chances, and one that appeals as a gamble at early prices, is Helix who looks better suited back to 1400m after finding himself awkwardly placed chasing a big pot up to the mile last time.
He never got involved there but he should this time with his two ratings prior bang in the finish against these and the 37 days between runs can prove the pause that refreshes.
THE MELBOURNE MAIL
Bet Of The Day: Race 4 #8 Running By @ $2.40
Each Way Play: Race 8 #6 Helix @ $9.00
