Sign up to punters and receive a free copy of the punters bible
Sign up
Black Book

Caulfield preview and tips: Saturday, April 27

Bold Bastille should continue on her winning way Bold Bastille should continue on her winning way Image: Getty

The $1m The Showdown (1200m) headlines Saturday's 10-race card at Caulfield.

A Good 4 track is likely and the rail will be out 4m for the entire circuit.

Race-by-race preview, tips and best bets below.

READ: Rosehill Preview & Tips - $71 value play


Bews (3) could easily be 5 or 6 from 11 but he's been on the wrong end of some very tight finishes. He can be slow out but hopefully Gaudray can settle him around midfield from barrier three so he's within striking distance of the leaders straightening for home. He is better than this grade.

Rocket Tiger (2) is worth a little saver at huge odds. He was much better last start when ridden positively, just feeling the pinch late to finish 4th. He'll strip fitter for this and the drop back to 1200m doesn't hurt.

White Bear (12) has been rolled at $2.05 and $4.60 at his last couple, both in this grade, but he's been thereabouts. Barrier 12 isn't ideal but he's not without a hope.

Pure Paradise (15) has claims.

VERDICT: Bews (3) deserves another win and looks well-placed. 


This is a nightmare race for punters and one that I'm pretty happy to shoulder arms to. Brooklyn Boss (9) is fit and maps to enjoy an economical run in transit, so he goes on top if you're really keen to play.

VERDICT: A capacity field of BM70 horses over 1800m. It's a pass from me. 


Pounding (1) is the best horse in the race and produced a big first-up effort when 3rd at big odds in The Discovery (1200m) at Yarra Glen. He rises sharply to the mile and his second-up record isn't great (5:1-0-0) but he's hard to go past off that fresh run.

Belle Savoir (10) was part of a blanket finish over 1400m at Bendigo last start. She's yet to win over 1600m but has placed on three occasions and she should get every chance from barrier four.

Beltoro (2) looms as an improver second-up over this trip. 

Barbie's Fox (3) can be hard to catch on the punt but her best is certainly good enough. Her last six starts have been in Group 1 or 2 races, so she should appreciate a drop in class here.

VERDICT: Pounding (1) might be back based on his first-up run. 


Beour Bay (3) is worth an each-way play here at $16. She maps well from barrier four and has been in the placings in all three Caulfield starts. Her only two unplaced efforts in 16 career starts came in a Geelong maiden (when 4th) and down the Flemington straight two-back.

Extratwo (4) bumped into Chorlton Lane last start but was good running 2nd and this is no harder. She should race in the first four or five from the inside gate. 

Papillon Club (2) was 2nd to Extratwo two-back and was sound without threat at Bendigo last start. She needs another win but should be competitive.

Fire Of Etna (5) is racing in good form but barrier 10 makes things tricky. Blinkers on and Declan Bates in the saddle might see her rush forward to push for the lead though. 

VERDICT: Beour Bay (3) makes each-way appeal at $16. BEST VALUE


This race doesn't excite me from a punting perspective but for the sake of a tip, Regal Azmon (6) goes on top. He won well over 1600m here last start, defeating Frigid who was a dominant winner at Mornington last Saturday. 

Berkeley Square (4) is a one-paced operator who is looking to break a rather long run of outs after a promising start to his career. This is the easiest race he's been in for a while but $2.30 for him isn't overly appealing.

Magnaspin (2) bounced back hard last start, while Teewaters (1) could be an improver up to this trip at Caulfield, where 2 of his 3 wins have come. 

VERDICT: No real interest here. 


Modown (2) has come back well and really should be 2 from 3 this campaign. He was a soft winner over 1400m two-back before hitting the line hard from a mile back to grab 3rd behind the promising War Machine last start. He drew barrier 16 of 16 last time but he should be much closer in the run here from his middle gate. He had genuine excuses in his only previous run at this track.

