2012 Doveton Stakes Preview & Tips

2012 Doveton Stakes Preview & Tips

Caulfield – Sat 7 January 2012

There is an 8 race program at Caulfield, where the feature event is the Listed $100,000 Robert Taranto Doveton Stakes over 1200 metres. The open handicap has attracted a field of 8 summer sprinters and the topweight is 2011 winner First Command with 59kg, 5 kg more than the rest of the field will carry. The field range in age from four to nine-years-old and the only mare is track specialist Cat’s Pyjamas, who is also the only last-start winner. The track was rated as dead at acceptance time, with fine weather expected before more rain on Saturday. The running rail will be out 4 metres.

Runners in the 2012 Robert Taranto Doveton Stakes

Stirling Grove ($3.40) is a Mossman gelding from Richard Jolly’s Adelaide stables. He has won 6 of his 17 starts and placed 5 times. He has raced twice at Caulfield for a win and a 3^rd, where the 3^rd was behind Black Caviar and Karuta Queen in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes in October. His latest start was 2^nd of 16 behind Down Under Boy over 1400m at Flemington on 5 November. Goes well fresh and is one of the main chances.

First Command ($3.80) is a six-year-old Commands gelding trained by Anthony Freedman who won this race last year. He has won 9 of his 22 starts and has had 8 starts on this track for 5 wins and a 2^nd. He hasn’t raced since 7^th of 17 over 1200m at Flemington on 2 October but has great first-up stats. Has drawn barrier 1 and will be trying to win two years in a row but the weight is a bit of a worry.

Second Effort ($6) is a 1200m specialist with 5 of his 6 wins being at this distance. He strung together 4 consecutive wins during May and June on slow and heavy tracks. He has had one start back from a spell where he ran 5^th of 14 over 1200m at Caulfield on 26 December in the Christmas Stakes won by Zedi Knight. Usually takes a couple of runs to show his best.

Cascabel ($7) has ran 2^nd at his last three starts, all over 1200m. He finished 2^nd behind Translation at Flemington on 10 December, 2^nd behind Zedi Knight at Caulfield on 26 December and 2^nd behind Catapulted in the Group 3 Standish Handicap at Flemington on 2 January. Doesn’t win many but don’t leave him out of the trifectas.

Cat’s Pyjamas ($7) has 5 wins and 3 places from 11 starts. The five-year-old Fusaichi Pegasus mare has 5 starts at Caulfield for 4 wins and won all 3 of her starts here over this distance. Her latest run was a win pover this track and distance in a filloies and mares handicap on 14 December. Has to be rated well here.

Chasm ($11) will be having his first run for Caulfield conditioner Brendan McCarthy after changing trainers from Heath Connors. He hasn’t raced since 6^th of 10 over 1600 at Flemington on 5 November. Is often slowly away from the gates, which doesn’t help his chances.

Jo’s Tips – Doveton Stakes

- Top Tip: (6.) Cat’s Pyjamas
- Danger: (1.) First Command
- Trifecta: (2.) Stirling Grove