It does not get any better than Super Saturday at Flemington this weekend with the Australian Cup and Newmarket Handicap set to be run and won.
Fifty Stars and September Run head the market for the two main races on the card but The Wizard of Odds has found a runner at big odds that could upset his stablemate in the Newmarket.
Flemington Race 1 - thoroghbred breeders stakes
#3 la rocque
She was a super debutant winner at Pakenham just over a month ago after a beaut steer by Jamie Mott.
The victory was that of a horse who clearly has a stack of ability as she led easily, cornered well, pinged away at the stop of the straight and held off her challengers to win by just under two lengths.
Interesting that the stallion chain goes on for the first time here which suggests she might be a bit of a flighty filly who needs a calming influence on race day and during her races.
There also has been a bit of market support for the Graeme Begg-trained first starter Live In Hope.
The two-year-old filly by Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, has had a jumpout at Caulfield and an official trial at Cranbourne, both of which she placed under light riding.
Suggested Bet: La Rocque $1.8
Suggested Exotic: Quinella – 3 & 7
flemington race 2 - lexus melbourne cup tour
#8 miss inbetween
After running midfield in the Typhoon Tracy Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley first-up on February 19, Miss Inbetween now finds herself in a much more suitable race.
She was dragged back by Michael Walker and basically given no hope upon resumption but now gets a big jockey change with Craig Williams hopping in the saddle.
The map looks much more favourable here.
Despite being drawn wide, she can press forward to lead comfortably or sit much handier to the pace than last start and hopefully pinch a gap on the favourite Annavisto who will be charging home late.
Suggested Bet: Miss Inbetween $5.5
Suggested exotic: Trifecta – 7, 8/ 7, 8/ 5, 7, 8
flemington race 3 - furphy ale march stakes
#7 holbien
William Pike elects to keep the ride on Holbien after piloting him to a brave second behind Morvada last weekend.
The pair pop up again here on the seven-day back up and look to get complete ownership of the lead on the speed map.
Odeum is the clear and obvious danger in this race but she might be bailed away inside of runners from barrier one and might need the run to bring her on from a fitness perspective.
Holbien has the advantage of being rockhard fit and a favourable speed map position over her.
Suggested Bet: Holbien $5.5
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 1, 5, & 7
FLEMINGTON RACE 4 - Miss Security Sires' produce
#10 hitotsu
His only two career runs to date have come in the Blue Diamond Prelude and the Blue Diamond where he finished unplaced but his efforts have been more than feasible for a race like this.
The pace of those sprinting races look to have seen him left chasing too far out.
His first two starts he seemed a touch unbalanced when put under pressure while cornering and asking to keep up with the field.
However, upon flattening out, he pinned his ears back and knuckled down the task.
A strong and experienced rider like Craig Newitt, who rides him again, looks to be a perfect match for him here.
The rise in distance to 1400m should allow him to settle into his stride a lot nicer and be in touch with the leaders upon cornering.
Great each-way shout.
Suggested Bet: Hitotsu $12
Suggested exotic: Trifecta – 2, 3, 10/ 2, 3, 10, 14/ 2, 3, 5, 10, 14,
flemington race 5 - incognitus stakes
#5 marboosha
This Emirates Park owned three-year-old filly looks ready to win first-up off two encouraging trials in Sydney.
Four out of her five career runs have been over 1100m for which she has won once and placed on three other occasions.
Her most recent race was over this course and distance when she ran a brave second to the smart Hawkes-trained filly Written Beauty.
With the straight experience under her belt and this being a clear target race set on the calendar by her trainers Peter & Paul Snowden – who won this very race last year – she is the one to be with.
Suggested Bet: Maboosha $4.2
Suggested Exotic: Boxed trifecta – 3, 5/ 3, 5, 7/ 2, 3, 5, 7
flemington race 6 - Newmarket Handicap
#3 imaging
Yes, call us mad for going against September Run but we are doing so.
Her stablemate Imaging looks tremendous value in this race at $19.
His run in the Group 1 CF Orr (1400m) at Caulfield was full of merit when asked to sit three wide first-up from a spell.
The winner, Streets of Avalon, had the fitness edge on him that time as his run just petered out late with fitness clearly giving way.
He has since been given a nice freshen up and a quiet Flemington jumpout over 800m to get himself tuned up for this race.
The Chris Waller stable has him humming along this preparation as he looked to enjoy his time in the jumpout up the straight. He tucked his head into his chest and was under a tight grip for the majority of the way.
Gets the in form Damian Lane to ride him and a nice barrier to snuggle in behind the leaders and hopefully hold off the finishing burst of September Run.
Suggested Bet: Imaging $15
Suggested Exotic: First 4 – 3, 14, 15/ 3, 14, 15, 18/ 3, 13, 14, 15, 18/ 3, 5, 13, 14, 15, 18
flemington race 7 - matron stakes
#5 scarlet dream
Having been transferred to Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes last year, Scarlet Dream has been racing well under their tutelage despite not being able to get a win.
Her fresh record, much like her racing career, actually reads quite well even though she has not been able to strike a win when racing first-up from a spell.
If we look at her first-up effort last preparation, it was an enormous run from the back of the field.
She jumped fairly but was restrained to near last from the wide barrier and spotted the leader and eventual winner I Am Superman at least 15 lengths in the run.
On Saturday she draws barrier two and can settle much closer in the run and expend less energy in an attempt to chase down the leaders than she did first-up last preparation.
Suggested Bet: Scarlet Dream $8
Suggested Exotic: – Trifecta – 5, 7/ 3, 5, 7/ 2, 3, 5, 7
flemington race 8 - australian cup
#3 fifty stars
The 2020 Australian Cup winner is enroute to defend his crown this year.
His brilliant effort in the Blamey Stakes (1600m) last Saturday, which saw him flash home to run second alongside eventual winner Star of the Seas, will have him cherry ripe for this race.
He is following the exact same lead-up as he did last year and looks set to make it four Australia Cup wins in a row for Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig and the Lindsey Park operation after success in 2018-19 with Harlem – who comes up a $26 elect here.
John Allen takes the ride on Fifty Stars again and having drawn barrier three, he can settle his mount one off the fence with some cover, handy to the lead speed and launch his assault on the race at the top of the straight.
Suggested Bet: Fifty Stars $4.2
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 3/ 1, 2/ 1, 2, 4 17
flemington race 9 - Kweney Stakes
#1 personal
She is the absolute class runner here and meets this field level at the weights with 56kgs.
Her run in The Vanity (1400m) behind eventual Australian Guineas second favourite Zou Dancer ,was enough to suggest she had come back well within herself since winning the VRC Oaks (2500m) last spring.
The market firmed with her early upon resumption from a spell, but she drifted out late in the betting which gave the indication that she needed the run to bring her on.
Damien Oliver has got to know this filly well and has ridden her every single time she has raced. The champion jockey stays with her here and with a cosy draw she looks ready to return to the winners stall.
Suggested Bet: Personal $3.1
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 1, 2/ 1, 2, 10/ 1, 2, 10, 11
