Track: Soft   Weather: Overcast

A field of nine quality sprinters remain in the $300,000 Schillaci Stakes after the scratching of early favourite Alfa Oro.  Unusually for a Group 2 sprint race there are no last start winners in the field.  Dirty Work has had two good fitness building runs in Sydney and looks set to peak here third up and he is the new favourite for the race.  Diamond Effort loves racing at her home track of Caulfield and can handle all conditions, she is perfectly drawn in barrier nine for Mark Zahra.

Order of Command carried a big weight first up and will appreciate dropping back down to 58.5kg.  Hey Doc is a multiple Group 1 winner, he wasn’t beaten very far in the Group one Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley.  Splintex is another down from Sydney, and Hugh Bowman will partner her, its Hugh’s first day of riding since making the move to Melbourne.  Octane did not have the best of luck last start and can improve here with Jamie Kah aboard.  Bold Star gets back a long way in his races but if he gets the right run can unleash a big sprint.

1. Hey Doc

Not a lot of luck for the rising seven year old at Moonee Valley, stuck out wide on a limb.  He is a multiple group one winner and with a better run in transit he is an each way chance.

2. Jungle Edge

The more rain the better for the 10 year old.  He didn’t have much luck in the Moir but doubt he can match it with this field.

3 Splintex

Not beaten far in his two starts on his home track of Randwick.  Should get a soft run on the fence for Hugh Bowman and a chance to show what he’s got.

4 Order of Command

A terrific horse that always try’s his heart out.  Carries much less weight than he did first up.  Will run an honest race.

5. William Thomas

He was well fancied first up over 1100m.  He made up good ground to be only beaten .85 L.  This is tougher.

6. Bold Star

Craig Williams sticks with Bold Star who he has ridden at all three starts this preparation.  He has a good turn of foot but his racing pattern often leaves him too much to do.  His run at this course and distance first up was the best of the preparation.  If he can reproduce that heis an outside chance.

7. Octane

Octane had won three in a row before Damian Lane found some dead ends at Caulfield three weeks ago.  A soft track will bolster his winning chances.

8. Dirty Work

Dirty Work has worked to the line well in both Sydney runs this preparation.  Draws out wide in barrier 10 but with rain around and a true rail that might be the spot to be.  Can win.

9. Alfa Oro  – SCRATCHED

10. Diamond Effort

The Diamond Effort picket fence was broken in the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley last start.  She didn’t have the best of luck but still ran well there.  This race  back at her home track is more to her liking.  I like her drawn out in barrier nine with Mark Zahra to ride.  Has a great chance in this.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips	Lewis’ Tips
10. Diamond Effort	8. Dirty Work
8. Dirty Work	10. Diamond Effort
7. Octane	6. Bold Star
4. Order of Command	3. Splintex

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	8. Dirty Work
2nd	10. Diamond Effort	0.1 length
3rd	7. Octane	0.3 length
4th	1. Hey Doc	0.8 length

The track was rated as Good 4

Scratchings were 2. Jungle Edge, 5. William Thomas, 9. Alfa Oro (NZL).