The big guns are on the way back with stakes racing at Caulfield this weekend a little appetiser for a big few months ahead.
Away from the stakes races there are several interesting betting handicaps and the seventh on the card has caught our interest with the Anthony Freedman-trained Bedford very appealing off his twilight win last time.
Caulfield was the second time we have seen Bedford at 2000m (ran second at 2100m) for as many wins and both of them have resulted in wide margins of victory and strong ratings against the clock.
The latest was very strong against the clock and promised more to come. He faces a sterner test on Saturday but in reality he is the one that the rest have to measure themselves again on the strength of his latest win.
Willi Willi is a horse going the right way, and looks the biggest threat, but on evidence to date Bedford is at least as talented and probably better. Plus he gets a pull at the weights here to tilt things in his favour.
Race five is a very competitive handicap over 1100m where the unbeaten Eurack and the talented Handsome Thief head the betting.
There are reasons why both could be below their absolute best here and that opens the door for the admittedly limited, but fit and flying, Bob Of the Head to take some stopping.
He's run to the peak of his powers at his latest couple in races that have rated well for their class. He's fit, will press on from the wide draw, gets the gun jock and all in all shapes as a solid each way play around the $10.00 mark.
THE MELBOURNE MAIL
Bet Of The Day: Race 7 #9 Bedford @ $2.25
Each Way Play: Race 5 #11 Bob Of The Head @ $10.00
