It might have looked like off-season fare at Caulfield on Saturday, but there were still a few subtle pointers for the upcoming SA Carnival.
The key to the meeting was understanding the track, not just the times. Conditions deteriorated sharply as the day wore on, officially shifting from a Good 4 for races 1–4 to a Soft 5 and eventually a Soft 7. That late downgrade is the kind of nuance many punters will miss when these horses next appear.
It highlights where detailed post-meeting notes can prove so valuable when these horses next turn up to race.
Once again, the inside lanes were effectively off-limits. Riders made their intentions clear from race one and stuck with it. The surface is crying out for a break, and thankfully, it now gets one.
The reality is Caulfield has simply been overworked in recent weeks. With the Heath track not hosting a meeting since March 18, you would assume it’s undergoing some form of maintenance or works.
The Heath could easily have hosted Saturday’s card and provided punters with a far more even playing surface. Or, the heath could’ve taken some of the midweek load from Sandown and 1-2 of the recent Caulfield meetings could have instead been at Sandown.
Granted The Valley is out of play, but the scheduling feels off. During a known busy period, not utilising the Heath track more effectively looks like a missed opportunity – and one that has ultimately impacted the quality and fairness of racing at Caulfield.
Mark Zahra had a super book of rides heading into Saturday but walked away with one winner. Everyone knows his class. At his best, he’s arguably as good as anyone in Australia, maybe bar J-Mac. He has ridden four winners from 35 rides since coming back from injury – which is well below the enormously high standard he generally sets. Make no mistake, he will find form again, but probably wary of paying any ‘Zahra Tax’ until the tide turns.
Buy
Boltsaver (Race 2) – wet ground only
King Tut will be in plenty of blackbooks, and rightly so. He produced the fastest last 600m of the day and did it with authority, putting the race away in dominant fashion.
Boltsaver isn’t a regular winner, but this was a terrific return. From a wide draw they clearly wanted cover, but when that didn’t eventuate he was forced to roll forward and sit three deep outside the leader. To stick on as he did under those circumstances was full of merit. Importantly, he’s a proven heavy-track performer and off a 67 rating he looks well placed to do some damage if conditions stay wet in the coming weeks.
Brave Miss (Race 5)
Gold Coast Belle’s talent is obvious. She was dominant.
But Brave Miss is the one to follow heading into winter. She recorded the second-fastest last 400m of the meeting despite racing in inferior ground. First-up on Saturday, she should have improvement to come, and her soft-track record is solid.
King Of The Sea (Race 10)
UK galloper having his first start in Australia. He had trialled up nicely prior and, with even luck, would have made a winning start to his local career.
Even allowing for the track deterioration, the tempo was brutally slow, around 22 lengths below standard to the 800m. Four horses hit the line virtually together, with the other three all racing on speed, while King Of The Sea settled at the tail. He was forced to make his run in inferior ground and against a complete lack of tempo.
To still produce the ninth-fastest last 400m of the meeting, over a mile and in the worst ground of the day, was a huge effort.
You’d suspect the $8–$9 is gone next start, but a win won’t be far away.
Hold
Amazake and Arabian (Race 7)
Amazake simply should have won. He was three wide through the early stages before finding a spot one off, which ultimately proved his undoing. As soon as he got that cover, the race developed around him and he was pocketed turning for home. From there, it became a complete mess.
He got out far too late and charged at them, but the race was gone. Ironically, had he stayed three deep he probably wins, given the brutally slow tempo and the way the track was playing.
Arabian Prince was again forced to make his run in inferior ground, the second time in three starts. Considering that, and the lack of tempo, his performance was much better than it reads.
The reason he’s a ‘hold’ rather than a ‘buy’ is that the race itself went completely to pieces and the form is hard to trust. That said, both look likely to head towards the SA Derby, where they would be right in the mix.
Oliveranohterday (Race 9)
Been a fan of this horse from day one and he’s starting to repay that faith. His rivals may have handed him the race, allowing him to dictate at a very sedate tempo, but the way he put them away was authoritative.
He looks to have a nice race in him during the SA Carnival, and it’s great to see Tom Dabernig with such a progressive galloper.
Sell
Pondalowie (Race 6)
She won’t be getting any of mine again in the near term. The talent is there, but she’s lost the ability to win.
Mark Zahra gave her every chance on Saturday, settling her up on a sedate tempo and angling into the best ground, but she never fired a shot.
Early on she was able to dominate races up on speed, but since being ridden more conservatively she’s become a non-winner. Hopefully the stable can recapture her best.
