Caulfield Guineas 2015: Lizard Island Good Enough To Win

Pat Hyland has Lizard Island in the 2015 Caulfield Guineas field and the veteran trainer is confident that the promising colt is good enough to win the Group 1 event at Caulfield on Saturday.

Blake Shinn has been booked to ride Lizard Island in the 2015 Caulfield Guineas at Caulfield tomorrow. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett

Blake Shinn has been booked to ride Lizard Island in the 2015 Caulfield Guineas at Caulfield tomorrow. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett

Lizard Island showed that he was a horse with plenty of promise when he finished second behind My Poppette in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on April 25, but he made a poor start to his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign when he missed the start badly and finished sixth behind Ability in the Andersons Removals Maiden Plate (1105m) at Sale on August 13.

The Sebring colt produced an improved performance when he finished third at Sandown on August 26 and he finished a tough second behind Bon Aurum in the Listed Pin And Win Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 12 before he returned to winning form in impressive fashion at Pakenham on September 23.

Hyland has been happy with each of Lizard Island’s performances this preparation and he believes that the three-year-old has enough improvement left in him to win the 2015 Caulfield Guineas.

“All of his runs have been very good,” Hyland told RSN.

“He is a very promising horse, I like him very much and I think that he will run pretty super in the Guineas.

“He is the best colt that I have had for a long time.”

Lizard Island produced the best performances of his racing career to date when he was settled close to the speed and Hyland believes that the colt will likely be settled in the first four in the Caulfield Guineas field, but he admits that he is happy to leave the riding instructions up to talented hoop Blake Shinn.

“I think that he will naturally race close,” Hyland said.

“He has nice speed and he has drawn an alley.

“I would say that he will be in the first four or five depending on what they do in the race.

“He has that horse of Hayes’ drawn one and I think it will probably go forward.

“That is Blake’s job.”

Lizard Island is currently available at 2015 Caulfield Guineas odds of $26 with Ladbrokes, while Press Statement ($2.70) remains a clear favourite from Ready For Victory ($8), Dal Cielo ($9.50), Tarzino ($12), Tulsa ($12) and Bassett ($13).

Don’t miss out on the best Caulfield Guineas odds that are available with Ladbrokes, who are offering best tote or starting price + 20% on every single race at Caulfield this weekend.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.