The Early Oil: Herald Sun racing writer Michael Manley gives his extended preview of Caulfield Cup Day

Manley says It’s Somewhat thumped a small field to win the Group 3 Craven Plate by five lengths after finishing third to Winx and Hauraki in the Group 1 George Main Stakes, also at Royal Randwick. That look’s good form for this.

Manley is sticking thick with the Ciaron Maher-trained Jameka in the Caulfield Cup.

LIVE COVERAGE OF ALL THE ACTION FROM CAULFIELD CUP DAY

HOTS TIPS: WEEKEND BEST BETS

BEST BET

IT’S SOMEWHAT (Caulfield R6, No. 1)

EARLY QUADDIE

1,2,3,4,6,7,8,11/1,2,4,5,/1,4,7,14/1,2,3

$100 flexi for 26.04 per cent

VALUE BET

WATERLOO SUNSET (Caulfield, R5, No. 14)

BIG6

1,4,14/1/1,2,3,4,6,12/5,11,12,15/2,5/2,4,12

$100 flexi for 23.14 per cent

QUADDIE

1,2,3,4,6,11,12/3,4,5,9,11,12,15/2,4,5/2,4,12

$100 flexi for 26.45 per cent

HARTNELL REAQUAINTS HIMSELF WITH TRICKY CIRCUIT

CAULFIELD CUP: HALL HOPES THE SACRIFICES DON’T GO TO WASTE

Race 1: Mypunter.com Plate 1400m 12.15pm

Sydney filly SYLPHEED (5) looked outstanding winning at Caulfield recently in restricted company. She sat midfield and toyed with her opposition running a quick last 200m. She steps up to 1400m and is drawn wide but looks a filly on the up. Another Sydney filly SKYLIGHT GLOW (3) found the distance too far in the Flight Stakes over 1600m behind top-class fillies Global Glamour and Yankee Rose. She will find this easier. GOGO GRACE (7) led into the fierce headwind at Flemington and may also have found the 1600m too far in the Edward Manifold Stakes. Better suited over 1400m. ANOTHER BULLSEYE (6) finished a close-up fourth in that race. TRIS (1) is better than her recent form suggests. Darren Weir’s JENNIFER LYNN (8) is well bred and showing promise.

SUGGESTED BET: SYLPHEED THE WIN.

Race 2: Polytrack Gothic Stakes 1400m 12.50pm

Two impressive last start Sydney winners in MORTON’S FORK (4) and ACATOUR (7) clash. Both sprinted home to defeat older horses. Morton’s Fork has settled closer in his races than Acatour and that might make the difference in the finish. Four starts ago Morton’s Fork finished second to Russian Revolution at Randwick. Acatour has won three of his four starts. APIATA (14) is showing a lot of promise. Finished off strongly for fifth at his last start behind Benz over 1200m at Moonee Valley and the step up to 1400m will suit. PEACOCK (9) fought on well for third behind INSIDE AGENT (3) at Flemington last start after being left in front a long way out. Inside Agent is an exciting prospect but will need luck from barrier one. VALLIANO (1) and TRENCHANT (2) also have chances.

SUGGESTED BET: MORTON’S FORK THE WIN

Race 3: Alinghi Stakes 1100m 1.25pm

Lots of chances. The lightly raced smart ALMIGHTY GIRL (3) resumes. She has shown a stack of talent including just being beaten by Heatherly at her second start at Flemington in a photo. She’s performed well in a jump-out leading up to this. SUPER CASH (7) ran on strongly to win first-up at Caulfield also over 1100m. ESTAMINET (11) had a tough run when she fought on well for second behind Gun Case at Moonee Valley first-up over 955m. She’s drawn to get a nice run. I LOVE IT (2) is a classy mare who finished third two starts ago in the Group 1 Sangster Stakes. Sydney mare FLIPPANT (4) is a smart Sydney mare who has been trialling well.

SUGGESTED BET: ALMIGHTY GIRL EACH-WAY.

Race 4: Ethereal Stakes 2000m 2pm

SEBRING DREAM (2) finished off nicely in last Saturday’s Thousand Guineas to finish sixth beaten just over three and a half lengths. Although she’s drawn out in barrier 13 the step up to 2000m will suit and this is an easier race. Sydney filly MOQUEEN (1) was impressive winning the Dulcify Handicap at Randwick charging home out wide from last. New Zealand filly ELENORA (5) had no luck in the Edward Manifold Stakes as she was held up for a run for the first 300m in the straight and shuffled back to last. SAVVAN (4) fought hard to win over 1600m at Kembla Grange last start. Breeding suggests she’ll be suited by a step up to 2000m.

SUGGESTED BET: SEBRING DREAM THE WIN.

