Bletchingly Stakes: Pro punter preview

It’s Bletchingly Stakes time… as the last Group race in Melbourne for the racing season, the Bletchingly Stakes is one of Victorian racing’s winter highlights and a sign that Spring Racing is actually not far away! The first Group 1 races of the new season, the Winx Stakes and the Memsie Stakes, are little over a month away.

The Bletchingly Stakes is a Group 3 weight-for-age race held over 1200 metres at Caulfield Racecourse.

Bletchingly Stakes 2021 Preview

Professional punter Trevor Lawson runs us through the field for the 2021 Bletchingly Stakes. Members of Trevor’s Melbourne Ratings membership receive his speed maps and full set of rated prices for all Melbourne metro meetings, allowing them to bet to value.

The rail is out at four metres for this meeting. It was in the true last time, but they got off the fence a fair bit. So we’ll see how much the track is marked up on the inside here.

STREETS OF AVALON resumes here. He’s a good consistent horse but needs the track no worse than a Soft 5. The softer the track, the more his chance diminish.

VIRIDINE got a long way back last start before rattling home behind Red Can Man. Can improve here out to 1200 metres. He’s drawn out so the pattern on the day will be critical… they’ll need to be able to run on for him to have his best chance.

ORDER OF COMMAND was held first-up and a bit disappointing late. He can run better here second-up. He’s drawn inside so the pattern of the day will play a part.

Damien Oliver chases his fourth Bletchingly Stakes from the past six years on Saturday. 🤩@MelbRacingClub @RacingVictoria

— Racing.com (@Racing) July 22, 2021

BRAVE SONG is first-up here. I prefer others.

RED CAN MAN put in a really good effort here last start, but that was on a better track. Form suggests that he doesn’t want a track worse than a Soft 6.

ISAURIAN was fair first-up. He’s better suited here back around a corner, and gets Kah on. He’s another one who doesn’t wait it worse than a Soft 6.

WILLIAM THOMAS races well here over this trip, but this is a different class. Yet another who will want it drier.

THE ASTROLOGIST is racing well and has won his past two down the straight. He looks the leader and handles all ground.

SANSOM (NZ) resumes here. He’s drawn out and another who prefers it a bit drier. Rough chance.

I didn’t think SECRET BLAZE, INN KEEPER or I AM SOMEONE are good enough to feature here.

For mine, VIRIDINE and RED CAN MAN are on top. As you can see from the comments, the prevailing pattern of the day and the track conditions will play a part, particularly for Red Can Man… if it gets into the Soft range, he could drift.