The rail is out 9 metres and a Soft 6 is expected, with a small amount of rain predicted on Friday and Saturday. Let’s have a look at some of the feature events on P.B. Lawrence Day.
Race 5 – Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m)
This looks to be a hot edition of the Vain Stakes, with impressive colt Hydro Star currently at $2.90 in the market, ahead of the Snowdens’ Rulership (3) ($3.10), Ranting (5) ($6), and Larimer Street (2) ($8.50).
Rulership (3) was one of the more forward, well-developed two-year-olds in the autumn and will be prominent from Barrier 3, probably finding a sit just behind Ranting. If the track is suiting on-pacers he looks tough to beat.
Hydro Star (6) is the eye-catching colt with bags of x factor about him, and the $2.90 on offer could be a gift if he lives up to the hype. He’ll be well back in the field and spotting Rulership (3) a big head start, but this should be a great watch, and a classic battle between an on-pacer and a swooper.
Race 6 – Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m)
This is essentially the same race as the Vain, but this time for the fillies. Parlophone (3) ($2.50) is the clear favourite, with the next best in the market Fresh (7) ($7), Bella Nipotina (5) ($9) and the rest of them in double figures, led by Anthony Freedman’s Agreeable (12) ($10).
This is a very tough race to bet into with confidence, with more than half the field returning from significant spells, in addition to the lightly raced nature of these new three-year-olds.
If you’re playing the quaddie I’d certainly be going wide here, with favourite Parlophone (3) mapping to get a long way back and needing to find some luck with lots of runners looking to get up on speed. I’d definitely be including Fresh (7), Agreeable (12), and Icantoo (13) and expect them to run big races.
Race 7 – Regal Roller Stakes (1200m)
D Lane probably looks to be positive on Age Of Chivalry (6) from the inside gate and gets to the front here, with Jungle Edge (1) along side him, and last year’s winner Begood Toya Mother (3) slotting in behind.
Market leader Viridine (2) ($3.20) has been in good form this prep and has the fitness edge over the returning runners, who may not have the legs at this stage in their preparations. Bumper Blast (8) returned well and won at Flemington last start, and looks a good chance at the $5.50 quote with Willo onboard.
Race 8 – P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m)
The feature event of the day looks to be an absolute cracker, with last year’s winner Mystic Journey (8) the $4.20 favourite, ahead of Savatiano (10) at $5, Arcadia Queen (9) at $5.50, Regal Power (1) at $6.50, and Streets Of Avalon (3) at $8.50.
This race traditionally sees returning spring stars come up against in-form winter types with a fitness edge, and this year’s edition is no exception. Historically, the race favours those on the speed, which bodes well for Sircconi (6) and Morrissy (7) at big odds, as well as Streets Of Avalon (3).
Both Morrissy (7) and Streets Of Avalon (3) are track and trip specialists over the 1400m at Caulfield, and both look capable of running big races, especially if the track is favouring on-speed runners like the last number of meetings here.
Of the returning stars, Arcadia Queen (9) appears well enough found in the market coming back from a long injury layoff and lining up here with the dreaded bar plates, with Regal Power (1) the more fit and ready of the two WA invaders.
At the price it’s hard to be with Mystic Journey (8), with her eyes no doubt on bigger prizes later this spring, along with Kings Will Dream (2), and Cape Of Good Hope (4).
Race 9 – Benchmark 84 Handicap (1400m)
This one is all about Showmanship (4), with the Bob Peters runner looking at launching a big spring here. The gelding dominated out west and has been backed into $1.75 here, looking incredibly tough to beat.
It’s a skinny price, but could be one to anchor your weekend multis.
