Deane Lester’s Caulfield Best Bets

Posted on October 7, 2022October 7, 2022 | Posted by Deane Lester

RACE 2 NO.2 OLD FLAME

Reliable sprinter OLD FLAME comes down from Sydney in great form and looks the one to beat when he contests The Weekend Hussler (1400m). The five year old ran a brave second behind SURF DANCER in the Shannon Quality (1500m) at Rosehill on September 24, finished ahead of last week’s Epsom Handicap winner ELLSBERG. He drops back to his pet distance and appears drawn for a cheap run with elite rider Jamie Kah in the saddle so everything points to OLD FLAME being ideally placed to record his 5^th win from just 10 starts.

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RACE 3 NO.3 NANAGUI

The Peter Moody trained filly NANAGUI has returned to racing in winning form and seems terrific each way value to continue on her winning way when she tackles the Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m). The daughter of SEBRING scored a first-up win in maiden grade over 1118 metres at Geelong on August 3 before a barnstorming win in the Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on September 10. She faces a similar field here and will appreciate a slightly longer journey. The jockey/ trainer combination of Luke Nolen and Peter Moody are back as a force in Victorian racing and NANAGUI is well placed to provide them with another stakes win.

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RACE 10 NO.3 ZAPATEO

ZAPATEO is a quality mare racing in peak form and looks the testing material again when she steps out in the Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m). The four year old has won two of her three starts at stakes level this campaign, firstly winning the Toy Show Quality (1200m) at Randwick on August 20 then winning her last start at this track and distance in the How Now Stakes on September 17. She looks perfectly drawn by this stage of the day, relishes soft ground and champion rider Damien Oliver has built a fine rapport with the mare. On a day of high class racing at Caulfield, ZAPATEO looks perfectly suited and represents the best bet of the day.

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