3 minute read

Most of the focus was on the Caulfield Cup and Everest but we’re going to look at a couple of other races on Saturday that may be good pointers to the future.

Oakleigh Plate frontrunner?

Asfoora was awesome winning the Group 2 McCafe Sprint (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday, leading a field of fairly handy sprinters and putting them away comfortably, recording a massive new peak of 116 with Timeform.

That puts her right in consideration when it comes to lower-level Group 1 sprints. In fact, I wrote about Coolangatta 's win in the Moir a couple of weeks ago, and Asfoora has put up an identical winning rating here.

The Oakleigh Plate has to be high on the radar for Henry Dwyer's speedster and off this run, she'd be a leading chance.

Without being able to forecast what the handicapper does come next year is tough, but she carried 53kg here and it wouldn't be unreasonable to suggest she'd get 53kg or thereabouts. The last four mares to win the race are Marabi (54kg), Celebrity Queen (53.5kg), Pippie (52kg) and Booker (52kg).

Asfoora's 116 rating reads well for the Oakleigh Plate, which for context, (when normalised to weight-for-age), often hasn't taken that much winning in recent years:
 

Marabi 121

Celebrity Queen 111 (Portland Sky 110)

Pippie 111

Booker 115

Russian Revolution 120

Sheidel 118

Flamberge 120

Shamal Wind 118

Lankan Rupee 125

Mrs Onassis 115

Take the mares (who have an excellent winning record) in isolation, and the winning average of that lot is 115.57. Almost identical to Asfoora on Saturday.
 

Golden Eagle picture

Vilana once again held up the theory of racing through the Queensland Winter is better than standing in a rainy paddock, returning a career peak figure of 115 first up in the Silver Eagle on Saturday.

The Silver Eagle, for all of its $1million worth, hasn't yet produced a winner of the Golden Eagle, worth $8million. Maybe they need to double the Silver Eagle's prize money so a horse can finally do the double…

None of this is to take away from Vilana's performance however, who nestles in nicely amongst the other three Silver Eagles- Aim, Flit and The Inevitable, however their record in the Golden Eagle is woeful. Here's how they rated in the 'lead up', and their finishing position two weeks later:

Aim 110- 18th

Flit 115- 10th

The Inevitable 117- 12th
 

Interestingly, all three Golden Eagle winners have already been crowned Group 1 winners- I'm Thunderstruck coming off the Toorak and having gone right on with it since, Colette an Oaks-winner-turned-miler, and Kolding, an Epsom winner who still bobs up in Group 1's every now and then.

According to Timeform, Kolding was the best of the Eagle winners at 122 from I'm Thunderstruck at 118 and Colette at 113.

Light Infantry touched down in Australia and heads the market having rated 122 at his most recent start when 2nd to a very good horse in Inspiral. If he's able to produce that first up in the Eagle he'll win, but that remains to be seen.

The one that could bounce back sharply is Fangirl if by some miracle Sydney finds a dry track. She's rated 115+ off her second to Anamoe first up this preparation with solid ratings behind that to suggest she'd be right in the mix. We'll see what Waller does with her and Hinged and any invitations that may come their way.

I Wish I Win is also rated 115 and has at his last three starts. I'd be very interested in him if he came to Sydney. Back slightly to 1500m suits and he actually rated 2 pounds higher than I'm Thunderstruck did in the Toorak last year who then went on to win the Golden Eagle.

To finish with the power rankings, Golden Eagle edition:

1. Light Infantry
2. I Wish I Win
3. Fangirl
4. Hinged
5. Vilana