A good day for readers again on Wednesday, with Canossa winning well. Saturday sees the racing action heat up again, with a very interesting card at Caulfield along with a 2yo race at Ascot we are very excited about.

The field for Race 6 at Caulfield on Saturday. Full fields and form available at http://www.risa.com.au/

Caulfield Race 6 — Manfred Stakes 3yo SWP (1200m)

Wow, what a cracking race and this really is the first sign that the Autumn Carnival is well and truly on our doorstep. This Manfred Stakes (1200m) brings together such an array of different formlines and really does see some of the most hyped horses in the country do battle.

The speed map is crucial with just eight runners to greet the starter. 7 HARD STRIDE possesses the best tactical speed of this lot and does look the logical leader. 8 WORTH A RANSOM and 1 FAST ‘N’ ROCKING should be able to drop into a lovely trailing spots just behind the speed and 4 BULL POINT with the blinkers back on is capable of showing more early toe and sitting at the leader’s flank (although he was slightly slowly away again in a recent trial). The start is crucial with 2 THE QUARTERBACK as he has missed the kick in all three of his starts, but the outside draw is advantageous for him and he may well settle one out, one back provided he jumps cleanly. 5 PRINCE HARADA lacks any form of early speed and he will likely be out the back early.

5 PRINCE HARADA has been much hyped by trainer Tony Vasil but the scoreboard says this 3yo son of Haradsun failed to register a win last campaign and now is the time for him to step up. He chased 1 FAST ‘N’ ROCKING first up last time in over this track and distance but was 2L from the winner on that occasion. He was better suited when stepping up to the 1400m of the Group 1 Golden Rose, but he was afforded very few favours when running fifth behind the brilliant Zoustar. His most recent run prior to spelling was sixth in the Caulfield Guineas.

5 PRINCE HARADA’S jumpout last Tuesday suggested he has come back in career-best order and he looks set for a career defining campaign. The Trial Files commented: “PRINCE HARADA flopped out of the gates and was allowed to find his feet early, but between the 600m and the 400m he pulled his way through the field and was up challenging BRILILANT BISC in the twinkling of an eye. These two drew away to fight out the heat but PRINCE HARADA had a panel on the Moody runner and he has come back in super order. Would be looking for a Cadbury Guineas market and taking any price north of 8/1 about the Vasil runner.”

He has come up the $3 favourite for tomorrow’s race, which does look skinny for a horse who will be improved as the distances increase. Can he win? Yes. Could we take the $3? No. 5 PRINCE HARADA will get back and given we have backed him in pre-post markets for the 1600m Australian Guineas we are keen to see him hitting the line with gusto.

2 THE QUARTERBACK trialled enormously before taking the racing world by storm in two emphatic wins last campaign, albeit at Bairnsdale and Sale. His wins were totally arrogant. Make no mistake, this horse is a super talent and he definitely has the potential to deliver Robbie Griffiths his first Group 1 victory. Although the son of Street Boss is being forced to give weight to the likes of 4 BULL POINT and 5 PRINCE HARADA without ever winning a city race, he is most certainly capable of winning this race first up.

6 MONKSTONE is another horse we highlighted at the recent Caulfield jumouts: “MONKSTONE went super here. He ambled around outside of SHAMAL WIND and went equally as well as the winner. He was disappointing in the Exford Stakes at Flemington before going for a spell but it would appear we will see the best of him this time in. Keen to follow and another who might be worth a sprinkle in the Guineas when markets are up.”

6 MONKSTONE was slow to begin and arguably unlucky not to finish closer to the brilliant Lord of the Sky at his debut back in July over 1000m. He then returned to Caulfield a fortnight later and absolutely bolted in over the same 1200m course he will face tomorrow. He is another colt we have highlighted as over the odds in the Australian Guineas and a very forward showing first up is expected.

When all is said and done, the Manfred Stakes will be a brilliant racing spectacle but from a punting perspective it shapes as a very tough assignment. For the sake of tipping, and for those who like a quaddie we have provided our top four selections:

2 THE QUARTERBACK
6 MONKSTONE
4 BULL POINT
5 PRINCE HARADA

The field for Race 1 at Ascot on Saturday. Full fields and form available at http://www.risa.com.au/

Ascot Race 1 — Westspeed 2yo Plate (1000m)

To say we are excited about this race is an understatement. The three best two-year-olds to go through the trials to date all clash here in what will be a guide to the feature two-year-old races in WA over the Autumn.

The two best juvenile winners to date, 2 SILVER TRACE and 1 PALACE INTRUDER, meet here in what is no doubt only the start of many clashes over the coming months. Both showed dazzling speed on debut when each winning by over four lengths.

Add to this duo, 6 REBEL KING, who has been absolutely brilliant at both of his trials to date and has the blinkers on for his debut here.

These are the three best two-year-olds we have seen this year and today looks a mouth-watering clash.

The key to this race will be the tactics as the three horses mentioned above, along with 3 CASTLE RETREAT, who is a very talented horse himself, will all be looking to lead, if possible. The way the barriers have fallen, we think 1 PALACE INTRUDER will lead with 2 SILVER TRACE outside it, with 3 CASTLE RETREAT third on the fence and 6 REBEL KING in the ideal position in fourth. The sparks will fly and it should be a great spectacle.

It would not surprise us if this race contained all the placegetters for both the Magic Millions and the Karrakatta Plate, being the WA two year old features. While we aren’t recommending a strong play in this race, sit back and enjoy four very talented youngsters going at it, and take note for the Autumn WA features.

The Trial Files’ selections
for this Saturday’s racing

At HUGE odds – Caulfield Race 3, No.6 HAWKING ($41): Impressed in a recent Caulfield jumpout and has SA gun Jamie Kah in the pigskin. Can put himself in the race early and prove hard to catch late.

The shorty – Caulfield Race 7, No.12 LORD OF THE SKY ($2.25): A Trial Files favourite who has drawn ideally to either set the tempo or duck in for a trail. A progressive son of Danerich who should be winning again on the way to greater riches.

The first starter — Rosehill Race 4, No.4 BRAZEN BEAU (each way) – Trialled every bit as good as stablemate DELECTATION and gets 1kg off him. Can run well on debut.

The Trial Files is a unique and revolutionary trial service that gives punters a vital edge over the competition through the thorough analysis of Vic, NSW and WA barrier trials. Subscribe to receive full Trial Files membership access which includes previous and ongoing trial reviews, BlackBook Previews and other important trial information. Follow the Trial Files on Twitter @thetrialfiles