Ten races will be run and won at Flemington this Saturday, January 17th.
As we continue to gear up for another Autumn Racing Carnival, Saturday metropolitan fields continue to grow in size and quality, and this week’s program features plenty of excellent betting races.
You can find all of my thoughts and Flemington best bets below.
Just one of the eight starters engaged in the first has race day experience, but I am going to have something small on a debutant.
MIRADOR is a filly by Brazen Beau and out of Almanzora, and after trialling well down the straight here twice, she looks forward enough to win on debut.
| 6. Mirador (5) J: Luke Currie 57kg T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
POLITELY DUN hit the line over 2000m here last time out and is in peak order ahead of this assignment.
He’s yet to win this time in, but there’s no doubt that he has continued to improve with each start this time, and his latest start was around some classy types.
Getting out to the 2520m this week suits and he’s well placed in my opinion.
| 3. Politely Dun (7) J: Jordan Childs 57kg 58024T: Danny O’brien |
OUR CHIEF is third up and primed to strike at HQ.
He’s missed placing just once in five trips to the races so far, and after returning to action to fill the minors in BM70 company at Cranbourne last month, the Tagaloa gelding was only denied by an impressive Flying Done here last time out.
Fitter third-up, out in trip and under Mark Zahra, he looks a great chance of going one better.
| 3. Our Chief (3) J: Michael Dee 58.5kg 15×32T: Danny O’brien |
YES I KNOW is another one that is fit and ready to win at Flemington this week, in my opinion.
Having finished midfield, beaten a little over two and a half lengths on Ladbrokes Cranbourne Cup Day when resuming, the So You Think gelding filled the minors in BM74 company second up before only just missing here on New Year’s Eve.
He loves the conditions at HQ, and the 1800m, and he should receive every chance from an inside alley and under Mark Zahra.
| 14. Yes I Know (2) J: Jamie Mott 58kg 1×532T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
CELERITY takes winning form into another nice race at Flemington.
The Ciaron Maher-trained mare has been a model of consistency through ten trips to the races, and after a couple of decent efforts first and second up this time, she kicked clear to record what was easily her most impressive victory to date here last time out, hitting the line nearly four lengths ahead of her rivals.
In peak order, I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.
| 6. Celerity (4) J: Robert Whearty 56kg 3×351T: Ciaron Maher |
Saturday’s feature in Melbourne sees eight horses chase their share in $175K in the VOBIS Gold Reef and I think it’s a perfect race for the fit and in form HARRY’S YACHT.
Harry’s Yacht has bookended a four-race prep this season with impressive victories, bouncing back from a couple of near misses with a really eye-catching performance to strike at Ladbrokes Geelong a fortnight ago.
In peak order and out to the mile on the big Flemington track, he’s got a condition edge over several key rivals and looks very well placed again.
| 4. Red Galaxy (8) J: Luke Cartwright 58kg 200×3T: Greg Eurell |
RED GALAXY is second up and rates as a key chance at nice odds this week.
He showed good promise and ability during the early staged of his autumn and winter prep last year before his form tailed off late, but after trialling up nicely in December, he returned to fill the minors in BM84 company at Ladbrokes Geelong.
He’s unbeaten over 1200m, is yet to finish worse than second at this point of his preparation and if he handles the straight, I think he looks a great bet.
| 4. Red Galaxy (8) J: Luke Cartwright 58kg 200×3T: Greg Eurell |
SAINT GEORGE takes winning form into the eighth at Flemington.
The classy stayer was only just denied in the Seymour Cup and the Cup Day Plate at his first two runs back in spring, and after a brief freshen up, was far from disgraced in the Ballarat Cup.
He returned to winning form in BM100 company last month in what was a dominant performance, and with a few weeks between runs and getting back to HQ, this looks a lovely race for him.
| 2. Saint George (6) J: Robert Whearty 60kg x2261T: Ciaron Maher |
ZOUPER FUND doesn’t know how to run a bad race.
The Zoustar gelding has won five of eight starts since debuting, including his first up run at Ballarat last month.
Having only been denied half a length over 1200m at Cranbourne at his only other start this time, he’s open to further improvement and will relish getting out to the 1400m at this point of his prep.
Mark Zahra rides and with even luck from the wide alley, I think he’ll take a power of beating.
| 8. Zouper Fund (13) Scratched: | |||
There’s a case to be made for a few of them in the last at Flemington on Saturday and it’s shaping as a good betting race.
ITAZURA faces a rise in class, but he looks to have very good ability, and he’s got a fitness edge over some key rivals.
Having returned to action to fill the minors over 1000m at Moe, the Tagaloa gelding stripped fitter into an easy win in maiden company.
Another rise in trip out to 1400m looks suitable, he gets into the race well and I am confident he can go on with it.
| 6. Itazura (2) J: Luke Nolen 56kg 3×31T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |