Best Bets – Saturday 21st March

It’s hard to look past JIMMYSSTAR here in the William Reid Stakes after drawing the pole. He is a first-up specialist winning five out of seven starts, and he just loves the Caulfield circuit. Mark Zahra jumps on board after a winning jump-out on him at Cranbourne and he certainly looks like the one to beat even with many nice horses in the race.

PLANET RED looks like the best bet of the day’s racing. Coming from well back in the field in the Australian Guineas at Flemington, the horse was beaten by only half a length by Observer and finished ahead of the impressive Sixties too. He should relish the rise in trip today and he should be winning this Group 2 event. 

MAKE A CALL looked unlucky not to finish closer last time out here. He was well back in the field and didn’t look comfortable in the soft going, but he got going late and finished off nicely. In this small field, he shouldn’t be too far off them today after drawing barrier 2 and could easily camp on them early. He has a brilliant sprint in him and could easily run over them late. 

Giving FACUNDO one more chance after he looked the winner in the run last time but could only manage a grinding 4th at the finish behind Bundewlla. He rises to 1400m today, a distance where he has never missed out on a cheque. Jasper Franklin is on board and gets a 2kg claim, so he does appear to tick a few boxes to bounce back into the winner’s circle. 

Although ESSENTRIC NATURE hasn’t faced listed company before, he looks well-placed here at the weights to impact this race today. Last start, he got well back in the field at Bunbury and sprouted wings late to grab second at the line. Having drawn low, he should get good cover in this race and if Lucy Fiore can find a clear passage in the straight, this boy can get over the top of them without any surprises, at a decent price.