Crio’s Racing : Almost Autumn

I mentioned last week that we were “nearly there” – that the good ‘uns were trialling and trainers were announcing programmes for Autumn. There’s a slow “bleed” across to the fields for this Saturday as some better class horses make eagerly anticipated returns though, again, it’s been trials such as those at Randwick and Sandown on Friday and Cranbourne today (Thursday) which whet the appetite for the months ahead.

Fiorente, Appearance, Rain Drum and Sweet Idea were amongst those on show in Sydney, whilst Speediness and Wez Hunter’s pair, Smokin’ Joey and Bel Thor, showed their wares at Sandown.

In the first trial at Cranbourne this morning, Lankan Rupee beat Unpretentious, Polanski and Bel Sprinter. Not surprisingly, Robbie Laing declared the Derby winner on target for an Orr Stakes return next week. Later, in the 2yo fillies division, Mick Price/G.Boss unveiled unraced More Radiant in a narrow win over Diamond boom Earthquake. Stablemate Lion Of Belfort, a very progressive type, then won its 800m C+G trial. Another of Price’s stars, Samaready, is also ready to go, having had a jumpout at The Heath on Tuesday with Shamal Wind.

Meanwhile it didn’t take long to notice a lift in quality when fields were released for Caulfield this Saturday. The feature, undoubtedly, is The Manfred (MR6), named for the enigmatic champ (http://www.oocities.org/roblobb/manfred_-_page_6.html ) featured on our site’s preview last year.

From the outset the racing seems keener than in recent weeks, though Weiry looks to have his fingerprints over most of the first half of the afternoon. Even R1 has some interesting 3yo fillies, with So Hasty (3) and Scratchy Bottom (4) likely to be winners during Feb and the toppy Kiss Me Ketut, having done nothing wrong recently.

R4 (2yo, 1100m, G3) is worth some time, both for future reference and to get a Quaddy bank. Illustrious Lad (3), though maybe not well in against the topweight, looks overs at 16+/1.

I’ll also be shopping for value in a tricky, modest first leg (MR5, 1600m, F+M),sticking with the white hot Ellerton/Zahra/Mallyon combo and Spellrocker (7) @14/1.

Prince Harada (5) is the early fav for the main event (MR6, 1200m, G3, 3yoSW), renewing hostilities with controversial McNeil conqueror, Fast’n’Rocking (1). Punters will rally to Olly who has controversially shunned Vasil’s  young star to get a sit on Gai’s (4) Bull Point. I’ll be keeping an eye on Hard Stride which takes a mighty leap to this class on the back of some excellent Werribee form.

And, whilst on Werribee, some punters are still lamenting the “certainty beat” which was Lord Of The Sky down there on 25/6. Since then he is 3 from 3, last time out winning with ridiculous ease at a Caulfield midweeker – this is much tougher but the wraps are enormous and he goes around short and “declared”. I reckon Kiss A Rose (10) @16/1 is a bargain E/W fresh.

The last (MR8, 2000m, Listed) will be a good punting race. There are some stalwarts here with staying prizes ahead and Prince Of Penzance (13), on the back of some terrific runs, will be less than 5/1 for M.Payne. I’d prefer M.Kent/C.Williams (5) E/W @14/1.

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It is an interesting card at Caulfield and well worth some scrutiny. Elsewhere, I’ll be at the Valley tomorrow night for ordinary fields sure to be counterbalanced by a beautiful night under lights for patrons out on the lawns.

It is an exciting few weeks ahead for race fans – plenty of great picnic meetings dotted all around the country and the big guns being wheeled out in Melbourne and Sydney as of next week.

Good luck!