A warm one greets us for racing at VRC headquarters Flemington with the punters getting their accounts ready to dip into the nine-race program.
The best of the day comes up in race six as a South Australian raider plots a path around the 1400 metres.
Flemington race 3
#8 Skelm
Skelm seems ready to win now after acquitting himself well in the Zipping Classic at Caulfield last start.
He was allotted 59kgs in what is Weight-for-Age and that is clearly something he is not accustomed to carrying against a quality field of stayers.
Coming back to BM-100 level sees him only have to carry 53kgs and he draws to be out of trouble from barrier seven.
There has already been a sprinkling of money in the early markets, which suggests he pulled up well from the run at Caulfield.
Suggested Bet: Skelm win at $5
flemington race 4
#1 dunbrody power
She has not won for a little while now, but looks to get the right race up the straight.
Formerly trained by John Thompson in NSW, this mare now finds herself in the care of Patrick Payne who gave her a tick over run at Pakenham over 1000 metres last start.
She was doing her best work through the middle and late stages of the races which suggests the rise to 1200 metres should be no concern.
Expecting a bit of improvement to come from that first-up run as all the Payne-trained horses usually have.
Interesting that this is Campbell Rawiller’s only ride for the day at Flemington, so the young 2kg-claiming apprentice will not want to ruin the opportunity to ride well in town.
Suggested Bet: Dunbrody Power each-way at $9 the win and $3 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 1, 5/ 1, 5, 7, 8/ 1, 5, 7, 8, 11
Flemington race 6
#5 second slip
Second Slip makes his way over from South Australia to plot a course around the 1400 metres of Flemington.
Will Clarken seems to have placed him perfectly for this race with the lack of early speed in this race opening the door perfectly for Second Slip to bowl along in the lead with Jamie Kah in the saddle.
The horse plummets down to 54.5kgs and draws barrier four, which is going to see him conserve a tonne of energy should he lead easily as we expect.
Doubt he will start longer than the current $3.10 on offer given how well he maps in this race.
Should give a big sight and is clearly the one to beat.
Suggested Bet: Second Slip win at $3.1
flemington race 8
#9 high 'n' dry
High ‘N’ Dry is ready to win at his fourth run this campaign after running very well over the mile at Pakenham a fortnight ago.
It was the first run he had over the mile through this preparation and will now be fully fit to run near his best at this distance range again.
Really like the way the attacked the line last start in what was the sign of a horse who is enjoying his racing.
He returns to Flemington – a track which he has already had winning success at – and will appreciate the long straight so he can flatten out, balance and let down with his sprint.
Carries the lightest weight in the race with 52kgs and he is the one to get past here.
Suggested Bet: High ‘N’ Dry win at $3.4
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 5 & 9
