Caulfield Racing Tips for October 10 – Point Barrow to reel them in early on Caulfield Guineas day

There are three Group One races across the 10 scheduled for the day, headlined by the Caulfield Guineas. 

Keen on Point Barrow in the Group 3 Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m) for the mares. The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained mare did the job for us last start when charging home to win the How Now Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield and has now won four of her past six starts, with her only misses coming in Group 1 company. She had to overcome the way the track was playing last time and again draws wide in barrier 13, making it four consecutive races from a double-digit gate, but she has shown she is capable of getting back and producing a big finish. She is unbeaten in three starts over the Caulfield 1200m and the race shape looks ideal, with Bridal Waltz, Bossy Benita and Tomato Toastie among several runners capable of ensuring a strong tempo. That is when Point Barrow is at her best and, provided the track isn't heavily favouring those on the inside, she can chalk up another win over her favourite course and distance.

Streisand looks an each-way player in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m). The Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) winner and Golden Slipper (1200m) runner-up comes into this second-up after things didn't pan out for her at Flemington over 1100m last month, where she carried 59.5kg, settled further back than anticipated off a slow early tempo and was held up around the 400m before only really warming up once the race was all but over. Three-year-old fillies have a strong record in this race and she gets a massive 8.5kg drop in weight from that first-up assignment. She showed last preparation that she can improve sharply with a run under her belt and barrier 8 gives Luke Cartwright options to be positive early and potentially settle outside Jigsaw or just behind the speed. With the fitness improvement and significant weight swing in her favour, she can run a big race.

Warwoven looks the one to beat in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m). The Bjorn Baker-trained colt showed promise as a two-year-old but has clearly returned a better horse this preparation, winning the Run To The Rose (1200m) second-up before dominating his rivals in the Golden Rose (1400m). The son of Sword Of State ran serious time in the process, going 14.5 lengths faster than standard benchmark, around four lengths better than the next-best figure produced by any runner in this field. The Sydney form has proven a strong guide to this race in recent years and barrier 6 should allow him to settle within striking distance in a race that doesn't appear to have an abundance of pressure. He should get every chance to unleash his turn of foot and looks the one they all have to beat.

It's a wide-open Toorak Handicap (1600m) and I'm keen to look for some value with Salty Pearl at double-figure odds. She has had two runs this preparation and does tend to take a couple of starts to find her best, with her latest effort a solid fourth in the Let's Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington. She now returns to Caulfield, where she was a dominant winner over the track and trip when fourth-up during the autumn after the blinkers went on, and they go back on again here. She also produced a career-best performance third-up last preparation when finishing third behind Pondalowie in the Kewney Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, improving around two lengths on her previous benchmark figures. With just 52kg on her back she won't know herself, and she has the tactical speed to settle on pace or within striking distance. In a very open race, she looks a terrific chance at the price.