Races

Deane Lester’s Caulfield Best Bets

RACE 1 NO.2 JIGSAW

Talented juvenile JIGSAW kicks off his winter campaign when he runs in the Super Vobis 2YO Handicap (1100m) and appears poised to return to racing as a winner. The son of Manhattan Rain was a debut winner last preparation over 1135 metres at Geelong on January 7 defeating subsequent Blue Diamond winner ARTORIUS. After an unplaced run in the Blue Diamond, the Cindy Alderson trained colt was given a break with a winter campaign in mind. Two recent trials have shown that he has lost none of his precocity and should prove too sharp for this field; one of the better bets of the day.


RACE 2 NO.13 SANTERO

There looks a good value chance in the 3YO Fillies Handicap (1200m) and that’s SANTERO who has been racing well and makes appeal on an each way basis. After a maiden win over 1170 metres at Wangaratta on April 15, the Patrick Payne trained filly ran on well to finish 3rd behind subsequent city winner REDSNAP over 1200 metres at Cranbourne on May 21. At her last start, she again made good ground to finish 2nd behind the promising I’M THUNDERSTRUCK (short priced favourite in Caulfield Race 5) over 1200 metres at Sale on June 9. She is showing a genuine liking for soft ground, drops 4.5kg on her last run and has strength at the end of her races which several of her rivals will be lacking. It’s an even race but SANTERO will be finishing hard and looks a terrific each way bet.


RACE 9 NO.14 THE GAUCH

THE GAUCH is a good off-season sprinter for the Ciaron Maher/ David Eustace stable that returned to racing as a winner and can continue that trend when he contests the Benchmark 84 Handicap (1200m). The son of Deep Field showed good fight to secure a first-up win defeating PINTOFF over 1200 metres at Caulfield on May 29. He will be improved by that outing, gets his preferred soft ground and is building an impressive record, having recorded four wins and three placings from 8 starts to date. In-form apprentice Matthew Cartwright retains the ride and THE GAUCH can send Caulfield punters home on a winning note.

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