The Caulfield track has been under fire after racing poorly at the two meetings leading into Easter Saturday.
From a punter’s perspective, it improved markedly last weekend. It wasn’t perfect. The inside lane (or two) was still slightly inferior, but overall the best horses were able to win and that is the key measure.
Plenty will point to the fast times, highlighted by Hughes breaking the long-standing 1400m track record, and argue the surface was too firm.
That needs context.
There was a clear tailwind in the straight, a setup that is always going to produce slick overall times.
Track management is a thankless job, made even harder by the constant push to find the “perfect” level of moisture. Too often that pursuit comes at the expense of fairness.
Sam Bennetts made the call not to water on Friday after early drizzle, allowing the track to dry into a Good 3 by raceday. The result was a surface that played far more consistently than what we saw in the previous two meetings.
With another meeting scheduled this Saturday, the approach becomes fascinating.
Do they react to the fast times and add moisture, or back in what was, overall, a much fairer racing surface?
On the track, we shifted towards off-season fare, but the day was headlined by a high-quality edition of the Jack Elliot, one by the promising Extragalactic, who heads the ‘buys’ this week.
Buy
Muhktalif (Race 1)
Terrific ride this from Ben Allen – drew out and began moderately but resisted temptation to drift back in the field, instead aggressively pushing on to sit outside the leader. Rode a strong tempo first up in Australia and was strong through the line. Showed plenty of promise in the UK before coming out and he has settled into Australia well.
Caulfield Race 1 | Mukhtalif
From York to Caulfield 🤝 Mukhtalif makes an impressive Australian debut, bounding clear under @bennallen44.
📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/nT2hp4WeGB— Racing.com (@Racing) April 4, 2026
Savitri (Race 5)
She rode a genuine tempo and settled much better in the run. She had a tendency to over-race in behind them off more moderate tempos prior to Saturday, but she looks a high cruising speed middle-distance/staying type, to my eye. Off this fast-run 1700m win she could eye off a race like the 2000m Australasian Oaks at Morphettville on April 25.
Savitri races away with the fifth at Caulfield! Benny Allen with a double 🥇🥇@bennallen44 @freedmanmitch pic.twitter.com/bS86xlsNql
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) April 4, 2026
Extragalactic (Race 6)
This Trent Edmonds-trained filly drew wide and drifted back to midfield. She over-raced early, but once she was let rip in the straight, she produced an explosive turn of foot. She ripped home in 21.18 seconds for the final 400m, more than two lengths faster than anything else on the day. She has now ticked the 1200m box and looks every bit a Group-class filly. I’d expect they have some nice targets in South Australia for her over the coming weeks.
Extragalactic STORMS over the top‼️
A filly to watch for Trent Edmonds 👀@tethoroughbreds @lukecartwrightt pic.twitter.com/ro44cHr6Ez
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) April 4, 2026
Meridius (Race 9)
Flattered a touch by the strong tempo but sheesh, Lloyd Kenewell has this gelding airborne. Held up for parts of the straight, he flashed at them late to run an eye-catching third.
Hughes given a pearler from Jett Stanley and races away with the Victoria Handicap ✈️@stanley_jett @gavinbedggood pic.twitter.com/wj546yc3B7
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) April 4, 2026
Hold
Cherish Me (Race 6)
Only beat a couple of runners home but the run was better than it looked. Got a mile back off a moderate tempo but was doing her best work on the line, getting home the second-best last 200m split of the meeting. Wants further than 1100m.
Plymouth (Race 8)
It was a total trainwreck for backers of Plymouth. He got a mile back off a moderate tempo and then never saw clean air up the straight. If you liked him heading into Saturday, I certainly wouldn’t be dropping off next start.
Sell
Thebelmontgangster (Race 3) – at least on dry ground.
He was heavily backed and enjoyed a nice run in transit but simply failed to let down on a good deck. His action looked plain up the home straight. I’d be prepared to give him another chance on rain-affected going, but happy to sack him on top of the ground.
Chateau Eze (Race 6)
Had been freshened up and trialled with intent between runs heading into Saturday, and the market support suggested she was ready to perform. However, she was disappointing, given she enjoyed a lovely trail three wide with cover.
