Caulfield Heath
Race 3 – Friday At Five
Jockey – Celine Gaudray
1800m – Barrier 7
Zoustar mare Friday At Five returns to the races today, six weeks after an okay effort in similar
company at Kyneton in the Woodend Cup. The five-year-old galloper had been racing well prior, winning at Mornington and Hanging Rock, splitting those runs with a solid effort in metropolitan grade. Gun apprentice Celine Gaudray rides from the outside gate in a field of seven, finding cover in the second half of the field ad looking to finish the race off late.
Sea What I See can go fast and lead from an inside draw, while Amberana and Nursery Chime will settle in the front half of the field from the 1800-metre chute. Sea What I See has been impressive this preparation, winning two from two and doing so with relative ease. She overcame trouble at The Valley last time out to win and out to 1800-metres doesn’t look to be an issue. Drawn to find the front and is clearly the one to beat here. The main danger is Nursery Chime, who comfortably beat home subsequent Sandown winner Fire Of Etna when runner-up behind Unthinkable at The Valley three weeks ago. That’s good form for a midweek race, she won’t be far away. Big Kate next best up in trip.
Friday At Five is six weeks between runs, having missed a start at the ill-fated Ararat meeting last week. She’ll be better for the run today, with races over the Easter weekend the main focus. She can wind up late and run into a placing without surprising today.
Currently, Friday At Five is a $14 chance in the market.
Caulfield Heath
Race 4 – Nishino Crescent
Jockey – Jordan Childs
1800m – Barrier 5
Last start winner Nishino Crescent is five weeks between runs when he heads to the new Caulfield Heath track this afternoon. The gelded son of Satono Aladdin justified his odds-on quote at Sale last start, overcoming difficulties to score at his third run this campaign. He lumps 62kg today, jockey Jordan Childs looking to land one or two pairs back with cover from the chute start and be close enough to strike turning for home.
Speed is drawn on the inside with Tolpuddle and Running On Time to punch forward and hold the lead early, while Obedience will roll across from the outside gate and be thereabouts when runners find their positions. Bavicia maps to get a soft run in behind the speed, coming here third-up and on the back of an impressive last start Sandown win. Her fresh effort off a long break behind The Big Kahuna looks good after that horse won again yesterday. She gets all the favours in the run and looks hardest to beat in this. Obedience won first-up two starts back, beating subsequent winners Prancing With Fire and Unthinkable at Werribee. The form through Unthinkable has stacked up and she’s an each way chance today. So too Running On Time who is racing well and should get every chance from out in front here.
Nishino Crescent is yet to miss a placing in five Australian starts, with strong form around him this preparation. He was runner-up to the unbeaten Immediacy at Sandown in January, that horse easily winning at Group-2 level at his next start, and beat home subsequent winners Tahlequah and Aiming in the same race. Where he lands in the run today will be key to his hopes, but on talent alone, he must be considered a winning chance.
Currently, Nishino Crescent is a $4 chance in the market.