The Australia Day Races at Caulfield are a highlight of the public holiday each year, and four black type features headline this year’s program.
The 2022 Neds Blue Diamond Series launches at the Australia Day Races this year, and we’ll get a gauge on which juveniles to follow into the Group 1 main event next month.
Check out my day preview and complete 2022 Australia Day Races Tips below.
Preview brought to you by Neds. Learn more about Neds HERE.
Listed Neds Blue Diamond Preview C&G (1000m) – 1:20pm AEDT
Tip: No. 1 Philosopher
Just six colts and geldings will line up in this year’s Neds Blue Diamond Preview for the boys, and only two of those have raceday experience; Philosopher and Rampant Lion.
I was very impressed with Philosopher’s debut effort, and I think he’ll take a power of beating this week with that experience under his belt.
Philosopher was sent off a $2.40 hope at this track and trip on debut and powered to the line to score a nice win. Any improvement at all, and he can keep alive his unbeaten career start.
Group 3 Neds Blue Diamond Preview F (1000m) – 1:55pm AEDT
Tip: No. 5 Jewellery
The same race but for the fillies, and it looks to be a far more open affair with six previous starters engaged in a field of fourteen for the Blue Diamond Prelude Fillies.
Jewellery finished second behind Philosopher on debut earlier this month, and given that I think that form will hold up, I’m happy to stick with her on Wednesday.
The Lonhro filly mustered an eye-catching turn of foot on debut, and she was just a head behind the winner on the line.
She too harbours plenty of upside, and she can claim her first bit of black type this week.
Evergreen Turf Handicap (1100m) – 2:30pm AEDT
Tip: No. 3 For Real Life
There is a case to be made for nearly all of the eight confirmed starters in Race 3 on Australia Day, but I am going to stick with the Team Corstens-trained For Real Life, who looks to have a bit of a fitness edge.
For Real Life has had four starts since resuming back in early November, winning once and finished second on two other occasions.
She was desperately unlucky not to win a photo finish at The Valley last time, she looks to have conditions to suit this week, and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish.
Listed W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m) – 3:05pm AEDT
Tip: No. 3 Enthaar
The W.J. Adams Stakes always draws a classy field of sprinters and of course, this year’s edition is no exception to the rule, despite only five gallopers engaging.
Enthaar has been nothing short of outstanding since debuting, and I think that she will just win.
The Written Tycoon filly has recorded three wins and a placing from just five career starts, and she went to the paddock following an eye-catching win in the Listed Doveton Stakes in November.
She’ll start pretty short, but rightly so.
McCafe Handicap (2000m) – 3:40pm AEDT
Tip: No. 5 Somerset Maugham
Somerset Maugham was pretty stiff not to salute at Flemington a couple of weekends back, and I think that he can rectify that result on Australia Day.
The Galileo gelding has improved with each of his four starts back this time, and he has finished a close-up second at his last two.
He steps out this week in peak order, Damien Lane jumps into the saddle and he is drawn to receive every chance from Barrier 5.
Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m) – 4:20pm AEDT
Tip: No. 3 Groundswell
This year’s John Dillon Stakes is one of, if not the best race on Wednesday’s Caulfield program, but I am a big fan of the resuming Groundswell, and I think that he can return a winner.
A placegetter behind Super Seth in the Neds Caulfield Guineas a couple of years ago, Groundswell hasn’t quite measured up to Group 1 company since, but he has certainly made races like this one his bread and butter.
He is a multiple winner at this point of his preparation, and beat home some excellent horses when fresh last time in.
Anything close to his best would be enough to see him into the finish, and he’ll be in the John Dillon Stakes for a long way.
Tile Importer Handicap (1400m) – 5:00pm AEDT
Tip: No. 1 Over The Sky
Over The Sky hasn’t been seen at the races since June, but he absolutely flies fresh, and I think that he can have a real impact in the penultimate contest at the Australia Day Races.
Over The Sky has recorded a career total of four wins and two minors from just eight starts, and his fresh record currently stands at 3:2-0-1.
He gets some relief in the weights this week under Thomas Stockdale, he should be able to find a nice position in running from an inside draw, and he can fight out the finish.
The Mary Bell (1400m) – 5:40pm AEDT
Tip: No. 9 Yonce
$130K goes on the line in the last at Caulfield on Australia Day, and a fittingly smart field of fillies and mares has been drawn.
Yonce faces a rise in class, but she is also yet to taste anything but success, and I think that this looks a lovely metro target for her.
The Proisir mare put the writing on the wall with an easy win at Mornington on debut, and she franked that performance with an even better one at Sandown last time, which saw her greeting the judge more than three lengths ahead of her rivals.
She’s open to further improvement, gets into this race well under the conditions, and she can win again.