Races

Deane Lester’s Caulfield Best Bets

Posted on | Posted by Deane Lester

Deane Lester’s Best Bets

RACE 4 NO.9 SHOKORA

Smart mare SHOKORA will be fitter for a luckless first-up run and looks the one to beat in the Mares BM 90 Handicap (1400m). The Hayes/ Dabernig trained mare was held up for a run from an inside draw but finished strongly when finishing 7th behind OUR MALAMBO over 1200 metres at Moonee Valley on September 8. Last preparation, she finished 2nd behind quality mare BELLA MARTINI in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 10 which is a very solid form reference for this class of race. She is drawn for a sweet run, goes well for talented rider Andrew Mallyon and represents good value in a competitive race.

RACE 7 NO.10 NIGHT’S WATCH

The Naturalism Stakes (2000m) provides an exemption from the ballot for next month’s Caulfield Cup and NIGHT’S WATCH is enjoying a fruitful preparation that should prove hard to beat in this race. The Darren Weir trained gelding was a dynamic winner over 1400 metres at Caulfield on September 1 before a luckless 3rd behind MAGIC CONSOL in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 8. He looks ready to step up to this distance and returns to handicap racing which is in his favour. Whilst the nature of this race with such a bonus attached to it always makes for a seriously competitive race, NIGHT’S WATCH has the current form and improvement to suggest that he is a great winning chance to earn his place into the Caulfield Cup field.

RACE 8 NO.15 PEACEFUL STATE

Traditionally, this race is one of the most evenly graded races of the season and this year’s renewal is no exception with a very strong field lining up with a host of winning chances. I’m looking for a good lightweight chance and PEACEFUL STATE fits the bill. The four year old resumed with a very good 2nd behind one of his rivals in this race LAND OF PLENTY in the Bendigo Bank Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 8. He will be fitter for that run, should relish a step up in distance and drops 4.5kg on his last run. He’s always looked a group one horse in the making and gets his chance to fulfil that level in this race. Rider Dean Yendall won this race aboard SANTA ANA LANE last year and PEACEFUL STATE is going to give him a great chance for back-to-back wins in this group one feature.

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