Australian Racing: Inez to deliver Hope at Caulfield

There are four meetings scheduled to take place on Monday, including at Caulfield, where they are set to race on the Heath course.

They also race at Bathurst, Cairns and Newcastle.

Race 5 Caulfield Heath

Inez @ 5.50

Race 8 Caulfield Heath

Carbonados @ 4.20

Race 5 Newcastle

Callie Cool @ 6.50

Inez has Hope of Caulfield success

A good 4 track is expected at Caulfield, with the fifth race of the day a 1200m Class 1 handicap contest.

Jamie Melham celebrated a Group 1 win at the weekend and husband Ben is set to partner likely favourite Barbaric Lad here.

The three-year-old lost out by less than half-a-length when runner-up in a 1200m Benchmark 64 handicap at Sale on his penultimate start.

The gelding, who competed with credit in Group company in Queensland as a two-year-old, was beaten just over two lengths when fourth over 1400m at Pakenham last time out.

The blinkers worn as a two-year-old return for this event and, while he holds obvious claims, INEZ is preferred on this occasion.

Trained by Lee & Shannon Hope, the filly registered three consecutive second-place finishes in maiden company in the first three starts of her career.

Those efforts included a defeat by less than half-a-length when contesting a 1300m event on the Hillside track at Sandown in January last year.

The 5.50 pick was stepped up in company next time jumping at $71 when contesting The TAB Vanity, a 1400m Group 3 event at Flemington the following month.

The filly failed to shine that day and it was over 11 months until she made her next race start.

The daughter of Fastnet Rock broke through for her first victory when jumping at short odds for an 1104m maiden at Kilmore last month and she is taken to follow up.

Carbonados to return to winning ways

The finale at Caulfield Heath is an 1100m Benchmark 74 handicap event.

Ciaron Maher is set to saddle Odinson here, with the gelding having registered a good fourth in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes over 1200m at Canberra in March.

The three-year-old has made just two starts since then and he is expected to feature prominently here.

The son of Night Of Thunder made his most recent start when delivering a near three-length victory in the 1200m Quayclean Plate at Doomben at the end of August.

Racing on a soft 5 track the gelding impressed that day and is expected to go well under apprentice Jaylah Kennedy.

CARBONADOS is the selection on this occasion, with the four-year-old seeking the fourth win of his career.

The pick’s most recent success saw him get home by a narrow margin when contesting a 1400m Benchmark 70 handicap held on the synthetic track at Pakenham in August.

Trained by Ben, JD & Will Hayes, the 4.20 gelding is equally at home on turf and he returned from a spell with a close second in a similar race to this over 1200m at Sandown Lakeside last month.

Michael Dee’s mount was beaten by a strong finishing rival on that occasion and that form received a timely boost with the fourth home Capper Thirtynine winning at Colac on Friday.

Callie looking Cool at Newcastle

The fifth race at Newcastle is an 1150m Benchmark 58 handicap restricted to fillies & mares.

A soft 5 track is expected for the race, with Jeremy Sylvester’s CALLIE COOL selected to register back-to-back wins.

The four-year-old came home nearly three lengths clear of her rivals when taking out a seven runner 1000m Class 1 handicap at Tamworth.

The 6.50 filly was partnered by Shannen Llewellyn when racing on a good 4 track that day, however, a wet track is no issue having broken her maiden on a soft 7 at Gunnedah in July last year.

The daughter of Press Statement boasts a good barrier five from the rail here and she looks capable of completing a double.