Spring action heats up at Caulfield

The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is always one of the best betting races during the spring and the 2016 edition of the race is set to be no exception.

Voodoo Lad is on top of the current 2016 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes betting market and the progressive gelding will face the toughest challenge of his racing career to date in the Group 1 event.

The son of I Am Invincible has not had a race start at 1400 metres since he joined the stable of Darren Weir, but he takes excellent form into the event following his victories in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 13 and the Listed Fruit Supply Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 3.

The x-factor in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes could be Kiwi galloper Xtravagant.

Something went amiss with Xtravagant in the Bobbie Lewis Quality, but he is a horse with a great deal of talent and his recent trial at Cranbourne on Monday was excellent.

Darren Weir has already won two Group 1 events during the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival and he looks set to have the favourite in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

Black Heart Bart was upstaged by stablemate Palentino in the Makybe Diva Stakes, but he has the opportunity to return to winning form in the Underwood Stakes – although he is yet to prove himself over 1800 metres.

The Blackfriars gelding is yet to win a race at a longer distance than 1420 metres, but this will be his first opportunity at the trip since he joined the stable of Darren Weir.

Lucia Valentina looks the main danger to Black Heart Bart and a repeat of her effort to win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the autumn would be enough to win this race.

Trainer Kris Lees has deliberately kept Lucia Valentina fresh following her return to racing in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 20 and she is sure to relish the step-up to 1800 metres.

The other horses that are currently available at single-figure odds are Our Ivanhowe and Awesome Rock.

Doomben Cup winner Our Ivanhowe will also relish the step-up in trip following his fifth place finish in the Makybe Dive Stakes, while Awesome Rock will make his first appearance at the races since he won the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.

This is where the Spring Racing Carnival really gets interesting and the racing only gets better from here!