Elphinstone (6) justified her $1.24 quote to romp home first-up at Ballarat. She took on much stiffer opposition last time and ran well as an $18 chance, splitting War Machine and Modown. A tongue tie goes on for the first time and she's drawn perfectly in barrier four.

Gawnski (3) has been solid in two runs back from a break and should be closing hard from the back. His last run here was excellent.

Socks Nation (7) probably leads from the outside alley but the worry is that this might be one run too many for the prep after a flat one over this trip last start (that was 35 days ago though). 

VERDICT: Modown (2) for the win. 


The Astrologist (5) was uncharacteristically slow away in the G1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) last start and that was the end of his race. Prior to that, he was just 0.3L off Imperatriz in the Newmarket - beating home Magic Time who of course won the G1 All Aged. That line of form is easy to like. 

Curran (2) was scratched from last Saturday's Hareeba in favour of this tougher affair. He's a horse that seems to be forever running on when the race is over but he boasts a strong record over this route (4:1-2-0).

Rey Magnerio (4) has only been given a short freshen up off what was a taxing summer campaign, going from a BM84 at Geelong to the G1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) where he was beaten 2.4L. His form is excellent but the break, or lack thereof, is a little query.

General Beau (3) is never far away at this level and he is a three-time winner at Caulfield. 

VERDICT: The Astrologist (5) on top in a tricky affair.


Bold Bastille (8) is clearly the horse to beat here with the weight conditions of the race very much in her favour. She's won four races, while her rivals have won either one or zero. She maps to jump straight to the front from barrier three and it just comes down to whether she can handle the rise to 1200m. Even if she's not super strong at the business end, she should have enough of a margin up her sleeve.

Lincolnshire (10) beat Karavas on debut, a horse that was coming off a comfortable win over Eneeza at Flemington. That form obviously has to be respected.

Linkvue (1) was excellent on debut when chasing Bold Bastille but he was certainly aided by the inside alley there. Barrier 12 makes things a bit harder here but he's open to further improvement.

The rest can all get into the minor money, expect for maybe Coastal Abbey who has shown very little in two starts to date.

VERDICT: Happy to back Bold Bastille (8) at $1.70+. 


Hedged (1) comes back from Sydney where he finished a narrow 2nd to Joliestar at Group 2 level over this trip. He put a gap on the rest and the time was good. A repeat of that performance would see him prove very hard to beat here fourth-up from the perfect draw (barrier 4).

Moby Dick (5) tasted defeat for the first time last start, just failing to run down $61 chance Atlantic Spirit. Stepping back up to 1200m looks a positive but he's likely to settle behind Hedged in the run.

I'll be surprised if the winner comes from outside of the above two but Paradise City (11) has won 3 from 4 and will stripper fitter for this second-up off a 156-day break.

Acid Wash (6) resumes having shown decent ability in his first preparation, including a 5.8L win over 1400m.

VERDICT: Hedged (1) gets the nod over Moby Dick (5). BEST BET


Raffle to close the card. With little to no confidence, Jimmy The Bear (2) goes on top. He has trialled well ahead of his return, which isn't always the case with Payne-trained gallopers whose jumpout/trials are often inconclusive. He goes well at this track (6:2-0-3) and unlike a few of his main rivals, he has drawn nicely in barrier six.

King Magnus (1) has only finished out of the top-two once in seven goes over the Caulfield 1400m. He'll be giving the leaders a start from barrier 12 but should be hitting the line hard on resumption.

So Risque (15) has a horror draw but his recent form around Arran Bay and others reads well for this.

Bank Maur's (3) best is good enough to be winning this but he needs to lift. He'll also need a slice of luck from the inside barrier.

VERDICT: Jimmy The Bear (2) on top but this is a very wide leg for quaddie players. 

Share your thoughts

James Lamb
James' main focus is finding a winner or two in Melbourne. Loves having a quaddie and enjoys the lighter side of racing. Favourite horse: Banana Man 🍌
Story ideas?