The Group 1 action heads to Flemington this Saturday for the running of the Black Caviar Lightning. It’s the first edition of the event since her passing, and it’s a fantastic tribute to our greatest ever sprinter. The undefeated marvel had the audacity to win her own race, and she was simply unrivalled and untouchable. In Sydney town the Group 2 Apollo Stakes is the main attraction on a program chock-a-block full of Black-Type and Listed events.
Flemington Race 7
#9 Wonder Boy
Wonder Boy is over the odds. Both runs this campaign have been good without winning, and I suspect he ready to explode third-up from a spell on Saturday. He produced sizzling late sectionals at his latest outing, and he looks extremely well-placed dropping back in grade. The carpark draw and his recent winning record are among the primary concerns.
Royal Insignia is flying at present. The progressive Written Tycoon colt is building a picket fence next to his name, and he deserves his shot at this level. The step out in trip is ideal at this stage of his campaign, and I suspect he has the fitness edge on the majority of his rivals. His racing pattern and style will always require an element of good fortune.
Suggested Bet: Wonder Boy @ $17.00
Flemington Race 8
#11 Switzerland
Suggested Bet: Switzerland @ $2.50
#2 Captured By Love
Captured By Love looks the obvious omen bet for those punters celebrating Valentines Day. The Written Tycoon filly boasts solid New Zealand form, and there is an air of expectation surrounding her Australian Debut. Her Group 1 form reads incredibly well for this event, and her residual fitness will take her a long way in this event. Barrier two should allow her to roll forward, and the key appointment of Blake Shinn could prove the winning difference. Take on trust.
Too Darn Discreet was a revelation last campaign. The Too Darn Hot filly strung three impressive wins together before performing gallantly in the Group 1 VRC Oaks. Her recent barrier trial turned heads, and I suspect she will springboard to another level this preparation. I would prefer to promote her over further with several runs under her belt.
Suggested Bet: Captured By Love @ $5.00
Randwick Race 6
#8 Spring Lee
Spring Lee is ready to win. She has been narrowly tossed at her previous two outings, and she looks poised to strike back against her own sex. The 53kg is a luxury, and the middle gate will give Tyler Schiller a menagerie of options. The camp are training winners for fun at present, and I suspect a few of her opponents might be a run short of a gallop on resumption. Too consistent to dismiss!
Bonita Queen is classy. Her current form is sublime, and she deserves her shot at this level. The I Am Invincible mare drops 8.5kg from her latest outing, and the inside draw should give her rivals nightmares leading into Saturday’s event. The precocious mare will pilot the field with a clean break, and if she can grab a margin before they run for the doctor, she may prove hard to run down.
Suggested Bet: Spring Lee @ $6.00
Royal Randwick Race 7
#3 Lady Shenandoah
Lady Shenandoah finished off last campaign with a Group 1 victory. Her win resembled a cakewalk, and she had the race sewn up before patrons had returned to their seats. The Snitzel filly finished in front of Via Sistina and Switzerland in her recent barrier trials, and I suspect she is about to produce a preparation of a lifetime. From barrier eight she will drift back and find her hooves, and if she doesn’t get too far out of her ground during the middle stages of the race, I expect her to prove too strong late. She may have bigger targets deeper into her campaign.
Manaal is ultra consistent. The Tassort filly doesn’t know how to run a bad race, and the form around her has stood up time and again. Her record at the distance is outrageous, and she traditionally motors during the early stages of her campaign. Her recent jump-outs will have her cherry ripe for a first-up tilt, and I suspect she will be presented with one booming run down the outside. The carpark draw is the primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Lady Shenandoah @ $3.10
Royal Randwick Race 8
#5 Via Sistina
Via Sistina is world-class. The seventeen extra laps around Moonee Valley leading into the Cox Plate didn’t disturb the best horse in Australia, and she had the audacity to obliterate Winx’s track record easing down for the camera. She won fresh last campaign over the same track and distance, and notably, Fangirl, Zardozi, and Atishu, all finished in the rear-view mirror on that occasion. The rising eight-year-old meets the usual suspects, and she is drawn to get a soft trip in transit. Absolute weapon!
Fangirl is the obvious danger to the favourite. The Sebring mare finds her pet distance fresh, and her record at the track would rival Tommy Smith. The talented six-year-old ran a bottler behind Via Sistina first-up last campaign, and her turn of foot is mind-blowing. Her recent barrier trials were sound, and I suspect she is in for another fruitful and successful preparation. If the peloton leaves the kettle on early, she will loom to win in the shadows.
Suggested Bet: Via Sistina @ $1.85
