Flemington host the time-honoured Group 1 Newmarket Handicap this Saturday. With the $2,000,000 All Star Mile also featuring on the stunning program, a bumper local crowd is expected at headquarters. In old Sydney town, the Group 1 Randwick Guineas and Canterbury Stakes will keep the punters entertained in the eastern suburbs.
Flemington Race 7
#10 Treasurethe Moment
Treasurethe Moment narrowly beaten first-up in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield. The consistent four-year-old looked home-and-hosed, and she was only done in the shadows. I suspect she needed the run, and I expect her to improve significantly on Saturday. The key booking of the inform Ben Melham speaks volumes, and she loves Flemington more than Bart Cummings. She is well placed under the weight scale, and her second-up record is near-perfect. She represents great each way value!
Last year’s winner, Tom Kitten, looks set to defend his title. The Harry Angel gelding was a brilliant winner fresh in the Group 3 Heffernan Stakes at Caulfield, and I suspect this event has been a long-range target from the astute camp. He traditionally performs well second-up from a spell, and a recent jump-out turned heads. The mile is his best distance, and Craig Williams has an impressive strike rate with the big boy. The tricky gate is the primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Treasurethe Moment @ $5.50
Flemington Race 8
#8 Sea What I See
Sea What I See made a pleasing return to racing at Flemington. The Sea The Stars mare loomed to win in the shadows, and the talented six-year-old needed the camera to determine her fate. She strips fitter as a result, and her perfect second-up record should put her key rivals on notice. The step out in trip suits, and she looks well placed. Hard to toss!
Damask Rose will have plenty of supporters after two impressive performances to start her autumn campaign. The form around her is elite, and the booking of Craig Williams should fill her supporters with great confidence. The early money tells a story, and the current track conditions suit her to a tee. The carpark draw is the biggest deterrent.
Suggested Bet: Sea What I See @ $5.00
#2 Tentyris
Tentyris couldn’t have be more impressive when taking out the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning. The Street Boss colt flew home from another postcode, and he broke all on-course clocks in the process. The step out in trip suits, and this has been his major autumn target all along. The rise to 57kg is a concern, however; he is the most exciting and elusive sprinter in the country. Watch for him late!
My Gladiola can turn the tables on the favourite with a dramatic weight swing from their latest meeting. The I Am Invincible filly now carries a feather, and she went super at her latest outing. She has performed well second-up previously, and she excels at headquarters. Her 1200m record and winning strike-rate the biggest queries.
Suggested Bet: Tentyris @ $2.20
Randwick Race 4
#1 Stretan Ruler
Stretan Ruler was a dominant winner of the Silver Slipper. The Wild Ruler colt put his rivals to the sword before they ran for the doctor, and I suspect he will start the Golden Slipper favourite with a similar performance on Saturday. The inside draw is advantageous, and the 1200m is a logical progression. The big boy will figure in the finish with even luck in-transit.
Paradoxium has an air of excitement around him. The Extreme Choice geld resumes after twelve weeks in the paddock, and his form prior was sublime. His trials have been first class leading into his first-up assignment, and a victory here would book a date with the richest two-year-old race on the planet. The class rise is a primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Stretan Ruler @ $3.50
Randwick Race 7
#8 Raging Force
Raging Force is a flying machine. The Cosmic Force gelding excels fresh, and his record with Tommy Berry aboard is near perfect. The inside draw is advantageous, and he deserves his shot at this level. The shorter trips suits first-up from a spell, and his recent jump-outs looked ominous. The flood of early money indicate another bold showing, and I suspect he will look the winner as heads turn for home.
Marhoona is over the odds. The Snitzel filly was ok without threatening first-up, and she finds a winnable assignment on Saturday. Her opening quote has been more than nibbled at, and she finds her ideal conditions here. The step out in trip suits, and she comes in extremely well at the weights. Acid test!
Suggested Bet: Raging Force @ $4.20
Randwick Race 8
#1 Autumn Boy
Autumn Boy was super impressive over an unsuitable journey fresh. The step out in trip is advantageous, and I suspect this is his major autumn goal. The Caulfield Guineas winner possesses a significant turn of foot, and a victory here would add several zeros to his future stud fee. He is undefeated second-up, and the James McDonald and Chris Waller combination must be respected. Hard to toss!
Sheza Alibi won from an impossible position first-up at Caufield. The short-priced commodity got the gap as the whips were cracking, and I suspect it was a huge relief for the punters and thrill seekers who took the $1.60 quote. The Saxon Warrior filly oozes class, and she simply looks untapped. Can win, however; I am concerned with her exposed form.
Suggested Bet: Autumn Boy @ $3.00
