The way this column is going recently, it could be easily renamed 'Racenet Lays' for the time being but we'll butter up again at Caulfield on Saturday.
LYCURGUS (CAULFIELD - Race 3 No 12)
This bloke did more than enough when running on well at Moonee Valley first-up and he'll only be improved. Lycurgus drew an outside barrier and was forced to go back before sustaining a long run to be only beaten 1-3/4 lengths by Ebediyin. That race was over 1509m and any step up in trip will suit Lycurgus now and the jump to 1800m will be perfect for him. He's drawn barrier seven so can settle closer without any effort and the big field will ensure there is enough speed on for him. The BM78 race is a lottery at Caulfield on Saturday but Lycurgus is worth an each-way ticket.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS $14 @ Sportsbet
ABBEY MARIE (CAULFIELD – Race 7 No 10)
Abbey Marie has come back from a spell in excellent order this time in and gets a chance to earn a Caulfield Cup spot on Saturday. Her first-up run was sound when seventh to Hartnell, beaten 5-1/2 lengths, in the Group II PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) before improving at the mile when a good second to Bonneval in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at the Valley a fortnight ago. She is ready for the 2000m and was a Group I winner over that trip at just her third start in the Australasian Oaks, beating future Group I winner Silent Sedition. She has had her share of problems but Abbey Marie is getting back to her best and can score a welcome win on Saturday.
BET: WIN
ODDS $6 @ Ladbrokes, Sportsbet, William Hill, Luxbet, Unibet, Palmerbet, Bookmaker, CrownBet, Bet365, Betstar
MISSROCK (CAULFIELD – Race 8 No 7)
Her two runs at the Valley this time in have been solid and she's ready for the jump to 1200m at Caulfield. Missrock ran over the top of Heatherly to score first-up over 1000m before she turned in another sound effort when up to Group II company in the McEwen Stakes. Missrock finished fourth, beaten 2-3/4 lengths, to the Galaxy winner Russian Revolution at weight-for-age. She drops back to mares' grade here and the 1200m will be perfect for her now and was the trip at which she finished second to Vega Magic in the Goodwood in the autumn. Don't worry about barrier 15 as Damien Oliver will get her cover and it's only one turn at the Caulfield 1200m course. She'll be hard to beat.
BET: WIN
ODDS $5 @ Palmerbet, CrownBet
PETITION (CAULFIELD – Race 9 No 11)
Petition could only manage third in midweek company at Sandown first-up but she got a pass mark with the effort behind Costa Bomb. She got a shade too far back on a day that it was difficult to make ground before running home fairly well in the straight. She'll be a lot fitter for that run and the 1400m should be better for her in the last at Caulfield. She bolted in over 1400m at Flemington on Anzac Day before a solid placing in stakes class in Adelaide. She is lightly-raced but has the quality to run over these.
BET: WIN
ODDS $6 @ Palmerbet
