Caulfield Blackbookers July 11 – Horses to Follow from John Monash Stakes day

Nice improvement by Portinari in the opener in the day at Caulfield, which saw the two-year-olds in action. The race was taken out by the $1.80 favourite, Angels Fury, with Portinari filling the exacta and putting three lengths on the 3rd horse, Egyptian Dancer. Portinari had two runs, finishing down the track in a Blue Diamond Prelude earlier this year before an unlucky 8th when resuming last month. The daughter of Home Affairs settled in a midfield spot and laid in early in the straight before knuckling down with the fastest last 200m. She looks ready to win and is one to be on at her next start. 

The hype around Cruiserweight is beginning to build after the ‘next Mr Brightside’ made it three wins from as many starts with victroy in Race 3 at Caulfield. After winning his debut in New Zealand by six lengths, the Hayes-trained galloper was sent over to Australia and took out his local debut at Swan Hill before scoring ahead of Celtics on Saturday by a length, while there was another four lengths to the 3rd horse. The three-year-old went 13.7 lengths faster than standard benchmark, which was the best figure from Saturday’s meeting. While the comparisons to Mr Brightside may be a tad premature, it is hard not to be impressed by his form so far and he does look like he can measure up to some harder targets. 

It was a very promising return by Bellatrix Star in the John Monash Stakes. The former promising youngster was first up and stepping out for just her second run since the spring of 2024 that saw her win three in a row, including the Schillaci Stakes (1100m), as well as a runner-up behind Switzerland in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m). She settled last in the field of 11 after a poor start before closing off very well with the fastest last 200m of the entire meeting to miss out by half a length behind Winnasedge. Given the talent she showed as a three-year-old before some injury setbacks, she is definitely one to follow out of the race.