Our Australian Cup Day preview shines a light on all the action at Flemington this Saturday including the final G1 of the Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
The $2.5 million feature is one of ten races on the card and will see the return stoush of Pride Of Jenni and Zardozi after the pair clashed recently in the Peter Young Stakes.
The rail is in the true position with the track likely to be rated a Good 4 with only a clearing shower forecast.
My Flemington best bet comes up in the VOBIS Gold Reef with a horse that enjoys a seven rating points advantage over his nearest rivals. Delectable.
Race 1 - 12:15pm AEDT
4YO+ Open Mares Handicap (1100 METRES)
A Little Deep (1) resumes here looking to keep her unbeaten first-up record intact.
The Ciaron Maher-trained mare has won three from three first-up including last preparation when kicking her campaign off over this distance at Caulfield where she found the line strongly to win by a length.
While she was in the wrong part of the track when finishing eighth in the G3 Furphy Sprint here last start, she went within a nose of winning over this course and distance in January last year.
She’s drawn well and gets the services of Jamie Melham.
1 Unit – A Little Deep (1)
Race 2 - 12:45pm AEDT
VOBIS Gold Plate (1400 METRES)
As the only horse to have won a race in this field, Prestige Ole (1) is well placed under the set weight conditions of the race.
The Brideoake & Jenkins-trained colt was strong through the line when debuting over 1100m at Ballarat with a 2.1 length fourth.
Despite racing wide and back last start over 1200m at Ballarat, he picked up strongly in the final furlong to win by a neck.
The way he has been finding the line suggests that the rise to 1400m looks ideal third-up and Ben Allen should be able to settle in a prominent position from the good draw.
1 Unit – Prestige Ole (1)
Race 3 - 1:20pm AEDT
G3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200 METRES)
Enchanted By (5) led the inside group in the G3 Ottawa Stakes when resuming last start.
The Waterhouse & Bott-trained filly was the first home in her group, but she was clearly in the wrong part of the track as the outside group stormed home past her to leave her to finish 4.6 lengths sixth.
She’ll strip fitter second-up and gets blinkers on for the first time in the Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes.
Normally the outside section of the straight is the place to be and she’s drawn to race there this time for Craig Williams.
1 Unit – Enchanted By (5)
Race 4 - 1:55pm AEDT
VOBIS Gold Reef (1600 METRES)
Ndola (1) will appreciate the drop in class after finishing 5.2 lengths ninth in the G1 Australian Guineas last start.
Two starts back the Team Hayes-trained Justify colt caught the eye charging home strongly from the back to finish 3.3 lengths second to Sepals in the G3 CS Hayes Stakes.
Given the Australian Guineas run was a month ago, he’s had a jump out to keep things ticking over and he produced an excellent piece of work where he ran through the line powerfully.
He’s seven ratings points higher than his next rival so is extremely well weighted under the conditions of the race and is the best bet in my Australian Cup Day preview.
2 Units – Ndola (1)
Race 5 - 2:30pm AEDT
Curragh Handicap (1600 METRES)
Enxuto (10) is low flying and is aiming for his fourth win in a row.
The Robbie Griffiths-trained gelding won back-to-back races over a mile on the Hillside track with ease before coming to town last start where he dropped back to 1400m here.
Despite being held up in the straight, he savaged the line once clear to run down Capper Thirtynine for a nose victory.
He’ll enjoy returning to 1600m and to make sure he’s up to the mark, he had a soft jump out recently.
There doesn’t look to be a great deal of speed in the race which should see Luke Currie settle in a prominent position.
1 Unit – Enxuto (10)
Race 6 - 3:05pm AEDT
Listed ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000 METRES)
Pisanello (8) returned in great order in the G3 Maurice McCarten Stakes at Rosehill last start.
The James Cummings-trained gelding found the line strongly off a moderate speed to finish a neck third.
He’ll strip fitter second-up and won his only previous start at the track which was second-up last preparation over 1100m.
Jamie Melham will give him a great run behind what looks like a decent speed.
1 Unit – Pisanello (8)
Race 7 - 3:40pm AEDT
Listed HKJC World Pool Sprint Classic (1100 METRES)
Alabama Lass (6) is an exciting New Zealand filly that couldn’t have arrived in Australia in better form.
The Ken & Bev Kelso-trained daughter of Alabama Express was brilliant last start in the G3 Kings Plate at Ellerslie where she led before giving her rivals including leading New Zealand sprinter Crocetti the slip in the straight to win by 5.3 lengths.
She’s never been out of the top two in eight starts and won her only previous third-up race which was at G2 level.
She possesses excellent speed which should see Craig Williams either lead or take a sit if they go too hard.
The market took an instant liking to her upon opening, smashing her into favouritism which is what we want to see with one of our Australian Cup Day preview horses.
1 Unit – Alabama Lass (6)
Race 8 - 4:15pm AEDT
G1 Australian Cup (2000 METRES)
Any race that Pride Of Jenni contests is an intriguing contest and that is certainly the case with this year’s G1 Australian Cup.
I’m hoping that Pride Of Jenni and Deny Knowledge go at a strong speed which will set it up for Zardozi (8).
The James Cummings-trained mare was run off her feet early last start in the G2 Peter Young Stakes but was doing her best work late and taking ground off POJ to finish 2.8 lengths second.
She’s primed to produce her best fourth-up just as she did in previous preparations when winning the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes, finishing second in the G1 Australian Oaks and finishing a nose second in the G1 Metropolitan.
She has a good record at Flemington and the big straight will help her run down the leaders.
Zardozi is clearly the best value play in my Australian Cup Day preview.
1 Unit Each Way – Zardozi (8)
Race 9 - 4:55pm AEDT
Listed Roy Higgins (2600 METRES)
Deakin (3) has been freshened since putting his rivals to the sword for a 5.5 length win over 2500m in a Listed race at The Valley.
That was five weeks ago so Phillip Stokes put him through his paces in a 1200m jump out which delivered a super piece of work.
In his only previous race at Flemington, he was forced to work early from a wide barrier but did fight strongly to finish 1.3 lengths second over 2000m.
He maps to get a beautiful run for Daniel Stackhouse.
2 Units – Deakin (3)
Race 10 - 5:35pm AEDT
Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100 METRES)
Mytemptation (1) can be forgiven for failing at The Valley last start given he didn’t appreciate the soft surface.
That was the first loss in five starts for the Enver Jusofovic-trained gelding who is now on the quick back-up.
He was excellent first-up when proving too strong over this course and distance for a 1.5 length win.
He’s drawn well for Craig Williams and will strip fitter third-up.
1 Unit – Mytemptation (1)