Races

Deane Lester’s Caulfield Best Bets

Posted on | Posted by Deane Lester

RACE 5 NO.11 DEFIANT DIVA

In-form mare DEFIANT DIVA is well placed to continue on her winning way when she contests the Fillies and Mares Benchmark 70 Handicap (1600m). The four year old was rewarded with some consistent performances with a solid win over 1600 metres at Sandown Hillside on December 15. She has now had eight starts for two wins with four minor placings and seems to improving with every race start. She is drawn to enjoy the run of the race from an inner draw and Cox Plate winning jockey John Allen retains the ride for the in-form Leon and Troy Corstens stable. It’s a competitive race but DEFIANT DIVA will run well again at each way odds.

RACE 6 NO.8 TAKUMI

TAKUMI struck gold by winning the Benchmark 84 Handicap (2000m) at this meeting last year and looks a great value chance when he contests the same race again this year. The six year old has won two races over this track and distance, and his recent form is better than it appears. At his last start, the Aaron Purcell trained gelding was trapped three wide on a fast pace before weakening over the final stages to finish 8th behind THE AWESOME SON over 2000 metres at Pakenham on December 4. He has again come up with a wide draw but, if he is given a quieter ride, can improve sharply and appeals as the best value of the day.

RACE 8 NO.17 MARABI

The most exciting horse at the Caulfield meeting is MARABI as she strives to maintain her unbeaten record when she contests the Christmas Stakes (1100m). The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained mare has won her first four starts by a combined winning margin of 22.5 lengths and resumed with a stunning win over 1100 metres at Ballarat on November 20. Whilst she will be 36 days between runs, the daughter of I Am Invincible was given a soft 800 metres trial at Cranbourne recently and, most importantly, allowed Jamie Kah to have her first ride on the mare, Whilst this is a significant class rise on what she has contested to date, MARABI runs very fast times, appears destined for high class sprint races and should extend her winning run.

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