Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
It's the first time in three years that this 1400 metres Group 2 weight-for-age contest has been run without Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) but Lindsay Park are still a chance to make it three in a row; saddling up the in-form Gentleman Roy (So You Think {NZ}) and the roughie Nicolini Vito (Nicconi).
Several runners have form behind Mr Brightside in this race with last year's placegetters Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}) and Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) hoping to make the most of their previous rival's absence.
Pounding (Exceed And Excel) was also here this time last year whilst the Caulfield 1400m specialist (four wins) Buffalo River (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) has his third crack; finishing third two years ago.
Pinstriped | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Run until 2010 as the Liston S., this race has some exceptional horses on its honour roll; won by the likes of Chicquita (Blank {GB}), Lord (NZ) (Targui {Fr}), Craftsman, Tobin Bronze, Winfreux (Affreux {Fr}), Tauto (Good Brandy {GB}), Vice Regal (NZ), So Called (NZ), Sydeston (St Briavels {GB}), Mahogany (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and Apache Cat (Lion Cavern {USA}).
This race is often a guide to spring riches and several of the contestants have been competitive in high class races. Buffalo River, who was placed in last year's G1 CF Orr S. and G1 Futurity S. is one of those whilst his stablemate Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) was third in last spring's G1 Toorak H.
Last year's Futurity and G1 Doncaster H. runner up Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) also lines up as does the 2021 G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and the evergreen 9-year-old Munhamek (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who has been great form over the winner months winning his last three.
G3 Vain Stakes - another Group 1 pointer
The first of Caulfield's 3-year-old features is this 1100 metre dash for the boys, a race which since first being run as a Listed contest in 1992 has a nice record of being won by horses who have gone onto enjoy Group 1 success.
We don't have to go too far back to find a horse that fits that criteria with the last two winners going on to even bigger and bigger things; the Vain won last year by the following autumn's G1 Newmarket H. winner Cylinder whilst first across the line the previous year was Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) who took out the G1 All-Aged S. and the G1 Doomben 10,000 the following year.
Vain and Bim Thompson | Image courtesy of Widden
Others to make this achievement are Bivouac, Russian Revolution, Sepoy, Toorak Toff, Starspangledbanner, Delago Brom, Happy Strike/Lisboa Stand (Gold Fever {USA}), Red Dazzler, Haradasun, Star Of Maple (At Talaq {USA}) and Never Undercharge (Lord Seymour {Ire}).
Meaning that the form from this race is worth following each year and there are some nice prospects going around on Saturday, such as Blue Stratum and Interest Point who are both nice chances for their sire Blue Point (Ire) whilst Winchester and Wonder Boy are last start winners by father and son Deep Field and Cosmic Force.
G3 Quezette Stakes - differing form lines
There are form lines from all around the place represented in this Group 3 1100 metre contest for the fillies with promising types with form in New Zealand, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, the ACT and Victoria taking each other on.
Of those fillies, three are already stakes winners; Drifting (Zousain) taking out the G3 Magic Night S. in March, Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) the G3 Eclipse S. at Pukekohe and Geegees Mistruth (Wordsmith) the Listed Gold Sovereign S. at Launceston.
Drifting | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Another two are stakes placed; Kuroyanagi (Written Tycoon) and All Woke (All Too Hard) both displaying good potential as does the regally bred Just Like Gaby (Pierata), daughter of the Group 1 mare Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible).
Future Group 1 winners Alinghi (Encosta de Lago), Bel Mer (Bel Esprit), I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible), Sunlight (Zoustar), Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) won this race early in their careers and it has also proven a good guide to broodmare success.
Six of its winners have gone onto produce stakes winners including the dams of the Group winners Freestyle (Snippets), Tipungwuti (More Than Ready {USA}) and Niagara Falls (Danehill {USA}).
Listed Regal Roller Stakes - plenty of chances
Named after the bold front running chestnut who called Caulfield his own with four wins at the track including, at this meeting, the G2 Liston S. in 2004, this Listed sprint is being run for the 15th time.
Several of its winners have gone to win Group 1 races; Bel Sprinter (Bel Esprit) successful in the G1 Galaxy two years later, Voodoo Lad (I Am Invincible) the G1 Winterbottom Stakes, Uncommon James (Cable Bay {Ire}) the G1 Oakleigh Plate, Begood Toya Mother (Myboycharlie {Ire}) the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. two starts later and Vega Magic (Lope de Vega {Ire}) the G1 Memsie S. at his next outing.
