Group 1 racing continues at Flemington this Saturday with the running of Black Caviar Lightning. With a menagerie of Group and Listed events on the program, who will stand up and stamp their authority on the big stage?
Flemington Race 6
#4 Bank Maur
It is hard not to be excited about Bank Maur here after his first-up run behind Jacquinot. The C.F. Orr Stakes winner only narrowly beat him, and he deserves his shot in this grade. He was a winner second-up previously, and the long Flemington straight will suit his racing pattern. The Maurice colt will be sprouting wings late.
Foujita San can run well here at a reasonable price from an inside draw. He finished well without threatening first-up at Sandown, and I expect an improved performance on Saturday. The 1400m looks advantageous while he is still on the fresh side of his campaign, and he seems well placed in this grade.
Attrition will start favourite after putting two impressive wins together. His massive turn of foot was on display at Geelong last start, and he should be rock hard fit due to his recent outings. He can continue on his winning ways with the proper run-in transit.
Suggested Bet: Bank Maur @ $5.50
Flemington RACE 7
#1 Nature Strip
A fitting line-up here for a race named after the greatest sprinter of all time.
Our current sprinting Champion Nature Strip lines up here as a deserved favourite. He had his colours lowered twice last preparation. However, I expect him to bounce back here. He always runs well fresh, and his record at the track must be respected. The Nicconi gelding has become more reliable with age, and he looks to have a mortgage on another Group 1 feature. Long live the King!
Roch ‘N’ Horse loves Flemington. She is always competitive first-up, and I expect her to be savaging the line late. I would prefer to see her fresh over 1200m; I still expect her to run well on Saturday. I am interested to see how far she can progress this campaign.
Coolangatta can lead them a merry dance on top of the speed. She is ideally placed under the weight-for-age scale, and I expect her to be in this for a long way. If she can pinch some cheap sectionals in transit, she may prove hard to run down.
Marabi can show them a clean pair of heels if she is 100% sound. The long spell is the primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Nature Strip @ $2.00
Flemington Race 8
#14 Daytona Bay
Daytona Bay looks poised to strike here after a game-on-pace performance first-up. He was a winner at Flemington previously, and 1400m is his preferred distance. Jamie Kah can push forward from barrier seven and take luck out of the equation. The 54kg is a luxury, and the Peter Moody camp is currently training winners for fun!
Munhamek is racing well without winning. The quick backup is advantageous, and he looks perfectly placed here from an inside draw. He loves the distance and won’t know himself with the light allocated weight. He is too consistent to leave out any winning conversations.
Uncle Bryn is a proven first-up performer. He is ideally drawn in barrier four and looks well placed in this grade. The Sea The Stars gelding could be in for a breakthrough preparation, and I expect him to be fighting out the finish on Saturday.
Suggested Bet: Daytona Bay @ $4.00
Flemington Race 9
#6 El Rocko
El Rocko can win here first up from a spell. He reached Group 3 level last preparation, and he looks well placed here back at Benchmark level. His barrier trials have been first-class leading into this event, and I expect him to go through his grades in the coming months. He is versatile, and he has formed around some serious gallopers.
Red Hot Nicc is flying. His last start win was dominant, and he can continue on his winning ways with the good run in transit. This race is well within his reach, and I expect him to springboard into better races this campaign regardless of the result on Saturday.
Struck By can push forward from an inside draw. His form in Adelaide during the spring is hard to ignore, and I expect him to look the winner halfway down the long Flemington straight. He should be rock hard fit, and he may prove hard to run down if he is left alone in front.
Suggested Bet: El Rocko @ $8.00
