Flemington hosts Melbourne’s major metropolitan meeting this week and nine races make up the program.
The rail will be set out a whopping 11 metres around the entire course while at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Soft (7) range.
Check out my Flemington best bets and full VRC Country Raceday Preview below.
SATONO’S SHOUT has improved for two runs since debuting and gets a great chance to win at Flemington on Saturday.
The son of Satono Aladdin finished on the placegetters’ heels over 1200m on debut at the ‘Bool last month and took improvement into a close-up third at Sandown last time out.
Fitter third-up, he should get his chance on the big Flemington track this week.
| 9. Satono’s Shout (3) J: Jye Mcneil 57kg 43T: Chris Waller | |||
| Raced twice to date. At debut, 4th of 11 at Warrnambool 2yo Hcp on May 6 over 1200m, on heavy track; 3.5 len behind Centenary Florin with 59kg at $10. Last start held ground to the line 3rd of 9 at Sandown-Lakeside 2yo Hcp on June 3 over 1400m, on heavy track; 1.2 len behind Vallice carrying 59kg at $4.60. Heading the right way and sets up well. | |||
DECALOGUE chases a hat-trick this week at Flemington.
The Extreme Choice gelding has been a consistent performer since resuming but has also steadily improved with each run; ultimately breaking his maiden with a dominant performance up at Newcastle two runs back.
Having franked that effort when he went on with it in BM72 company at Randwick last time out, he’s clearly in peak order and sticks to the 2000m, and he’s another one that I think will be perfectly suited to racing at HQ.
| 1. Decalogue (10) J: Jabez Johnstone 59kg 24211T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Chasing a hat-trick. Last start favourite; ran on from midfield and won by 1.4 len at Randwick 3yo Bm72 June 6 over 2000m on a soft track defeating Simply Gold with 56kg at $3.20. The run before that favourite; tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; scored a big 4.5 len win at Newcastle Mdn-Sw May 19 over 1850m in soft going defeating Scoop The Pool with 58kg at $1.40. Flying in Sydney and that form should hold up strongly. | |||
THE WESTERN FRONT rates as a key winning chance again at Flemington this week.
His recent form has been nothing short of outstanding and included three wins from his last four starts, with the only miss coming in the Listed Andrew Ramsden two back.
Given that he immediately bouncing back in the Sandown Cup last time out, he’s in peak condition, I don’t think the drop in trip will be anything of an issue given it also looks to be a noticeably weaker contest.
| 5. The Western Front (13) J: Daniel Stackhouse 57.5kg 41161T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Last start raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by a nose at Sandown-Lakeside LR Sandown Cup May 31 over 3200m on a rain affected track defeating Zibulon carrying 55kg at $3. The race before that 6th of 14 at this track in the LR Ramsden on May 16 over 2800m, 6 len behind Zakouma carrying 58.5kg at $6.50. Back in trip no issue and can keep the ball rolling. | |||
CHOIR POINT is the one for me in Race 4.
The Blue Point filly has recorded two wins from as many starts this time in, bouncing back from a near miss with an eye-catching performance at Caulfield three weeks away, hitting the line ahead of the well fancied High On The Hill.
She relishes a rain-affected track and in peak order, she need only handle the straight to be fighting out the finish once more.
| 4. Choir Point (6) J: Luke Cartwright 56kg 6×131T: Matt Laurie | |||
| Racing well recently. Last start won by 0.5 len at Caulfield 3yo Hcp May 30 over 1100m on a heavy track defeating High On The Hill with 52.5kg at $6.50. The start before that raced on the pace when 3rd of 12 at Bendigo 3yo Hcp on May 2 over 1100m, 2 len behind Navy Pilot with 54kg at $5. Got right run last time but won well, respecting. | |||
TEN COMMANDMENT takes winning form and improvement into this contest.
Having gone for a break after winning in BM66 company out in the country in November, the Palentino gelding returned to action for a dominant victory in a BM70 sprint at Sandown, greeting the judge nearly five lengths in the clear.
