Join our experts as they finish Melbourne Cup week with a bang! Autumn Glow and Tempted are poised to make Champions Day one to remember.
Flemington RACE 4
#11 Photograph
Photograph is racing well without winning. The Blue Point mare didn’t have a lot of luck at her latest outing, and she looks dangerous on the quick back-up. She ran well two starts back against the Caulfield bias, and she finds a suitable assignment here. I suspect the camp are out for redemption, and with a change of fortune, she will figure in the finish. Over the odds!
Arkansaw Kid is racing better than the bible suggests. The Harry Angel gelding drops significantly in grade, and I suspect this has been the long-range target from the astute camp. The Mark Zahra factor will play a role, and he is ideally drawn for this stage of Melbourne Cup carnival. His opening quote has been met with great support, and if the rain lobs it will continue to shorten.
Suggested Bet: Photograph @ $8.00
Flemington Race 5
#4 Soverato
Soverato was a brilliant last-start winner at headquarters. The Vadamos mare looks well placed again, and the perfect inside draw puts one hoof on the till. She has improved significantly with each run this campaign, and the predicted rainy conditions play into her favour. Her opening quote has been more than nibbled at, and you simply can’t beat a mare in form. Hard to toss!
Panova is a quality galloper. Her recent form is ok without setting the world on fire, and I suspect she is heading towards D-Day. The Trapeze Artist mare is a Group 1 winner, and she does her best work at Flemington. Needs to lift, however; if she produces her best, she can figure in the finish.
Suggested Bet: Soverato @ $7.00
#6 Tempted
Skybird was huge late in a messy edition of the Sydney Stakes. The Exosphere mare savaged the line from a different suburb, and she was held up at a key stage several times. The 2025 Lighting winner flys over the straight-six, and her win two starts back at headquarters was super arrogant. I am unsure the inside draw will help her plight, however; the wet track will. Over the odds!
Flemington Race 7
#8 Autumn Glow
Autumn Glow is a marvel. The Autumn Sun mare is near undefeated, and she looks incredibly well placed here. She is the best miler in the country, and she is more than suited under the weight-for-age scale. Barrier two puts one hoof on the till, and I expect her to prove too strong late if she sees clear air. Only bad luck in running, or a tsunami hitting Flemington as the gates open, would see her colours lowered.
Tom Kitten was brave without winning at his latest outing at Royal Randwick. He charged home hard against a farcical walking tempo, and I suspect he strips fitter from his resilient performance. He loves Flemington more than Bart Cummings and Makybe Diva, and the key booking of Mark Zahra could prove the winning difference. He can cause a boil-over if the short-priced favourite has an off day or experiences traffic issues.
Suggested Bet: Autumn Glow @ $1.30
Flemington Race 8
#3 Sir Delius
Sir Delius is ready to win. His performance in the W.S. Cox Plate was ok without threatening, and I suspect the camp are praying he shows his best on Saturday. The big boy brings elite form, and he finds his pet track and distance on Saturday. With several runs under his belt, the yard is running out of excuses, and his opening quote has been easy in the market. Rocks or diamonds!
Birdman was home and hosed his latest outing. The Free Eagle gelding was only nabbed right on the wire by a smart one, and I expect him to be thereabouts again on Saturday. He loves the journey more than an Uber driver, and he seems to grow an extra leg when he gets to Flemington. He might need some luck getting off paint as they cut the ribbons.
Suggested Bet: Sir Delius @ $8.00
Flemington Race 9
#9 King Tut
King Tut is over the odds. The American Pharaoh gelding was good without threatening against the track bias at Caulfield, and I suspect it may pay dividends to forgive and forget that he went around. His second-up record is rock solid, and he looks well placed in this company. The 1100m is in his wheelhouse, and he is perfectly drawn late in the day. Watch for the big boy late!
Educated will start favourite after claiming a victory at Seymour. The Zoustar mare has a near-perfect record at the trip, and her pilot is in career-best form. She is from the right yard, and her opening quote has folded faster than a Superman on laundry day. She will figure in the finish with even luck in transit.
Suggested Bet: King Tut @ $15.00
