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A brief look at the Caulfield meeting on Saturday.

Moir target for Asfoora 

Trainer Henry Dwyer would like nothing more than to add a Group 1 victory to the CV of Asfoora before her retirement to stud. 

After the first-up win of Asfoora in the Group 3 The Heath 1100 (1100m), the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 29 is firmly in Dwyer's sights. 

Asfoora won the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint and the Group 3 Begonia Belle Stakes last spring and was placed in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Sandown first-up in the autumn. 

Dwyer said he elected to kick-off Asfoora's program on Saturday instead of lining up against Giga Kick in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley next week. 

"She's a multiple Group 2 and 3 winner, so we need a Group 1," Dwyer said. 

"The Moir's her go, a lovely little four-week gap, 

"I think she's really good fresh, so fresh, with a run under her belt four weeks earlier I think is an ideal scenario, so hopefully she can draw a gate around The Valley and do it all again." 

Macedon works wonders for Soulcombe 

The addition of the former Lloyd Williams property at Mt Macedon to the training ranks of Chris Waller has worked wonders for first-up winner Soulcombe. 

The imported galloper has been a resident at Macedon Lodge this campaign and claimed the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) first-up on Saturday. 

"We know it's pretty much a mile short of his best, but he had a terrific turn of foot," Waller's assistant-trainer Charlie Duckworth said. 

"He's been trained out of the Macedon stable as well, so it obviously gives us a bit of faith in the systems we've put in place there. 

"We actually had Waverider Buoy win at Randwick straight out of Macedon too, so obviously a credit to the team there and it's going to be an interesting spring." 

Duckworth said Soulcombe was likely to remain in Melbourne for a tilt at the big Cups double. 

"We'll let Chris plot a path, and if there's something worth going up to Sydney for now that we know he's capable over these shorter distances it really opens up a lot of avenues," Duckworth said. 

"If he was just going to be an out-and-out two-miler, then obviously you've got a set path. 

"We'll see how he comes out of it, but the logical thing would be to go to 2000 (metres) but I'd imagine Caulfield and Melbourne Cups will be in everyone's interests." 

New Ollie in town 

Jason Maskiell may be the new "Ollie" when it comes to roaring at his horses in a driving finish. 

Damien Oliver announced his impending retirement from race riding during the week and during COVID the 'Ollie roar' reverberated through television screens as he screamed at horses in a tight finish. 

Oliver said that 'roar' may deliver a few extra millimetres, which can become crucial in a finish. 

Maskiell was roaring at the Jason Warren-trained Seb Song down the straight in the MRC Foundation Caulfield Handicap (1600m) as the gelding charged home to register a half-head win. 

"I got a bit Ollie-like late, and I think it really worked," Maskiell said. 

"I was very happy they kept me on and stuck by me and it was good to repay them." 

Kah gets on the board in town 

Jamie Kah has registered her first city winner since her fall at Flemington during the autumn guiding the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Nunthorpe to victory in the Fierce Impact – Pedigree Physique Performance (1400m). 

Kah returned to race riding in Sydney on August 19 and rode a winner at Cranbourne the following day but had gone winnerless since. 

She had placings at Moonee Valley last Saturday and rode at Sandown, Seymour and Pakenham during the week without success. 

Kad has ridden Nunthorpe to all three of the mare's victories after riding her to success at her first two starts and enjoyed being reunited with the mare on Saturday. 

"She's always given me a really good feel and today I think I love her even more after what she did for me today," Kah said. 

"It's been a long time since I've been in the winner's circle on a Saturday so it's great to do it and great to do it for Kat and Moods who have supported me throughout everything." 

Hot Bull lands double 

Apprentice Tatum Bull was cursing to herself shortly after the start of the Evergreen Turf Handicap (2000m) after Frigid began too well. 

But it mattered little as Frigid registered an easy win for trainer John Leek and West Australian owner Bob Peters. 

"She jumped too good for me out of the gates, and I was cursing myself because I didn't know what to do from there," Bull said. 

"I had to go to plan B and look, she was too good from there. I was absolutely bolting at the top of the straight." 

"I was waiting for them to come. I heard Ollie having a bit of a roar, so I was waiting for him to chase me down but thank God he didn't." 

Bull was back in the winner's enclosure for Leek and Peters when Devoted took out the Neds Super Saturday Handicap. 

She said Caulfield had been a good place to her as she continues to build on her career after returning from a foot injury. 

"I'll take any rides when I can get them and an opportunity like this doesn't come around very often, so to get two favourites on a Group One day, I'm just happy that I didn't stuff it up," Bull said. 

Quote of the day 

"He's a big strong boy now, (a) man" - jockey Damian Lane after three-year-old Veight registered a first-up win in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m).