Punters are right to back a sharper Mahuta in Saturday’s 2016 P.B. Lawrence Stakes according to jockey Brad Rawiller.

Mahuta can improve second-up getting over his pet distance in the 2016 P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield according to jockey Brad Rawiller. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Rawiller retains the ride on Darren Weir’s smart Flying Spur stallion second-up this weekend at
Caulfield Racecourse where the four-year-old jumps favourite in the $200,000 Group 2 Back To Caulfield P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m).

Last time out Rawiller guided the six-time winner to a third behind fellow P.B. Lawrence Stakes hopeful Lord Of The Sky in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m).

That was the up-and-comer’s first run since a disappointing 14^th behind the fellow Weir-trained Palentino, who resumes for the stable in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) with Rawiller aboard on Saturday, in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).

Before the Caulfield Guineas loss Mahuta was in flying form posting a string of wins together including the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) last November and the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) first-up at Caulfield this February.

Mahuta is best known however for his Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas win in January, which has provided the bulk of his current $1.7 million in career earnings.

Up to 1400m on Saturday is the big advantage however as the galloper is undefeated over the distance with a perfect four-from-four record heading into the P.B. Lawrence Stakes.

Rawiller believes the extra metres and the improvement out of the Bletchingly should be enough to see Mahuta home first on the weekend.

“I rode him at Casterton on Monday, I’m very happy with him, he has drawn well, the 1400m looks a good race for him,” he told Racing Victoria.

“He was terrific last start, he was always going to be improved on the run, we were hoping he would be sharper with that run under his belt, looking forward to Saturday to seeing where he is at.”

Mahuta’s biggest danger according to the bookies is Suavito at $4.80 to post her fifth win from eight starts over the 1400m at Caulfield.

Nigel Blackiston’s mare is a dual Group 1 winner over the track and distance including her first-up CF Orr Stakes success back in February.

While her latest run left a bit to be desired when 11^th to Azkadellia in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 9, Blackiston is willing to forgive her that run on an unsuitable wet track.

Back at Caulfield the Thorn Park mare should be harder to stop as she has a stellar record at the track (8-4-1-3), over the distance (10-4-2-3) and she is also a first-up flyer with three wins, a second and a third from five resuming runs to date.

Suavito will be ridden by Michael Walker on Saturday after jockey Damien Oliver turned down the ride in favour of a run on the Danny O’Brien-trained Miss Rose De Lago from the inside alley.

Miss Rose De Lago has won three of her four Caulfield runs and chases her first win since the Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley in late March where she defeated Noble Protector by two and three-quarter lengths.

She is at a current quote of $8 in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes markets, full odds and exclusive betting offers open online now at Ladbrokes.com.au!