We’re back to Flemington on Saturday for another talent-rich nine-race program.
The track is likely to be rated in the soft range and the rail will be set out four metres around the entire course.
Bumper Blast hasn’t been seen at the races since January, but he is an above-average galloper and can make a winning return in this contest.
The Robert Hickmott-trained gelding recorded three wins from his six starts during his debut preparation and beat a classy field, including the likes of River Jewel and Morrissy over 1400m here before ending his season in the Listed Chester Manifold, albeit a failed tilt.
With Craig Williams in the saddle and on the rails, I’m more than happy to have a play.
2 Units Bumper Blast
Proper Rogue will take wholesale improvement into the second at Flemington on Saturday and is primed to win.
The Mick Price & Mick Kent Jr-trained gelding hasn’t finished worse than second in five career starts and returned to the races with a lovely effort to finish second behind Lucifer’s Reward at Caulfield.
He’s drawn and weighted well, and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
5 Units Proper Rogue
This is a tough race to analyse from a betting perspective, but Alcyone looks a quality type and I think that he can break his maiden in the Byerley Handicap.
The Godolphin-trained colt has finished second twice in three career starts so far, but returned a particularly eye-catching effort to finish a nose second behind the talented Cherry Tortoni at Listed level here last time out.
A repeat of that performance would see him winning.
4 Units Alcyone
Laburnum has improved for two starts back from a spell and is ready to win at Flemington on Saturday.
The Denman mare needed the run when she finished down the order behind Adelong when resuming, but mustered a nice kick to fill the minors in BM84 company at Caulfield last time out.
She gets some relief in the weights with Michael Poy’s claim and should receive a nice run in transit from her inside draw.
3 Units Laburnum
South Pacific didn’t show a whole lot when he finished sixth lengths off the pace on debut in Australia, but I think that he’ll strip fitter for the run, and he will relish getting out in trip.
Formerly saddled by the legendary Aidan O’Brien, South Pacific found form around some of the world’s best horses during his time in Ireland and the UK and beat home the likes of Constantinople at Royal Ascot most notably.
Happy to have an each-way play at the price.
2 Units E/W South Pacific
Right You Are doesn’t know how to run a bad race and gets his chance to win at HQ this weekend.
The Price & Kent Jr-trained gelding has recorded three wins and as many minors from his six career starts so far and won each of his first two starts back from a spell, before running into the talented Persan here last time out.
The drop in trip shouldn’t be an issue and he is drawn to effect.
5 Units Right You Are
Danon Roman won against the pattern of the day here at Flemington a couple of weeks ago and any improvement on that effort would see him into the winner’s stall again.
The Deep Impact gelding has always hinted at above-average talent without really setting the Australian racing world on fire but to his credit, his last-start effort was excellent.
He’s drawn to receive another lovely run and he looks a winning chance in what is one of the more open races on the card.
3 Units Danon Roman
Bartholomeu Dias is a star on the rise and he can record another win in the penultimate contest at Flemington on Saturday.
The classy import was luckless on debut in Australia, but still attacked the line to finish less than a length fourth in a BM84 race at Caulfield.
He has since given a decent field a galloping lesson at Ladbrokes Park and Craig Williams stays aboard – at this point of the season, that is a big bonus.
4 Units Bartholomeu Dias
This is a rise in class for Our Wind Spirit, but he has continued to improve with racing and as trainer Lindsay Smith has raised the bar.
The Per Incanto gelding has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence since debuting, recording four wins and a minor from his five career starts.
He was far too good at Geelong with a big weight in tow last time and is another horse that still harbours plenty of improvement.
2 Units Our Wind Spirit