TWO WINNING CHANCES ON SATURDAY

We send Rainbow Thief and Buffalo River to race at Caulfield today.

Rainbow Thief runs in race two, the Benchmark 78 Handicap over 1400m with Jamie Kah in the saddle and to jump from barrier 13 after scratchings.

Rainbow Thief was run off his feet first-up at Listed level over 1200m at Moonee Valley however, on a more forgiving surface today and out in distance Mike Moroney is anticipating a better showing.

“I think the rain has passed us but there should be some nice give in it now,” Moroney said.

“We’ve taken the norton bit off and put the crossover noseband on. He’s taken good improvement from the first-up run and I was particularly pleased with his work on Tuesday.

“The draw is the problem, I’d say you can't go forward from out there but we’ll leave it up to Jamie, she’s had a ride on him now and she’ll know what to do.

“He’s relaxing better in his races now and had he drawn a nice barrier I’d have been confident but from where he is he will need some luck.”

Buffalo River (pictured) runs for the first time this preparation in race five, the Open Handicap over 1400m with Damien Oliver riding and unfortunately he too has drawn awkwardly in barrier eight in the nine-horse field.

“We’re really happy with him going into this and his work was terrific on Tuesday,” Moroney said.

“He’s as well as we can have him first-up and the softening track is in his favour.

“The only concern I have is the barrier but if he can get across without too much effort then I think he be hard to beat.”