THE AUTUMN GETS SERIOUS TODAY

The autumn carnival begins to get serious for us today with three winning chances at Caulfield.

Lady Audrey runs in race two, the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude for 2yo fillies over 1100m with Jamie Kah aboard.

The daughter of Pride Of Dubai finished an excellent second on debut behind Arcaded at Caulfield three weeks ago and Mike Moroney says will present fitter for today’s race.

“I’m anticipating there will be some give in the track early which will help her,” Moroney said.

“She’s got an awkward barrier which will make things difficult, ideally we’d like to take a sit and hopefully she can find a spot.

“She’s done well since the debut run, she’s fitter and worked up with our best worker Des Moines on Tuesday.

“I’ve always thought she’s a stakes class filly and with ordinary luck today I’m sure she will run well.”

Poland (pictured) runs in race four, the Group 2 Autumn Stakes for 3yos over 1400m with Jordan Childs in the saddle and he too has drawn awkwardly in barrier seven in the 10-horse field.

It is the first run for Poland since finishing unplaced in the Caulfield Guineas and the son of So You Think has trained up strongly for today’s race.

“I couldn’t be happier with him and the way he’s trained coming into this but I’m shattered with the barrier,” Moroney said.

“If he goes forward then that might make it tough first-up over 1400m and if we go back than that makes the job harder so we’ll see how the track is playing and leave it up to Jordan.

“Had he drawn a kinder barrier I was confident of him winning but the draw has made things harder, that said I still think he’s good enough to win.”

Des Moines runs in race seven, the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes for mares over 1200m and she too will be ridden by Jordan, jumping from barrier eight.

The five-year-old finished a close second last time out over 1200m at Caulfield and has a gear change for today.

“Her work is excellent as it usually is and I’m happy with her going into it,” Moroney said.

“I’ve added blinkers to her to help her and if she can produce on race day what we see in the morning then she is definitely in this with a chance and if I was a punter I would be having something on her each-way.”

Caught In A Trap is our other runner today when she travels to Yarra Valley to run in race two, the Maiden Plate over 1009m with Jason Lyon to ride.

“She showed speed in her debut run at Pakenham three weeks ago before getting a bit tired in the straight so the drop back in distance should suit,” Moroney said.

“She’s fitter today but drawing the outside barrier isn’t a help. That said she’s there to run well in what looks a solid enough race and I’m expecting her to be competitive.”