Its an even affair this time around, chances going to It'sourtime (Time For War) off his game G3 Aurie's Star H. third, the honest Listed Straight Six winner Who Dares (Deep Field), the last start Listed Ramornie H. winner Ka Bling (Capitalist), last year's G2 Queen Of The Turf S. winner Caste (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) who resumes off good Flemington jump-out form, the autumn carnival's G3 Bellmaine S. winner Vagrant (Pariah) and the last start winner Maotai (Not A Single Doubt) who impressed at his first start for the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable.
It'sourtime | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Adding interest to the race are a couple of former New Zealanders in the shape of Expressiveness (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) and The Pendragon (NZ) (US Navy Flag {USA}). The former is a Group 1 placed, six time winner who debuts for the Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr) stable off a couple of Cranbourne jump-out placings whilst the latter has also been coming along nicely at the jump-outs.
That member of the Michael Moroney and Glen Thompson stable is having his second Australian start, the G2 Auckland Guineas winner having tired from the lead when tackling the G1 Australian Guineas in March.
And it will be interesting to see how Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire]) progresses now that he has been gelded. He was consistent without winning last time in and he comes to this off a Flemington jump-out winner over Drifting (Zousain).
Listed Rosebud - its 14th running
The feature event on Saturday's Rosehill card is a Listed 1100m contest for 3-year-olds. Whilst it is by no means a big field, the eight due to take their place have displayed good talent.
Tarpaulin (Harry Angel {Ire}) is well fancied but has also accepted for the G3 Vain S. at Caulfield. He is one of the four last start winners here with Astapor (Tassort) debuting for the Joe Pride stable after leading throughout under a big weight at Eagle Farm in July whilst Clear Proof (Justify {USA}) looked good swamping his rivals at his first start at Kensington. And whilst he is up in class, his form lines look good with the second and third home; Axius (Justify) and Dawn Service (Justify) both winning since.
Tarpaulin | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Brave One (Exceedance) ran nice time when saluting at his Randwick debut in July and he also defeated a next start winner in the shape of Mayfair (Fastnet Rock). His trial form ties in, going over the line just behind Gatsby's (Snitzel) on August 6 and that horse is well fancied here, saluting at his Canterbury debut in late February before finishing on the heels of the placegetters in the G3 Pago Pago S.
Shangri La Express (Alabama Express) and High Octane (Deep Field) are also chances in an open race, the former having his first start since taking on the big guns in the G1 Golden Slipper S. whilst the latter was not far away off a wide run in the G1 Blue Diamond S.
This is just the 14th running of this race, one which has on nine occasions been won by horses who have held up the form by winning other stakes races. Such as Paulele who won the following year's G1 Winterbottom Stakes and last year's winner Tiz Invincible (I Am Invincible) who made it three in a row with victories in the G2 Furious S. and the G2 Tea Rose S.
G3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders Stakes - promising 3-year-olds
Fighting out favouritism in this 1200 metres contest for 3-year-olds are the promising geldings Whiskey 'N Roses (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) and Full Force (Cosmic Force) who both come into the race fresh.
A close up third in a Te Rapa trial a couple of weeks ago, Whiskey 'N Roses created a good impression during his short debut campaign; green but good to the line when second at Matamata and looking to have a bit in hand when saluting at Ruakaka next time out.
Whiskey 'N Roses (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
Full Force has also trialled nicely (behind the classy filly Velocious (Written Tycoon) and his maiden win at Otaki in early March was followed by a crack at elite company; out of the placings in the G1 Manawatu Sires Produce S.
It is by no means a race in two, in fact it is a very open affair with another five (of a field of ten) opening at single figure odds. So Naive (NZ) (US Navy Flag {USA}) comes off a trial win having won two of his first four starts whilst I'm All In (NZ) (Zoustar) has a fitness edge having overcome early trouble to share the prize at Ruakaka earlier in the month.
Maracatu (NZ) (Ardrossan) and Toruk Makto (NZ) (Eminent {Ire}) have form lines that tie in with So Naive whilst Vegas Queen (NZ) (Proisir) put a couple of lengths on her rivals at Ruakaka last start.
Full Force | Image courtesy of Race Images
Adding interest to the race is its sole debutant; Kitty Flash (NZ) (Ace High) who is yet to taste defeat in three trials for the Andrew Forsman stable. She is out of a two time winning half-sister to the stakes winners So Wotif (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Bonniegirl (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) from the family of the Group 1 gallopers Lasqueti Spirit (Beneteau) and Mr Bureaucrat (Bureaucracy).