Race 5: Caulfield Classic 2000m 2.35pm

Fillies have won the past two runnings of this race and WATERLOO SUNSET (14) carries similar form lines to them as both Fontein Ruby and Sacred Eye came through the Edward Manifold Stakes. Interestingly David Hayes chose to run her in this race rather than against her own sex in the Ethereal Stakes. She ran home well for third in the Manifold Stakes. Stablemate SEABURGE (1) looked the winner in the straight in the Caulfield Guineas but was touched off by Divine Prophet. WINE BUSH (4) enjoyed the step up in distance when successful at Flemington last start over 1800m defeating ROCKETEER (5). Extra distance up to 2000m will suit. HIGHLAD (7) suffered his first defeat but lost no admirers when third in that race as he worked early into a headwind and just kept finding. Again has a bad barrier though. THROSSELL (3), GOOD STANDING (2) and INFERENCE (6) all have chances.

SUGGESTED BET: WATERLOO SUNSET EACH-WAY.

Race 6: Coongy Cup 2000m 3.10pm

IT’S SOMEWHAT (1) owns compelling form lines. Two starts ago he finished third to Winx and Hauraki in the George Main Stakes and was beaten just over three lengths. Then he annihilated his rivals to win the Craven Plate over 2000m also at Randwick which have been his two starts since he finished third in the Doomben Cup. THE CLEANER (2) hasn’t been disgraced in recent weight-for-age races and will find this easier. MAURUS (3) ran home strongly for second in the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley. TARQUIN (8) battled on well for third in the same race. NOZOMI (11) had a tough run but outclassed his rivals to win over 1800m last start. He finished third in the 2014 Victoria Derby.

SUGGESTED BET: IT’S SOMEWHAT THE WIN.

Race 7: Tristarc Stakes 1400m 3.45pm

Newcastle mare DANISH TWIST (6) showed great improvement last campaign winning four races before failing in the Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm. She resumed with a cracking close-up third in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes behind two top liners in Takedown and Our Boy Malachi. Oliver has elected to ride her which is a good pointer in preference to SHILLELAGH (12) who he rode to win at this track last start when she ran on strongly. TYCOON TARA (2) led throughout to win at Group 2 level at Randwick last start. She’s a dual winner at this track. PEARLS (3) fought on for third in that race and FAST SEAL (1) weakened to finish fifth after looking the winner with 300m to go. FRENCH EMOTION (4) swooped home to win at Flemington last start.

SUGGESTED BET: DANISH TWIST EACH-WAY.

Race 8: Caulfield Cup 2400m 4.30pm

JAMEKA (11) has had near faultless preparation heading towards the Caulfield Cup. Two starts ago she strolled in with the Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield before she finished second to Hartnell in the Turnbull Stakes. She finished three and a quarter lengths from him but that was the same margin the third horse was from her., She never runs a bad race and with 52.5 kilos is sure to be hard to beat. SACRED MASTER (15) came from a mile back to run fourth in the Metropolitan behind SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD (8) running fast closing sectionals. REAL LOVE (12) is an honest mare who was impressive winning the JRA Cup easily last start and is also well in with 52.5 kilos. The internationals appear an even bunch. Aidan O’Brien’s SIR ISAAC NEWTON (5) finished fourth in the Juddmonte International behind Postponed two starts ago and EXOSPHERIC (3) fifth which reads well for this. SCOTTISH (4) and ARTICUS (9) have been racing well.

SUGGESTED BET: JAMEKA THE WIN.

Race 9: Caulfield Sprint 1000m 5.10pm

Hard to go past HELLBENT’S (5) extraordinary finishing burst to win over 1100m at Caulfield last start stamps him as the one to beat as he charged home running his last 400m in 21.91 seconds. WILD RAIN (4) is racing in great fashion. Put together successive Group sprint wins before third behind Extreme Choice in the Moir Stakes.

The Hawkes team prolific winner OUR BOY MALACHI (2) just failed to add another win when beaten in a photo by Takedown first-up. FAATINAH (5) was disappointing when he finished sixth last start at Flemington after brilliant first-up win at the same track. Star sprinter LANKAN RUPEE (1) resumes from a long spell with big weight.

SUGGESTED BET: HELLBENT THE WIN.

Race 10: Moonga Stakes 1400m 5.45pm

VOODOO LAD (12) sat wide and ran on well when second to Bon Aurum in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes this track and distance. He’s in great form. Sydney visitor TAKEDOWN (4) has won his last starts at Group 2 level at Randwick. Last start he defeated Our Boy Malachi. STRATUM STAR (2) loves this track and distance. Last start he worked forward to sit second down the Flemington straight before he tired. DURENDAL (9) ran on well for placing in that race behind The Quarterback. FAST ’N’ ROCKING (6) added another chapter to his luckless file when third in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes as he was held up for a run in the closing stages.

SUGGESTED BET: VOODOO LAD EACH-WAY.

BRAD DAVIDSON AND SHAYNE O’CASS PREVIEW RANDWICK AND THE CAULFIELD CUP