A talented field of sprinters will assemble for the Listed Straight Six: the feature race on Saturday’s Flemington program.
The rail will be set out 5 metres around the entire course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Good (4) range.
Race 1 - 11:45am
The Blueant X5 Party Speaker Plate (1400m)
Snickerdoodledandy will take improvement into his second campaign start at Flemington on Saturday and will take beating.
The Peter Moody-trained filly returned some lovely efforts under the care of Dan Morton in Perth during her debut prep, highlighted by a lovely win in the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes.
She needed the run, but hit the line well for fourth at Caulfield when resuming, and the 1400m looks to be her pet trip.
4 Units Snickerdoodledandy
Race 2 - 12:20pm
Support National Jockeys Trust (1600m)
Holbien relishes racing at Flemington and he looks well placed to record another win on Saturday.
The Steve Richards-trained gelding has been a model of consistency in decent Saturday grade races since resuming this time, and was rewarded for his improving condition with a dominant win at Caulfield last time out.
Racing over the mile is perfect, he’s rock-hard fit and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
5 Units Holbien
Race 3 - 12:55pm
Racing.com Plate (1400m)
Linas Legend returned a lovely effort on debut and can break his maiden at HQ on Saturday.
The two-year-old son of Teofilo clearly needed the run when he stepped out at Caulfield a fortnight ago, but he kept all of his best work for late and finishing second behind Generation.
Jamie Kah jumps into the saddle on Saturday and the horse is drawn to receive a lovely run from barrier 3.
4 Units Linas Legend
Race 4 - 1:30pm
PFD Food Services Plate (2500m)
This is a drop in class for Heart Of Puissance, but he is certainly up to the class, and I’m confident he’s ready to win.
The Puissance De Lune entire flew home to record a dominant win at Warwick Farm three starts back, progressing to a credible fifth in the Terang Cup before running second behind Le Don De Vie in the Warrnambool Cup last time out.
He’s rock-hard fit, gets ideal conditions and is another whose winning claims have strengthened with the booking of Jamie Kah.
4 Units Heart Of Puissance
Deep Dive brings a different formline into this race and can record another win.
The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained gelding filled the minors at his first two back from a spell and simply hasn’t looked back since, winning each of his last two with something in hand.
He’s rock-hard fit, can go straight to the lead on Saturday and will give them something to chase.
2 Units Deep Dive
Race 6 - 2:50pm
Ecycle Solutions Trophy (1100m)
Dickin Medal hasn’t been seen at the races since January, but he was excellent during his debut preparation, and he looks well placed to make a winning return at Flemington Saturday.
The Godolphin-trained galloper stamped himself as one to watch with impressive and consecutive wins when debuting in December, and he went to the paddock after finishing fourth, beaten just over two lengths by subsequent Group 1 winner Portland Stakes in the Manfred Stakes.
That form is more than good enough for something like this.
4 Units Dickin Medal
Race 7 - 3:30pm
Off The Track Community Trophy (2000m)
Reliable Dude has returned to the races in slick form, and this looks a great opportunity for him to continue his rise through the grades.
The Reliable Man gelding finished third over 1420m at Werribee when resuming before breaking his maiden in impressive fashion at Sale.
He was very good rising in class last time out, finishing less than a length second in a Handicap at Caulfield, and breeding suggests that any rise in trip is going to suit.
1 Unit E/W Reliable Dude
Race 8 - 4:10pm
Listed Straight Six (1200m)
The Straight Six always draws a classy and open field, and it has been won by some outstanding sprinters throughout its existence.
There looks to be a lot of value to extract here, and a horse like Halvorsen has genuine claims on winning at a nice price ($10 at publish).
Halvorsen was understandably outclassed when he stepped out in the Newmarket Handicap at this track and distance during the Autumn Carnival, but he was far more effective back in grade when second behind Sartorial Splendour here last time out.
I’m confident that run will have brought him right back on and with even luck, he can fight out the finish.
2 Units E/W Halvorsen
Race 9 - 4:40pm
Victorian Jockeys Association Plate (1800m)
Somerset Maugham returned an improved effort when getting further out in trip last time, and he looks to have genuine each-way claims in the last on Straight Six Day.
The six-year-old son of Galileo was realistically never going to figure over 1400m at Caulfield when fresh, but he raced home well to finish fifth in BM84 company at Ladbrokes Park last time.
Another small rise in trip on Saturday will suit, and something of this quality doesn’t look out of his grasp.
1 Unit E/W Somerset Maugham