Caulfield Racing Tips for September 19 – All Signs Point to Barrow in How Now

Here are our best bets from the meeting, which features the Group One Underwood Stakes and the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Quick Finish can make the jump from a synthetic win at Ballarat to Saturday success at Caulfield when she steps out in Race 2. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained filly led throughout over 1500m last month, crossing over to take up the running and setting a solid tempo before cruising home to score by a couple of lengths. This is a step up in grade, but the majority of her rivals are also coming out of weaker races and remain relatively unproven. The daughter of Grunt went 0.5 lengths slower than standard benchmark in her win, which is a better figure than any of her rivals in this race have produced. What appeals most is her ability to take up the running in a race that lacks obvious pressure, which is often a recipe for success at Caulfield in smaller fields. The rise to 1800m should pose no problems, and she is a clear top pick.

Going with Blind Raise in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude. The exciting galloper from the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable has won three of his four career starts and was dominant when taking out the McKenzie Stakes at Sandown last time, defeating Wolf Gap. He has been a slight firmer since acceptances on Wednesday and recorded a figure 10.6 lengths faster than standard benchmark in that win, which is the best last-start figure of any runner in this race. The son of Ace High comes into this second-up and improved by six lengths on benchmark figures at the same stage of his previous preparation when winning the ANZAC Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington ahead of Profligate. He has good early speed and should be able to settle in a prominent position despite drawing barrier nine. Blake Shinn takes the ride and strikes at 27% for the stable.

Point Barrow can run over the top of them in the Group 3 How Now Stakes. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained mare drops back from the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) and looks to have a class edge on her rivals. She was well beaten in the Moir after a slow start proved costly in a race that was run at a pedestrian tempo early, but she did make some ground late to finish five lengths from the winner. The four-year-old followed a similar path last autumn, improving from a fifth placing in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) to an impressive win against the fillies when dropping back to Group 3 company at Caulfield. She has had two starts at the track and distance for two wins and looks well placed under the set weights conditions. Settling back is always a risk, but the tempo should be red-hot with Stardom, Bridal Waltz and Shadhavar all likely to push forward. Expect her to be saved for one final crack at them, and with the race set up to suit, she should be hard to hold out.

Lindermann can make every post a winner in the Group One Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield. The Chris Waller-trained gelding returned to winning form with an all-the-way victory in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 5 and looks set to enjoy a similar scenario here. He draws barrier one with Blake Shinn aboard and should be able to dictate terms in a small field that lacks an obvious rival for the lead. The seven-year-old was narrowly beaten by Aeliana in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes when third-up last preparation, finishing ahead of Sir Delius, before chasing that galloper home in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He has an excellent third-up record, the rise to 1800m suits, and with key rivals Cosmic Crusader and Birdman likely to settle behind him, he should prove extremely difficult to run down.