Flemington Racing Tips
Track: Good 4. Rail: Out 3m entire circuit.
Best Bet: Race 7 – ETYMOLOGY
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Race 1: 2YO Fillies Plate 1000m
Impossible to bet with any confidence here with all but two of the 13 baby girls facing the starter for the first time. Up the straight makes it even more difficult, LADY NATURALISTE (2) looks the best of the two that have been to the races previously. Look for any money for ENOOD (3), ITALIAN WITNESS (5) and FOR LOVE (4) all on debut.
Race 2: 3&4YO BM78 Handicap 1400m
MR MONEYBAGS (1) is a last start winner here at the track, he has the big weight to carry today after that super win in easier grade. He was forced to sit wide without cover, that is not an easy ask around the long sweeping bend here at the 1400m. He doesn’t draw well again, but he looks to have the class edge, just a matter of getting cover and carrying the weight.
Dangers:
LONG LEAF (2) is very consistent but has failed to breakthrough with a win this campaign in five attempts. He maps well and gets the good claim and should be in the finish. BEACON (5) was hitting the line nicely last time but was entitled to the way the race was run. SOCIAL SPIN (6) was super in defeat last time here after sitting wide, this is harder but he draws to get the right run and may lead for a long way.
Race 3: 3&4YO BM70 Handicap 1800m
FIVE KINGDOM (1) has not missed a place at his 6 career starts, he was having his first look at the track here last time after winning his first two runs since resuming. He settled mid-field, improved wide on the turn before running on well through the line. He gets out again in trip, this for the first time out to 1800m which should suit.
Dangers:
SEAS NO LIMIT (4) will be fitter for his first-up run at Caulfield, he was well back and flashed home and although he officially was 4th, he was beaten less than a length. He placed right out to 2400m last campaign so the trip is no concern and was a winner at his only other second-up attempt. PHONEME (3) gets the horrible draw and would have been near the top of the selections had he drawn better. He will get back anyway, look for him late. NAIVASHA (11) comes through the same formline as a few of these, he ran on well before hitting the lead last time only to be run over late.
Race 4: Fillies and Mares BM70 Handicap 1400m
CASH AFFAIR (8) is very consistent, she has been runner-up and only by small margins at both runs this time in. She is likely to get back from the wide gate but if she gets the right cart into it, she should be finishing hard.
Dangers:
It looks a very open race on paper as you would expect with these fillies and mares races at the lower level. PALMATEER (7) was super in defeat las time after copping some interference mid-race that may have cost her the race. LADY CROMAC (6) has been in work for a long time but is still racing well, she will find this a lot easier than her last start runner-up effort at Caulfield where she ran on hard from the back. HAY NOW (1) has an eight next her name in the form-guide but her last start effort was better than that. She will find this easier and was only beaten a length and a half.
Race 5: BM70 Handicap 2000m
RIPPLEBROOK (1) has been in work for a long time but is racing so consistently. His is a little harder than his last start win at 64 grade, he was forced to work early on that occasion at a short quote but booted clear into the straight for a dominant win. He carried 61 kg that day so can carry the weight and Williams goes on which is a plus.
Dangers:
PRINCE ZIGGY (5) has won two in a row in easier class than this. He likes to race up on the speed and the jock should have all the options early from the good gate. BOUFFON (6) has also won his last couple, the first of those was by a huge margin, admittedly in a much weaker field htan this. If they go hard early he will be the one finishing better than the rest. SAVAHEAT (2) is dropping in grade atfer only an even effort here last time, he had his chance that day but was a little one-paced but this should be an easier assignment.
Race 6: Standish Handicap 1200m
It was hard not to be impressed by the way that THEANSWERMYFRIEND (1) returned to the racetrack last time at Pakenham. He sat outside the speed, put the leader away early in the straight and although tiring late, was way too classy. He flies up the straight and should look the winner at some stage up on the speed.
Dangers:
ILLUSTRIOUS LAD (2) is a last start winner at Listed level across in SA, he was favoured with the tempo of the race suiting those up on the speed. He draws down low which is a little concern, but he should be right on the leaders heels and ready to pounce at the furlong pole. CALL ME HANDSOME (5) is resuming, he probably wants further but if they do go hard early, we have seen before horses resuming over an unsuitably shorter trip can storm over the top in these 1200m straight six events. FIRST AMONG EQUALS (3) has the inside draw but that might not be the place to be at this stage of the day, he was ok last time up he came up the straight and has been given a 6-week freshen up.
Race 7: Bagot Handicap 2800m
ETYMOLOGY (3) was a brilliant last start winner here, he had been putting the writing on the wall at his previous runs and was crying out to be given the chance to get out in trip. He absolutely ate up the ground late for a dominant win, gets out again and should relish it. This looks no harder and a similar dominant performance wouldn’t surprise.
Dangers:
CHAPAL (14) is on the quick back-up from Saturday when he was ok at the Valley, he looks better suited around here and should be running on hard. OUR BIG MIKE (1) won the Pakenham Cup at his last start, he will be trying to lead for a long way, that last furlong he will be walking though. BERISHA (2) comes through the same race as the top selection, he has to turnaround a 5-length margin from that day but the extra distance should assist.
Race 8: BM70 Handicap 1600m
LAURE ME IN (3) was a total forget run at Caulfield a week ago, he was well back in the run, was running on hard until hitting a roadblock at the furlong marker and never getting a crack at them over the concluding stages. He probably should have a 1 next to his name on the form-guide, just needs a cart into it here.
Dangers:
BAD WOLF (2) draws well to get an economical run, the jock will either look to lead or take a sit from the good draw. He has been up for a long time but is racing consistently. BOXACHOCOLATES (1) has 2kg come off the big weight with the claim, he was outclassed here last time a fortnight ago but drops a stack in grade into this and gets the blinkers back on again. SILVERHAWK (8) has won two in a row up on the speed, he will go forward again but just looks a bit vulnerable if he has to sit and face the breeze.