I’ve always had a sweet tooth and a liking for bonbons and I’ll be buying a few packs of the good stuff when So Si Bon gets the chocolates at Flemington.
SO SI BON (Flemington Race 4 No 9)
Robbie Laing reckons So Si Bon might be able to win the Caulfield Cup – so what am earth am I doing backing him in a 1200m sprint? Well, he has been low-flying in his two efforts since resuming and he smashed the clock with his final sectionals last time at Caulfield. He will thrive on the expansive Flemington track and gets in on the minimum with just 53kg. For all his talent he has only ever won a Pakenham maiden but will be flying home here. If he turns in a run anything like his last effort, when the weights were against him, he is the one I want to be on.
BET: WIN
ODDS $8 @ Bet365
AHNDRAS (Doomben Race 8 No 14)
Steps up from three-year-old company to an open class handicap but I’m confident as she’s simply bursting to win and there’s no stars here. Chased home the promising Rancho Montoya last time and only narrowly went down to a horse that at times was being mooted as a Caulfield Guineas contender. Toby Edmonds was at one stage keen to test Ahndras as an Oaks filly last season, but he pulled the pin on that plan after a failure at Doomben over 2030m. Favourite Dreams Aplenty should get an easy enough lead but the final few strides could be a worry for him, while Ahndras will be as strong as an ox late.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS $7 @ Crownbet
HARDHAM (Flemington Race 9 No 7)
Been following this tough galloper for a while and that paid dividends when he won the Group II Alister Clark Stakes at double figure odds in the autumn. Also ran a bold third in the Australian Derby so you know he’s got plenty of class and staying ability. Performed well enough when resuming over 1400m at Caulfield and he was just warming up at the end. Goes up an extra 300m here which is ideal. Takes a while to wind him up but Luke Nolen knows his well and I reckon he’s an each-way bet to nothing.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS $7.50 @ Crownbet, Sportsbet, Ladbrokes, William Hill, Luxbet
