The Rupert Clarke & Thousand Guineas feature as we wrap up Melbourne’s Group 1 Spring.
Playing in the pointy end on Saturday and found it hard to go past Coleman in the Blue Sapphire Stakes, now run over 1400m.
He's had a mixed prep without winning but just looks so well placed at the set weights here having run to ratings of 112-110-110-108 at this campaign.
Two starts back he ran on strongly for second to Coolmore winner Switzerland, actually running a slightly quicker final 600m than that horse. Coleman was okay in the Coolmore but I think back to Caulfield and out to 1400m really suits.
He's looked like a 1400m horse all preparation and rates well clear of anything in this field. Pisces is the danger having run on well behind Bittercreek fresh, who was then 0.4 lengths behind Coleman in the Coolmore.
Pisces will be suited out to 1400m as well but has to improve a few lengths to rate alongside Coleman, who I think could improve slightly again up in trip.
The other best of the day comes up in the Thousand Guineas where Aeliana rates clear and looks a very easy bet to have.
She won the Carbine Club by three lengths last start in a high rating win (111 on the RAS scale) than stablemate Fangirl in the same race.
Her time was 14 pounds faster than Zeitung winning the Prelude on the same day and she's already rated up to a typical recent Thousand Guineas winner. She's still on the up and Waller has won the past two editions of this race.
I think she's a bit better than these and with a red-hot McDonald on, she clearly looks the one to beat and can be marked shorter.
The Melbourne Mail
Race 4 #1 Coleman at $2.70
Race 7 #2 Aeliana at $3.75
