Australian racing tips – Saturday 31 August 2024 – Caulfield

Race 7

EXPRESSIVENESS had consistent formlines to her name prior to disappointing in her penultimate start over 1400M, but bounced back to finish third next time out over 1200M, 1.3L back from the winner, when having her first run for her new trainer and returning from a 29-week break. She battled all the way down to the wire that day and from her handy draw four, she looks to be the one to side with here.

EXTRATWO had her consistency rewarded with a victory last time out over 1200M, albeit by just a head. She finished strongly that day to get up in the shadow of the post and from her wide draw thirteen, she should be doing her best work late.

AVIATRESS is seldom far off the action, finishing second last time out over 1000M, just a half-length back from the winner, but she was crowded at the 900M mark that day and lost a shoe in running, so she had her excuses. From her kinder draw two, she should be included in all bets.

Race 8

The day’s value bet, RISE AT DAWN goes for his hat-trick after two victories over 1600M, the latest by a length. He struck the front at the 300M mark in that event and then fought off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The gelding jumps from gate six and the trio is very much on the cards.

JIMMY THE BEAR won over 1400M three runs back, finished second in his penultimate start over 1600M and then fifth in his latest outing back over 1400M, 1.3L behind the winner, but it should be noted that he was hampered at the 300M mark on that occasion, before staying on well over the closing stages. From his wide gate nine and with better luck in running, he should be right up there when they hit the line.

QUE TEMPESTA is the stable companion of the top choice and has his hat-trick run after wins over 2200M and the latest over 2400m by putting four lengths between himself and the opposition. Those runs were all in Italy and he now has his first run in Australia without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust, but if fully settled into his new surroundings, he should give a good account of himself here and makes a solid back-up for the yard, jumping from gate five.

Race 9

MR BRIGHTSIDE is a six-time Group 1 winner who finished third last time out over 2000M (G1), 1.8L behind the winner, but the victor, PRIDE OF JENNI stole a march on the field that day, leaving the former (and the balance of the field) with far too much to do in the home straight. He returns from a 20-week break, but he has won three of his four races when returning from a rest, so this should not be an issue. The gelding has a handy draw four and is taken to reverse the form of that last outing to give the Hayes brothers’ training partnership a quick double in the day’s Jackpot.

PRIDE OF JENNI is a 7-year-old mare taking on males, but she has improved with each of her runs, with her biggest victory coming last time out in the race mentioned above. She is a three-time Group 1 winner and has her first start after that last victory, but her record on returning from a break is not as good as the former and from gate seven, she may find it difficult to escape the field by so far this time out.

ANTINO is an improving sort who has yet to win at this level, but his recent barrier trial was impressive. He has won and finished second in his two outings at Group 2 events and was slow away when ending up in twelfth spot last time out over 1400M (G1), six lengths adrift of the victor. The gelding is drawn one inside the latter and could complete the trifecta.

Race 10

ANOTHER WIL had won five of his last six runs prior to finishing seventh last time out over 1600M, but that was in heavy going. He raced just behind the frontrunners that day, before being run out of it late. The gelding is drawn the widest of them all in gate sixteen, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

JENNILALA is a 5-year-old mare taking on the boys and is the stable companion of the top choice. She won over this trip three runs back, finished sixth in her penultimate start over 1500M and then second in her latest outing over 2000M, just a head behind the winner, but she came four wide into the home stretch that day and was hampered at the 150m pole. She returns here from a 21-week spell without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so her fitness will have to be taken on trust. The mare has not fared much better with her draw fourteen, but nevertheless, she could emerge as the biggest threat to the top pick and represents a rock-solid back-up for the yard.

SNOWMAN was returning from a 27-week break and made good late progress to finish fourth last time out over 1400M (G3) just over two lengths off the winner, this after coming five wide into the home straight. He returns from a shorter 17-week rest without having a barrier trial, but gets a cosy draw four and should be involved in the finish.