HORSE RACING

This week I will step aside from the footy and focus a little on the first of the traditional lead up races, the Liston Stakes at Caulfield.

At first glance I was taken back at the class of entries in the race.

The Melbourne Racing Club must be thrilled at the calibre of horse in not only this race but the entire meeting at Caulfield.

Those of you haven’t had the opportunity to meet my acquaintance, it is safe to say that when the class horses parade you are sure to find me getting the good oil around the trials, training tracks around the place.

Not to mention my regular shuffle to and from Sydney’s Carnival.

So you can be sure that if it is happening in Racing, I am all over it.

Below is the race and summary of how I believe the race should pan out.

Caulfield Race 6 - 3:40pm (EST)
Liston Stakes 1400m

1 - LAD OF THE MANOR (NZ) Roger Hoysted - G Childs 12 - 58 kg
2 - OUR SMOKING JOE Lee Freedman - N Callow 14 - 58 kg
3 - ABOVE DECK Jim Conlan - M J Zahra 9 - 58 kg
4 - SHOW BARRY John Rattle - D Dunn 5 - 58 kg
5 - ACTIVATION (NZ) Graeme Rogerson - S W Arnold 11 - 58 kg
6 - DE BEERS (NZ) David Hayes - C Williams 13 - 57.5 kg
7 - RED DAZZLER Mick Price - S Baster 7 - 57.5 kg
8 - MINSON Michael Hibbs - D Oliver 3 - 57.5 kg
9 - SPINNEY John Hawkes - B Shinn 8 - 57.5 kg
10 - THIN AND CRISPY Peter G Moody - L Nolen 2 - 57.5 kg
11 - MAYBE BETTER Brian Mayfield-Smith - C Newitt 1 - 57.5 kg
12 - ZIGOTTO Barry Barnes - M Flaherty 10 - 57.5 kg
13 - POMPEII RULER Mick Price -N Rawiller 6 - 57.5 kg
14 - SERENADE ROSE Lee Freedman -Steven King 4 - 55 kg

This years Liston Stakes is fabulous.

I see not much speed on in the race.

Most probably the unbeaten Minson should lead from Activation and Zigotto.

Red Dazzler to take a trail.

While Maybe Better from the his inside barrier should be behind the leaders.

Lad of the Manor should push forward mid-race and getting a cart- up in the race should be De Beers and Show Barry.

Serenade Rose should be in a lovely spot somewhere off the fence.

Look for the finishes of Spinney, Above Deck and Our Smoking Joe as they will be trailing the field as they turn for home.

Keep an eye on Pompeii Ruler from a Cups point of view.

I would think he would be finding the line over the last 100m or so.

Straightening up Minson and Activation should have a fight on their hands from Red Dazzler, while Maybe Better would try and gain a rails run passage inside of them.

This is where it gets interesting as is usual in first up horses it wouldn’t at all surprise me if Lad of the Manor rallied with them towards the 200m mark.

My guess is he might find Serenade Rose sprouting wings the last little bit and blousing him and the many late flashy runs from horses such as De Beers, Spinney, Thin and Crispy and possibly Above Deck and Our Smoking Joe.

Prediction:

Serenade Rose

Lad of the Manor

Red Dazzler

Roughie:

Our Smoking Joe

... Hope the photos go your way!

A regular on the airwaves on Melbourne's SEN 1116am and contributor for FutureSports, Nic Evans contributes to SportsAustralia.com each Friday with his guide to the best bets for the weekend.