Flemington will host its annual Spring Classics Preview Day this Sunday.
The feature raceday is great day out for the family but also carries plenty of significance as it includes the running of some key lead up races as we roll deeper into the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
The Victoria Derby Preview and Crown Oaks Preview will see some exciting three year olds stake their claim for a start in the Group One features as they both provide ballot exemption for the VRC Derby and VRC Oaks respectively.
The rail will be out 14m for the entire circuit and the track is currently rated a soft 5.
We’ve had a close look at all eight events on the program and our thoughts can be found below.
Athanatos has bumped into some smart gallopers at his past three runs but gets his chance to finally shed that maiden tag here.
A son of I Am Immortal, the Phillip Stokes trained gelding has shown plenty of natural talent, placing in five of his six starts and whilst he hasn’t been able to catch the leader at his past couple, he’s put up clear margins back to the rest.
He presents here hard fit, the slight rise in trip looks ideal and from the inside gate, he’s set to enjoy a cosy run in transit.
1 unit – ATHANATOS
The recent form of Rick’s Cafe certainly doesn’t jump off the page but the seasoned mare hasn’t had a lot go her away this preparation.
A noted second up performer, she blew the start and ended up a long way back but was doing her best work late over 1400m.
Out to the mile at her following outing she was taken back to last and again finished off strongly and it was a similar story last time out to 2040m.
I think she’ll appreciate getting out onto the bigger track along with a bit of give in the ground.
Back to 1800m, she gets a good draw and Blake Shinn will take the reins.
At a nice price I think she’s a great each way chance.
1 unit E/W – RICK’S CAFE
Dschingis Prestige is racing well, having placed at his past three starts for the new stable and he drops back in grade here.
His run was full of merit over 2500m at Moonee Valley, where he was shuffled back at a vital stage and picked up late to finish off strongly into third.
Last time on a wild and windy day on the Lakeside he settled back at the tail and powered home into second.
Only lightly raced, the former French import is only really starting to hits his straps and he’s hard fit.
Blake Shinn stays in the saddle and the winkers go on for the first time.
1 unit – DSCHINGIS PRESTIGE
He’ll Rip just felt the pinch late when resuming over 1125m at Geelong and he will have taken plenty of improvement from the run.
The Hellbent gelding isn’t the most consistent of gallopers and he has pulled up with a few issues on occasion but he’s certainly capable on his day.
He boasts a terrific second up record and will appreciate getting out to this trip.
His best runs have all been on soft tracks so he’ll likely to get conditions to suit and he’s set to receive all the favours from gate two under Billy Egan.
1 unit – HE’LL RIP
There was a lot to like about the debut performance of Belladramatic and the way she hit the line suggests she’ll relish the rise in trip.
Making her debut over 1300m at Cranbourne, the daughter of Super Seth settled back off a slow start and didn’t have a lot of room approaching the turn in the early part of the straight.
Once she got to the outside she let down strongly over the final part to get within .6 of a length from the winner.
She did just want to lay in slightly over the final part suggesting there’s plenty of room for improvement.
Michael Dee goes onboard for Liam Howley and from the wide gate she’ll get back and be doing her best work late.
1 unit – BELLADRAMATIC
Giddy Up Warrior has continued to improve in all three raceday appearances and comes off a deserved maiden win.
The son of Saxon Warrior was doing his best work late on debut over 1100m and straight up in trip at his following outing, he was only denied by the barest of margins.
Last start he proved superior over 1500m on the Hillside and the way he finishes off his races suggests he’ll be suited out of further.
Mark Zahra partnered him to victory, he retains the mount for team Hayes and barrier three will see him afforded every chance
1 unit – GIDDY UP WARRIOR
Boardrider is unbeaten in two raceday appearance and looks to have a bright future.
There was plenty of merit in his debut win as he was caught out on a limb for much of the event but still let down strongly in the straight to win by 2.75 lengths.
The rise in class proved a walk in the park for the gelding as he again showed a good kick over the final part to score comfortably.
A son of Preferment, he’ll be suited by the rise in trip and I think he’ll enjoy the big Flemington straight.
1 unit – BOARDRIDER
Isthmus returned in fine order, scoring a decisive win over 1000m on the Sandown Hillside.
The regally bred mare has always shown a touch a class and she put together back to back wins last campaign before stepping out in stakes grade.
Sent to the paddock after failing to handle to heavy conditions in the PJ Bell Stakes, the daughter of I Am Invincible proved too good for her rivals first up, letting down powerfully in the straight to score by over two lengths.
The rise to 1100m looks ideal and Mark Zahra takes over for Anthony and Sam Freedman.
2 units – ISTHMUS