McCafe Stakes Tips and Best Bets from Cody Lane 2/9/23

While most punters will be switched on for the Group 1 Memsie Stakes, there is another serious Group 3 over 1100m that is going to help paint a picture for Spring.

Some talented up-and-comers line up in this field including the likes of lightly-raced 5YO 'Asfoora', 4YO mares 'Magic Time' and 'Wee Nessy', and the winner of 6 out of 9 races, 'Sigh'.

These 4 young talented sprinters take on the more seasoned veterans such as 'Ingratiating', 'Kallos', and the Group 1 winner 'Masked Crusader'.

This race will provide a great guide to how good these young up-and-coming sprinters really are.

How do they match up against them? Let's take a look below.

 

Track Conditions

The track is currently rated as Good 4, and with fine weather forecast for Friday and Saturday, there is no chance that will change.

The running rail goes back to the true position after being out 9m for the previous meeting on 19th August.

This should see the track play quite evenly, with only slight disadvantages for horses settling towards the rear of the field from inside or outside barriers.

 

Caulfield Race 8 – The McCafe 1100 Stakes (1100m)

The Map

I am expecting Generation (Barrier 1) to fire out from the inside barrier and look to sit in behind the pace, while Asfoora (Barrier 3) and Midwest (Barrier 5) look to find the front.

Starry Legend (Barrier 11) will be key to the runs of other main contenders, Magic Time (Barrier 12) and Wee Nessy (Barrier 12).

The Archie Alexander-trained 5-year-old will look to roll forward, allowing Magic Time and Wee Nessy to come across and settle in behind the pace off the fence.

Sigh (Barrier 8) looks set to get a terrific run in the race from the middle barrier, as will Kallos (Barrier 10), both of whom should settle midfield with cover off a strong speed.

Ingratiating (Barrier 4) will either need to ride for luck and settle a few pairs back on the fence, or look to settle towards the rear and potentially follow Masked Crusader (Barrier 9) in making a sweeping run from the back.

They should maintain a solid tempo, giving horses settling midfield or worse a chance to run on.

 

The Favourite

Asfoora won this race dominantly last year and looks to kick off her Spring campaign in a similar style.

After a couple of strong runs without a win in Group 1 races (The Galaxy and Oakleigh Plate) and 'The Quokka' in Perth in the Autumn, this mare from the Henry Dwyer stable will be looking to take the next step this Spring by securing a maiden Group 1 win.

She seems to have come back in terrific order, with a dominant trial victory at Stawell in a slick time, despite never being asked for an effort.

She excels first-up (3:2-0-1), loves racing at Caulfield (3:2-0-1), and looks to get the perfect run in the race from the soft draw.

I expect her to prove very tough to beat here.

 

Tips

Going with the favourite, Asfoora.

She ticks so many boxes that make her tough to bet against.

She has drawn a good barrier for a great run in the race, and with many of her main rivals expected to be behind her, she will make it very difficult for them to catch her.

 

Sigh looks like a great bet at double figures.

Much like Asfoora, she'll get a great run in the race around midfield.

With a likely strong pace, she'll have every chance to feature in the finish and continue her strong form this preparation.

Having stepped up in class and won again last start in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes, she's capable of running well here once more.

 

The Godolphin runner, Kallos, can feature in the finish as well.

Having won 3 out of 5 races at the 1100m distance and being a first-up winner in her previous preparation at Flemington over 1000m, she comes in with a sharp trial win leading in.

Mapping well with Jamie Kah aboard, she should finish strongly.

 

With only her fifth start, Magic Time is the query runner of the race.

Having put in a solid recent jump out at Cranbourne, not far off Giga Kick, and won a trial at Cranbourne prior to that in very impressive fashion, she seems to have improved from the Autumn.

While this is a big step up in class for her, she looks like she has the potential to become a star sprinter.

In for a big Spring!

 

1st Asfoora

2nd Sigh

3rd Kallos

4th Magic Time