Champions Day is front and centre this Saturday at Flemington. With the Champions Sprint, Champions Mile, and Champions Stakes all featuring on the bumper card of racing, the last day of Melbourne Cup week has never looked so good! The Five Diamonds and Golden Gift will ensure a healthy crowd returns to Rosehill Gardens, in what seems an exciting and intriguing meeting. Join our experts as they outline their best bets!
Flemington Race 5
#4 Steinem
Flemington RACE 6
#8 Imperatriz
Imperatriz is elite! The I Am Invincible mare has already claimed the Moonee Valley sprinting triple crown this preparation, and she looks bombproof. Her win in the Group 1 Manikato was effortless, and I suspect Saturday’s Group 1 assignment has always been the long-range target. The talented five-year-old would have started an odds-on favourite in the Everest, and she looks to have this race, and her rivals, at her mercy. The Flemington straight-six may be her undoing.
In Secret, she returns to her favourite track and distance. The Coolmore and Newmarket winner grows an extra leg when she runs the Melbourne way of going, and she simply excels over the six furlongs at headquarters. Her campaign has been good without winning, and she was luckless covering a stack of ground at her latest outing. I am unsure she can produce another peak performance after her recent taxing effort.
Suggested Bet: Imperatriz @ $2.00
fLEMINGTON Race 7
#3 The Inevitable
fLEMINGTON Race 8
#11 Prowess
Prowess is making every post a winner. The progressive Proisir mare was a brilliant last-start winner at Moonee Valley, and I suspect she still has further natural improvement to come for the preparation. She finds her pet distance on Saturday, and I expect her to get the run of the race from barrier four. She looks well placed under the weight-for-age scale, and I suspect she has more upside than her rivals. She is the real deal.
Atishu was game in defeat in the Group 1 Empire Rose at Flemington. She dramatically closed the gap late on the enigmatic and gritty Pride Of Jenni, and she narrowly went down in the shadows. The step out to 2000m is advantageous, and if she doesn’t get too far out of her ground during the early stages of the race, she will loom to win inside the final furlong.
Suggested Bet: Prowess @ $6.00
ROSEHILL Race 7
#1 Shangri La Express
Shangri La Express was an impressive winner on debut. The Alabama Express colt led the field a merry dance throughout, and he was strong through the line. The 1100m won’t pose any problems, and I am sure this has been a long-range target from the Waterhouse and Bott camp. From the wide gate, he will roll forward and pilot the field, and if he can pinch some cheap sectionals during the race’s early stages, it could be curtains a long way from home. Hard to toss!
Gram has trialled incredibly well leading into his debut race. The Exceed And Excel colt is well related to the talented Zulfiqar, and he cost a pretty penny as a yearling at the sales. From barrier twelve, he will look to sit midfield with cover, and if Zac Lloyd presents him with his run at the right time, he can start his career on a winning note.
Suggested Bet: Shangri La Express @ $2.10
ROSEHILL Race 8
#3 Antino
Antino comes to Sydney after a frustrating Melbourne spring campaign. The Redwood gelding has been luckless at crucial stages during his races, and he was on the wrong side of the photo finish in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap. From barrier two, he can camp on the leader’s back, and if he can rail like a greyhound as the field runs for the doctor, I expect him to prove too strong late. His record at the distance and the ability to attract trouble in transit are among the primary concerns.
The people’s horse Democracy Manifest knows his racing and judo well! He always attracts plenty of market support, and the punters will be hoping he can produce another succulent effort! The Flying Artie gelding keeps attacking the line late, and his next win is just around the corner. He broke the clock in the Five Diamonds Prelude, and the step out to 1800m looks ideal at this stage of his preparation. His racing style and pattern will always require an element of luck.
Suggested Bet: Antino @ $2.80
