One of the Group 2 support acts on Melbourne’s Caulfield Cup Day program this Saturday sees a class field of mares face off in the 2015 Tristarc Stakes, betting tips for the clash detailed below.

There are 13 mares in the mix for this year’s $200,000 Group 2 Schweppes Tristarc Stakes (1400m), set to run as Caulfield Race 8 at 4:55pm (AEST) one event before the Caulfield Cup steals the show.

Clear favourite in Tristarc Stakes betting through Ladbrokes.com.au, where on Races 1 – 5 this Caulfield Cup Day punters can enjoy an Extra 50% on their very first fixed odds winner, is the Chris Waller-trained Catkins ($3.20).

She was third past the post behind Sweet Idea 12 months ago before her third again next start at Flemington in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m), the Derby Day mile classic on the agenda for the best out of Saturday’s official lead-up.

Last Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival Waller’s great daughter of Dubawi came into the Tristarc on the back of a second in the Group 3 Golden Pendant (1400m) in Sydney, a race she ran fifth in this year as the beaten odds-on favourite.

She’s out for atonement on Saturday then and if she’s back to her best she’ll be hard to beat at set weights plus penalties.

The bookies rate her biggest danger as Sabatini ($6) who is the only other single figure hopes in the current Tristarc Stakes odds, the Lee & Shannon Hope-trained Street Cry four-year-old coming off a first-up win over 1100m at the track on September 26.

So will the first two in betting run the Tristarc Stakes quinella or is there value further down the markets from the likes of Waller’s recent Let’s Elope Stakes winner Amicus ($10), Gregers ($10) who hasn’t won a race since the Cockram in August last year or early market mover Scarlet Billows ($19 into $15) coming off a brave fourth to Chautauqua in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) from October 4?

1^st

#2 Catkins ($3.20)

She was odds-on in the Golden Pendant last time but disappointed when fifth beaten over three lengths. She’s at a more backable price here looking to return to form, and if she’s back to the real Catkins she’ll earn back the love of the punters. She has had just two Caulfield runs before for a win and a third, and while she’s better over the mile her record at this distance also isn’t bad (10-1-4-2). Won the Sheraco Stakes first-up and dropping to 57.5kg from 58kg, meeting most of her rivals equal, is a big advantage. Damien Oliver will give her a gun ride and all going well she’ll be first past the post.

2^nd

#1 Amicus ($10)

Waller’s other runner carries the 58.5kg top weight, which is tough, but she carried 58kg to victory from barrier 13 of 16 two back in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1200m) before the Sir Rupert Clarke 16^th. Forgive that Group 1 run from an outside alley, she’ll be better back against her own kind at the same track and distance this weekend where she has a good record (3-0-2-0). Group 1 winner at the track as a three-year-old in October last year and can be in the finish behind her stablemate with luck.

3^rd

#13 Scarlet Billows ($15)

Early money is coming for Darren Weir’s improving daughter of Street Boss who is drawn to win in gate four. She’s been well-beaten in a string of runs before showing her real class when fourth only 1.3 lengths off superstar Chautauqua in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) last time out. She gets in well in the weights with 55kg here, and while she’s get to finish in the money at this track or distance from three previous attempts at / over both, she is on the improve and can surprise.

Get behind our Tristarc Stakes 2015 betting selections or your own tips online now at Ladbrokes.com.au and enjoy access to Best Tote or SP + 20% markets on all the races on the program this Saturday!