With natural improvement and getting out in trip, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
| 8. Ten Commandments (5) J: Jabez Johnstone 57kg 741×1T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Second run back. First-up after six months scored a big 4.5 len win at Sandown-Lakeside 2yo+ Bm70 May 31 over 1200m on a rain affected track defeating Keane Enuff carrying 58.5kg at $6.50. Previously second-up ran second last of 8 at Horsham Bm70 on October 19 over 1200m, 2.5 len behind Comic Hero carrying 60kg at $14. Clearly the one to beat again. Dominant fresh and looks very hard to beat again. | |||
We were with FIRST CHORUS when she saluted last time out, and I am keen to stick with her this week.
The Ghibellines mare has finished worse than second only once in four runs back this time, bouncing back from a rare flat performance with a dominant effort to justify an odds-on quote last time out.
She carried topweight that day and drops a few kgs into handicap conditions, and with appropriate luck in the run, she can certainly go on with it.
| 8. First Chorus (8) J: Jamie Mott 55.5kg x1291T: Lindsey Smith | |||
| At the latest run favourite; was well back until straightening; raced back then made ground from the turn; won by 2.25 len at Caulfield F&M Bm78 May 30 over 1600m on a heavy track defeating Enna’s Dream carrying 59kg at $1.65. The run before that couldn’t go on with it; 9th of 14 at this track Bm74 on April 25 over 1800m, 6 len behind Mr Blunt with 56.5kg at $3.80. Back in trip off a setback but is classy enough to win again. | |||
This is undoubtedly the strongest race on the program and there’s a case to be made for a few of them, including NEW YORK LUSTRE.
New York Lustre recorded some deserved black type when saluting in the Group 3 Begonia Belle at the end of her spring prep last year, while she returned to action to fill the minors behind Grand Larceny in the Group 3 John Hawkes Stakes down at Morphettville.
Having last been seen finishing fourth, beaten just over half a length in the Group 1 Goodwood, she’s been kept up to the mark with a recent trial, this is a substantial drop in class, and a repeat of that performance would see her extremely difficult to beat.
| 2. New York Lustre (9) J: Ben Allen 58kg 31×34T: Enver Jusufovic | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. Comes off a 42 day let-up. Resuming held ground to the line 3rd of 20 at Morphettville in the G3 Hawkes Stakes on April 25 over 1100m, 0.8 len behind Grand Larceny carrying 58.5kg at $6.50. Second-up sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 14 at Morphettville in the G1 The Goodwood on May 9 over 1200m, slow going 0.7 len behind Desert Lightning with 54kg at $20. Going well in Group races, should be right there again. | |||
Another strong race with a host of key chances engaged, but I thought that PUNCH LANE found his right race, and at nice odds ($7.50 at publish).
It has been a little over a year since he last tasted success in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup, but Punch Lane has undoubtedly improved with each of three runs back this time, and I thought there was plenty to like about his most recent effort for third, beaten just over a length over 1400m at Sandown.
He gets back out to his pet trip this week, he’s a horse that will relish the sting out of the track, and we can have something on each way at the price.
| 4. Punch Lane (4) J: Luke Cartwright 59.5kg 0x603T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | |||
| Last start set the pace for much of the race 3rd of 7 at Sandown-Hillside Hcp on June 13 over 1400m, on a slow track; 1.3 len behind Coeur Volante with 59.5kg at $5. Before that raced behind the speed prior to fading 10th of 16 at Sandown-Hillside Bm100 on May 23 over 1400m, slow going 6 len behind Meridius with 58.5kg at $20. Building nicely and gets a good scenario here. | |||
PADDYPIE puts an unbeaten record on the line in the last at Flemington.
While he has only made two appearances at the races since debuting, Paddypie couldn’t have done more than what he has produced, breaking his maiden before winning again in BM62 company.
This is another decent rise in class, but he has upside and is a winner over a mile previously as well.
| 8. Paddypie (1) J: Billy Egan 54.5kg 11T: Patrick Payne | |||
| Looking to keep his unbeaten record intact. When well in the market on debut, favourite; won by 0.8 len at Seymour Mdn-Sw May 21 over 1300m in soft going defeating Blue Shield carrying 59.5kg at $2.60. Last time out favourite; ran on from midfield and won by 0.8 len at Donald Bm62 June 9 over 1620m on a soft track defeating Timeonlees carrying 60.5kg at $1.70. Very progressive and should measure up. | |||
