The Group 1 Memsie Stakes is always an excellent guide toward the rest of the spring and in fact the race has produced nine Cox Plate winners, eight Melbourne Cup winners and five Caulfield Cup winners since 1980.
We have assessed every race on the card at Caulfield this Saturday and our full 2021 Memsie Stakes Day Preview can be viewed below.
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – 12:20PM – Neds Handicap, (2400m)
Bedford has had a very consistent prep so far without winning and his latest effort when third behind Mahamedeis and Pancho looks good form for this event.
The son of Tavistock has had his recent runs spaced out so he comes into this fairly fresh and Jamie Kah will steer from barrier four.
Race 2 – 12:55PM – Benchmark 78 Handicap, (1100m)
Dirty Thoughts has been a very consistent galloper during her short career having placed in seven of nine starts.
She was no match for them in the Lightning Stakes at Morphettville but was excellent when third last start at this track and distance.
This race looks no tougher than that and she has drawn much better in this event and can get a softer run in the opening part of the race.
Race 3 – 1:30pm – Benchmark 90 Handicap, (1400m)
Turaath is only a lightly raced five year old mare but she is progressing through the grades at a very quick rate.
She’s won her last two in a row now including a 3.8 length win at headquarters last start where she dominated her rivals.
This is a tougher task again but she is being asked to carry no more weight and has drawn well in barrier five.
Race 4 – 2:10pm – Group 3 McNeil Stakes, (1200m)
Heresy returned with a really nice second behind the smart Gimme Parr at this track and the filly will take plenty of benefit out of that race.
She attacked the line really well that day and the step up in distance will suit her, as will barrier four.
Looks well placed at set weights in this year’s McNeil Stakes.
Race 5 – 2:50pm – Group 3 The Heath Stakes, (1100m)
Masked Crusader is a genuine sprinting superstar and he can prove that with a big spring campaign starting here in The Heath 1100.
He broke through for his maiden Group 1 win in the William Reid during the autumn and this looks a very winnable race first up.
His trial leading in was superb and with even luck I think he wins.
Race 6 – 3:30pm – Group 3 Cockram Stakes, (1200m)
This is an absolutely cracking edition of the Group 3 Cockram Stakes with some proven and up and coming mares.
La Mexicana has won six of 11 career race starts and although she hasn’t won in two attempts so far this prep, she has not been far away.
She is not well placed at set weights against a proven Group 1 mare in Probabeel but she will have a fitness edge on her and she represents good each way value.
Don’t jump off her just yet. She is a classy mare.
Race 7 – 4:10pm – Listed Heatherlie Stakes, (1700m)
The Listed Heatherlie Stakes ia always a cracking contest with many different formlines to assess and this year is no different.
Angel Of Truth is a horse that doesn’t win out of turn but looks very well placed in this particular event.
His first up run was really good in the P.B Lawrence behind Sierra Sue and although his second up form is only average, I like the fact that the stable has dropped him back to Listed level which is more his go.
The step up in distance suits.
Race 8 – 4:45pm – Group 1 Memsie Stakes, (1400m)
Behemoth profiles as the perfect horse in the 2021 Memsie Stakes as he looks to become the first horse to go back to back in the race since Sunline in 2000/01.
Just like his stature, his first up run at Morphettville was enormous, and I was impressed with the way he picked his big frame back up after Beau Rossa halted his momentum by laying in on him in the straight.
Inspirational Girl is one of the most exciting prospects during this spring and she is a mare with enormous upside.
She showed her excellent turn of foot in both her win in the Group 1 Railway Stakes and Kingston Town late last year and although this may be short of her preferred distance, she will be storming home late with pace on up front.
Race 9 – 5:20pm – Open Handicap, (1400m)
Groundswell is being asked to carry the big weight in the last race of the day at Caulfield but It’s really hard to not be super impressed by his first up win at Flemington.
He was held together during the run perfectly by Damien Lane and found plenty in the long Flemington straight to score by half a length on the line.
He’ll take plenty of benefit from that run and although his record at Caulfield doesn’t read well, it does seem the perfect track for him.