2025 Standish Handicap Day Preview

The time-honoured Group 3 Standish Handicap headlines a quality ten-race program at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday.

With another Autumn Carnival looming, the country’s biggest stables continue to gear up and we’ll be treated to some excellent betting races this week as a result.

I’ve run the rule over each contest, and you can find my complete Standish Handicap Day tips below.

Xarpo chases a hat-trick in the first on Standish Handicap Day.

The Simon Zahra-trained filly has improved noticeably with each of four starts since debuting, and after breaking her maiden to the tune of five lengths at Cranbourne two starts back, she continues her rise through the grades by winning easily again at this track and distance last time out.

There’s no doubting her fitness now and with appropriate luck in running, she’s up to the task again.

2 Units Xarpo

This is a rise in class for her, but Harsh couldn’t have been more impressive at the Yarra Valley last time out and I am happy to stick with her.

Harsh has made five appearances at the races so far and was only just denied over 2050m at Moe before charging home to record a victory of more than three lengths at Moe.

She’s another that looks to be in peak order now, she takes weight from several key rivals and something like this doesn’t look beyond her.

1 Unit Harsh

Keep Your Cool is fit and ready to transition into Saturday metro company.

The Ciaron Maher-trained mare returned to winning form in BM64 company at Werribee two starts back, before repeating the dose in a 74 on the Caulfield Heath track last time out.

Getting out to a mile looks ideal at this point of her preparation, she gets some relief in the weights and should receive every chance from an inside draw.

1 Unit Keep Your Cool

This is a drop in class for Newfoundland and a perfect opportunity for him to win.

The talented gelding turned in some fine performances last year, recording consecutive metro victories up in Sydney before running second in the 2800m staying race here in Melbourne Cup Day.

He was freshened and returned to action to finish fourth in the Listed Bagot Handicap on New Year’s Day and I am confident that run will have brought him right back on.

3 Units Newfoundland

This is an interesting race with several winning chances engaged, but I have landed on New York Lustre for the in-form Enver Jusufovic yard.

New York Lustre completed a hit-and-run mission stylishly when returning to action last July to break her maiden easily, while she picked up where she left off with a genuine demolition job out at Seymour late last month.

This is obviously a harder race, but she’s got plenty of upside and any improvement would see her right in the finish again.

2 Units New York Lustre

I’m keen to stick with Enxuto third-up at HQ this week.

Enxuto returned to action with a fine performance to fill the minors at Geelong early last month, while he was a month between runs into a near miss behind Dream All Day here on New Year’s Day.

With further improvement for that effort, sticking at the mile and appropriate luck in running, this does look a nice Saturday metro target for him.

1 Unit Enxuto

Kiko has turned in some competitive performances for Jim Conlan and she looms as a winning chance on Standish Handicap Day.

The Capitalist mare finished off well behind Pisanello her first-up in November, beaten just over a length, while she’s managed to fill the minors in a pair of BM78 contests since.

She boasts a fitness edge over several key rivals this week, while getting out to the 1400m on the big track looks perfect for her.

2 Units Kiko

Black type racing returns to the famous Flemington straight and some talented gallopers make up the 2025 Standish Handicap field.

Iowna Merc is untested down the straight, but I’ve found it very difficult to argue with his recent winning form, and he does look up to something like this.

The Winning Rupert gelding has been a consistent performer in Sydney metro company for the Bjorn Baker team since making his debut, and after striking in a BM94 at Randwick just prior to Christmas, he repeated the dose in Listed company last time out.

He’s a multiple winner over 1200m and can find his way to the rail early this week.

2 Units Iowna Merc

Princeofnottingham takes winning form into this contest and rates as a key winning chance once more.

The Pierro gelding hasn’t missed the placings at his last four appearances, winning twice, both times over a mile at The Valley.

This does look to be a slightly deeper race than that one, but he’s drawn ideally in gate 7 and looks up to the task again.

1 Unit Princeofnottingham

Sisterhood is third-up and ready for a competitive performance in the last on Standish Handicap Day, in my opinion.

The Ciaron Maher-trained mare has finished on the placegetters’ heels in each of her first two runs back this time, running into some talented types in the process.

At her best, she has recorded wins in metro company, and she looks to get conditions to suit this week.

1 Units Sisterhood