We thought it was time to tackle the metropolitan races once and for all and steer clear of the Echuca maidens.
Payney's Punt has nothing to lose and plenty to gain - a couple of more mugs - and we are excited to study some of the best runners in the business.
The weather looks like it will hold up throughout the day and the track is rated a Good Four.
Hopefully we see some cracking races across the nine-race card and good luck to anyone following along.
Race 1. 12.35 pm - Hcp (1800 m)
Today's action kicks off with the only race beyond a mile and Payney's Punt likes the look of Ryan's Fender (6). The gelding was comfortably beaten last start but before that, won two consecutive races at Flemington and Moonee Valley and will set the pace here. Venice Beach (2) has moved to the Danny O'Brien stable and impressed with a recent Geelong trial. Resuming from 70-week spell, but has placed at each first-up start.
Race 2. 1.10 pm - Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200 m)
The second is the first of three-straight sprints and it's no surprise to see How Womantic (2) heavily backed. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained filly has won three from three attempts, with the most recent at Moonee Valley at this distance. Faces a harder test here with Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Acting (1) and Thousand Guineas place-getter Southbank (6) in the mix. Expect Southbank to go the distance in what should be a sizzler.
Race 3. 1.45 pm - Blue Diamond Prelude (1100 m)
The first Blue Diamond Prelude race should go the way of the Maher and Eustace stable, with the dynamic duo racing favourite Muntaseera (2), A Beautiful Night (1) and Unstoppable (3). The two-year-old deserves its short odds, after a superb race at Rosehill in November and a runner-up finish at Flemington in the Ottawa Stakes. A Beautiful Night is searching for three-straight wins and won the Blue Diamond Preview a fortnight ago while the third stablemate ran a solid third. All three look the goods, couldn't be a Maher and Eustace trifecta could it?
Race 4. 2.20 pm - Blue Diamond Prelude (1100 m)
Gone quite wide in the second Blue Diamond Prelude, with Hard Landing (4) finding our money go towards him at double figures. Won the Maribynong Plate during the Cup Carnival at good odds and we black booked as soon as you could say, ‘Thank your mother for the rabbits'. Drawing barrier 14 is a query and will burn a few gas tickets trying to find the lead. Unbeaten Hanseatic (1) should have a good run from barrier two and demands serious thought. Happy to stick with Hard Landing at great value.
Race 5. 2.55 pm - Autumn Stakes (1400 m)
The fifth race on today's card brings Payney's Punt's best of the day into frame. Always have been a big fan of Microphone (1) since his win at Royal Randwick in the Group One Sires Produce. Since stepping out as a three-year-old, he finished nearly three lengths behind Scales of Justice in the Australia Stakes a fortnight ago. He drops back down to his age group, strips fitter and is the one to beat.
Race 6. 3.30 pm - Rubiton Stakes (1100 m)
A tricky race to gauge, with Admiral's Joker (1) a favourite of Payney's Punt since the seven-year-old gelding won the time honoured Seymour Cup. Has a good first-up record too. While Age of Chivalry (5) loves Caulfield and has won twice and placed twice from four attempts. Coming off two placings at Group One level, he should have plenty of pace to storm home.
Race 7. 4.10 pm - TS Carlyon Cup (1600 m)
For the seventh race the distance is stretched out to a mile for the Carlyon Cup and Miss Siska (10) is finding plenty of admirers. The six-year-old mare returns from a 12-week break and finished second in the Zipping Classic last start. Has a trial win at Geelong behind her and the skilful Damian Lane in the saddle. Can never dismiss Lindsay Park runner Harlem (1), with the eight-year-old always thereabouts but is yet to win first up. Does have a recent trial win under the belt and the inside draw.
Race 8. 4.50 pm - C.F Orr Stakes (1400 m)
It is shaping up to a belter of a C.F Orr Stakes, with plenty of talent showing up for the 1400 m Group One race. All eyes will be on barriers five, six and seven at the jump, as Hey Doc (5), Begood Toya Mother (6) and Scales of Justice (7) fight for the lead. Expect all three to be the ones looking to hold out Alabama Express (12) and Ringerdingding (11) at the end. It could be the Warrnambool bias in Payney's Punt, but we have pencilled in Daniel Bowman's Begood Toya Mother to win today. Forget his poor first-up run in the Australia Stakes, the gelding should bounce back in style with a great second up record. Has won four times at this distance, three at this track and five times in these conditions. A great value bet.
Race 9. 5.30 pm Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200 m)
In the last, it's another sprint to the finish and it's shaping up to be two Sydney runners that are going to be heavily backed. Invictus Salute (7) has been very consistent this campaign with a win and three placings and will sit on the pace. Sylvia's Mother (9) resumes and looks ready to fire fresh again, with a recent trial win to her name. Expect to settle back off the pace. Lastly, Fidelia (4) didn't have the best campaign in spring, but showed promise with two placings.
Best of the day
Where: Caulfield
Race 5. Microphone (1) $3.20
21°C