The Group 1 Newmarket Handicap takes centre stage this Saturday at Headquarters. Will Imperatriz announce herself as the best sprinting mare since Black Caviar, or will the talented Magic Time spoil the party? In Sydney, Group 1 Randwick Guineas and Canterbury Stakes are expected to draw a monster crowd to the eastern suburbs, and with perfect weather predicted, March racing has never looked so good!
Flemington Race 5
#1 Imperatriz
Imperatriz is chasing the shadow of Black Caviar. The Kiwi superstar is incredibly closing in on her tenth Group 1 victory, and she has been an absolute marvel since landing on our shores. The champion mare doesn’t know how to run a bad race, and her versatility makes her world-class. I am unsure if the Flemington straight is advantageous, however; it is hard to tip against her with a perfect record at headquarters. She is special, and winners keep on winning. The grandstand weight is the primary concern.
Magic Time resumes with an air of confidence. The Hellbent mare was a stunning Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke winner, and she looks well placed on Saturday with 53kg. The wide draw will suit the talented four-year-old, and if the track is favouring the swoopers, she will threaten late. A must for all broader multiples and exotics.
Suggested Bet: Imperatriz @ $2.60
Flemington RACE 6
#6 Mollynickers
Mollynickers broke the clock fresh in the Vanity. The Pierro filly produced some of the fastest sectionals of the meeting, and she looks incredibly well placed on Saturday against her own age and sex. The step out in distance is advantageous, and I suspect she will get the perfect cart into the race from the middle draw. The Peter Moody-trained three-year-old is undefeated second-up, and she looks like one of the better bets on a very competitive program.
Autumn Angel is the obvious danger to Mollynickers. The Autumn Sun filly carried on like a pork chop first-up at Caufield, and she was luckless in transit once she had her mind on the job. I suspect she will improve sharply second-up, and the 1600m looks ideal at this stage of her preparation. If she can bring her best manners to race day, I expect her to savage the line late. One to follow moving forward.
Suggested Bet: Mollynickers @ $3.50
Flemington Race 7
#3 Amenable
Amenable was super impressive at the end of his last preparation. The Lonhro gelding finished a length off the winner in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap, and he rubbed shoulders with some of the best-credentialed horses in the country. The talented four-year-old has a near-perfect fresh record, and the flood of early money indicates a bold first-up performance. From barrier seven, he will sit midfield with cover, and if he is presented with his run at the right time, I expect him to prove too strong for his rivals late.
Savannah Cloud is too consistent to pot. The Savabeel gelding very rarely finishes outside the placings, and he is a winner previously second-up. The 54.5kg is luxurious, and he whole heartly deserves his shot at this level. He looks the likely leader of the race, and if he can pinch some cheap sectionals throughout, he may look the winner at the clocktower.
Suggested Bet: Amenable @ $5.00
Randwick Race 6
#6 Passive Aggressive
Passive Aggressive has a brilliant first-up record. She lowered the colours of the Everest winner Giga Kick fresh last preparation, and she possesses a big and dangerous turn-off foot when completely sound. From barrier five, she will roll forward and pilot the field, and if she is left to her own devices on top of the speed, she can pinch a winning margin before the final furlong. Her history of setbacks is the biggest deterrent.
Private Eye headed the best sprinting mare in the world, first-up in the Black Caviar Lightning. The consistent Al Maher gelding looked the winner, and he was game in defeat against a champion. The six-year-old traditionally performs well second-up, and he looks hard to beat under the weight-for-age scale. Another run over 1000m is the primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Passive Aggressive @ $8.00
Randwick Race 7
#1 Think About It
The winning machine Think About It resumes here. The So You Think gelding suffered a rare last-start defeat to finish his spring campaign, and I suspect the camp will want to atone with a victory first-up on Saturday. His career record is outrageous, and his recent barrier trials would have given his opposition a shiver done their spines. He is undefeated fresh, and the 1300m looks a perfect starting point to another fruitful campaign. He is the real deal!
Espiona savaged the line fresh behind Imperatriz first-up. The step out in the distance is advantageous, and the Extreme Choice mare looks extremely dangerous jumping from an inside draw. Her second-up record must be respected, and she has been specked at a price to knock off the odds-on favourite. With even luck in transit, I expect her to figure it out in the end.
Suggested Bet: Learning To Fly @ $1.80
Randwick Race 8
#2 Tom Kitten
Tom Kitten can bounce back after a luckless second-up run. His run in transit resembled a pinball game, and I am sure he will appreciate stepping out to the mile. It was a horror watch for the punters, and I suspect the camp will have him ready for redemption on Saturday. Despite his awkward run at his latest outing, he still savaged the line late and put the writing on the wall for a big third-up performance over the mile. The Harry Angel colt has the rare ability of reeling off unrealistic sizzling late sectionals, and he looks over the odds. Watch for the big boy late!
Militarize caught the eye fresh behind Fangirl. The valuable Dundeel colt looks suited back at level weights against his own age, and his second-up record must be respected. The Golden Rose winner strips fitter, and a win here could put him in conversations regarding the best three-year-old in the country. His racing pattern and style always requires an element of good fortune. Hard to toss!
Suggested Bet: Tom Kitten @ $8.00
