Best horse racing tips today: Caulfield 22/02/20

Caulfield plays host to a bumper nine-race card this Saturday, with the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes for the two-year-old's set to light up the track.   

With fine weather forecast in the lead up to Saturday, the Caulfield surface is likely to improve from a Soft 6 with the rail out 3m.  

 

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Race Futurity Stakes 1400m (Group 1)

There should be plenty of speed in this year's Futurity Stakes from the likes of Streets of Avalon (7), Wild Planet (1) and Kazio (6)

The multiple Group One winner from New Zealand, Melody Belle, is the out and out class here.

Past  campaigns indicate that she sometimes needs a run to hit her full straps. However, with the speed up front she can take a sit one off the fence and release her enormous acceleration to run over the top of them for another Group One win.

Kolding took all before him last campaign in Sydney highlighter by the Epsom Handicap win. I expect Bossy to have him closer to the speed this time around and give this gelding every chance to clinch another Group One. 

Super Seth is the only three-year-old to have beaten Alligator Blood and has a great chance here. This race is a step-up, however the three-year-old is likely to measure up at weight-for-age.

  Mark's Race 6 Tips

1st Melody Belle

2nd Kolding

3rd Super Seth

 

Race 7 Blue Diamond Stakes 1200m (Group 1)

A Beautiful Night (2) and Rulership (7) will set a fast pace in the feature Blue Diamond Stakes, with the likes of Letzbeglam (3) and Glenfiddich (9) likely to contest the lead also.

In previous Blue Diamond clashes, the field has spread out in the straight giving every horse a chance.

Hanseactic could well be the best two-year-old we've seen in many years and deserves favouritism. I expect his jockey Luke Currie to let the race dictate the way he rides him.

He will most likely be mid-field on the rails and either make an inside run, or peel to the outside and make a sustained run that way.

This colt has a tremendous turn of foot and which ever route Currie takes, I expect him to be far too good.

Away Game has three wins from four starts next to its name, including a win in the Magic Millions and a brilliant victiory in Sydney last start.

This filly has speed to burn and from barrier ten, will race forward and be storming home. She is the danger to the top pick.

Letzbeglam won the filly’s prelude with ease. She should be close in the run and if she accelerates like she did in the prelude, she'll be right in the finish.

  Mark's Race 7 Tips

1st Hanseactic (Best Bet)

2nd Away Game

3rd Letzbeglam

 

Race 8 Oakleigh Plate 1100m (Group 1)

There is plenty of speed engaged in the Oakleigh Plate. Ball of Muscle (13), Pippie (14) and Free of Debt (19) are all set to carve across from wide draws.

I’m tipping an upset here, putting Bold Star on top. 

He’s in form and meets Anaheed 3kg better off at the weights since his last start defeat. He's drawn perfectly to sit at the back of the field where he can smoke the pipe, before peeling wide and flying over the top. 

He's absolutely flying and has the form on the board to cause a boilover.

Bivouac has bigger targets in sight and is a risk first-up, but only needs his best form to be in the finish here.

Anaheed will need luck from the wide draw but if Clark can follow the pace across, she could find cover throughout the run. With the light weight and her great acceleration, she's a genuine hope. 

  Mark's Race 8 Tips

1st Bold Star

2nd Bivouac

3rd Anaheed