2021 Flemington Cup Day Preview

We’re back to HQ on Saturday for another quality nine-race program, headlined by the Flemington Cup.

The rail will be set out 3 metres around the entire course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Soft (5) range.

I thought that there was a lot to like about Mamool’s debut effort and I’m keen to have something on at the price this week.

The Dissident gelding raced greenly, but he mustered an eye-catching turn of foot to run into the placings over 1330m at Geelong.

He’ll take plenty of improvement for that experience and we can have an each-way play at the price.

1 Unit E/W Mamool

I’m Thunderstruck has returned to the races in smart form this time and gets the benefit of Jamie Kah in the saddle third-up at Flemington on Saturday.

The Shocking gelding was too good for a Class field at Sale when resuming and ran home well to finsi third behind Divine Diosa at Caulfield last time.

Fitter third-up and to HQ, I think that this is the perfect Saturday metro race for him.

4 Units I’m Thunderstruck

Enver Jusufovic looks to have found himself another good one in Lindhout, and the last-start winner looks tough to beat again at HQ this week.

Each of the Time For War mare’s five starts back this time have been good, and she was rewarded for her form with a dominant win here last time out.

This is a drop in class from that race and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish.

6 Units Lindhout

The talented Schabau resumes in the fourth on Flemington Cup Day and I am happy to have something on.

The German import has been a great horse for the Hickmott stable since arriving in Australia, and his fresh form is good.

The fact that Hickmott is launching his campaign over 2000m suggests that the horse is quite forward, and I am confident that his class edge will take him a long way towards winning.

3 Units Schabau

This shapes as one of the more open contests on Saturday’s Flemington program and there is a case to be made for several gallopers, including Zorro’s Dream.

Zorro’s Dream has been a strong and consistent performer this prep, winning a couple of easier races early on and incredibly finishing second at each of his last four, twice here at Flemington.

He is rock-hard fit and I am happy to give him one last chance to win.

3 Units Zorro’s Dream

Robert Hickmott will in fact saddle two of his stable’s better horses first-up on Saturday, and Django Freeman will step out in Race 6.

Django Freeman hasn’t been seen at the races since finishing fifth in the Coongy Cup last October, but his fresh form is good, and he has been gelded since his last appearance.

There are some good horses engaged in this contest, but this is how highly I consider this galloper.

2 Units E/W Django Freeman

Zakat will make his return in the seventh at Flemington on Saturday and is up to winning.

The Lonhro gelding was a typically impressive performer for Godolphin last time and found form around plenty of above-average gallopers.

He has form down the Flemington straight, flies fresh and has had the benefit of a couple of trials leading up to his return.

5 Units Zakat

The Flemington Cup shapes as the perfect target for South Pacific.

South Pacific needed his first couple of starts back this time to tune up, but ran home well to only just miss placing in the Warrnambool Cup two back before winning over 2540m here last month.

He is in peak order for this contest, Jamie Kah remains in the saddle, and he can record another win.

4 Units South Pacific

I’m going to give Seb Song one last chance to win the last at Flemington on Saturday.

He returned to the races with an impressive effort to score at Cranbourne in May, and while he has been consistent since, he hasn’t been able to return to the winner’s stall.

This is a drop in class from his last-start second in the Silver Bowl Final and Jamie Kah retaining the ride does add confidence.

3 Units Seb Song