The new season is upon us, and we’re all set for 2026 Aurie’s Star Handicap Day at Flemington!
Nine races are headlined by the Group 3 sprint that has attracted the likes of War Machine, Arkansaw Kid and Star Patrol, but there are plenty of strong betting contests to sink our teeth into.
Read on for my Flemington best bets, including 2026 Aurie’s Star Handicap tips.
NEARCO FROD chases a hat-trick on Aurie’s Star Handicap Day.
The Hunter’s Light gelding wasn’t far away at either of his first two runs back this time, but after recording a dominant victory third-up when out to the mile and a half at Sandown earlier this month, he repeated the dose at the same track and trip most recently.
In peak order, this looks a perfect opportunity for him to transition into Saturday metro company, while another rise in trip also looks to suit.
| 5. Nearco Frod (4) J: Blake Shinn 57kg x3211T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy | |||
| Chasing a hat-trick. Last start won by 1.3 len at Sandown-Hillside Bm74 July 15 over 2400m on a heavy track defeating Shultzy with 59.5kg at $3. The run before that tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 1.75 len at Sandown-Lakeside Bm74 July 1 over 2400m in the wet defeating Empress Of The Sun with 57kg at $3.70. | |||
HEARTS AFFAIR takes winning form and improvement into this contest.
Hearts Affair finished down the order over 1100m at Warwick Farm on debut in February and was immediately tipped out, and that decision paid immediate dividends when she returned to action for a decisive victory at Kembla Grange a couple of weeks ago.
This is a noticeable rise in class, but she’s clearly furnished into a stronger horse this time in, she’s got plenty of upside and so long as she handles the straight, I think she’ll be in the finish again.
| 8. Hearts Affair (7) J: Beau Mertens 54kg 8×1T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | |||
| Second-up. First start ran second last of 9 at Warwick Farm 2yo Mdn-Sw on February 18 over 1100m, 6 len behind Wolf Gap carrying 55kg at $16. Returned from break came from midfield and won by 2.25 len at Kembla Grange 2yo Mdn-Sw July 16 over 1000m defeating Andarna carrying 55kg at $3.60. Only needs to hold that form to be winning again. | |||
STAR OF INDIA has turned in several performances recently that have suggested another race win is imminent.
While he is yet to strike this time in, the Galileo gelding was only just denied over this route by Ghetto Supastar last month, and after a rare flat performance at Caulfield two back, he was again very good into the minors back here at Flemington last time out.
Clearly, he loves the conditions here, he has drawn to receive the run of the race from barrier 4 and this looks his chance to get up in Saturday metro company.
| 4. Star Of India (4) J: Jye Mcneil 57.5kg 77293T: Chris Waller | |||
| Most recently 3rd of 13 at this track Bm100 on July 18 over 2000m, on a slow track; 1.5 len behind Saint George with 57.5kg at $17. The race before that ran last of 9 at Caulfield Qlty Hcp on June 27 over 2000m, on a slow track; 16 len behind Nellie Leylax with 56.5kg at $8. | |||
This is undoubtedly one of the more open races on Aurie’s Star Handicap Day and with a case to be made for many of them, I’m eager to have an each way play on RESET THE JAZZ.
It has been a short while since Reset The Jazz won a race, but he was caught in the worst part of the track over 1400m at Sandown when resuming and was simply never a factor.
He’s a horse that tends to enjoy sharp improvement at this point of his preparation (5:2-1-0), while he should enjoy a far better time of things this week from a low draw, and with some relief in the weights under Jackson Radley.
| 2. Reset The Jazz (2) J: Jackson Radley 62kg 374×0T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Second run back. First-up after five months 10th of 14 at Sandown-Hillside Bm78 on July 15 over 1400m, in the wet; 8 len behind Kahhof with 57.5kg at $41. Previously second-up ran second last of 10 at Wodonga Wodonga Cup on November 28 over 1590m, 16 len behind Morning Darling carrying 58.5kg at $3.20. | |||
Another one that I am happy to give another chance second up on Aurie’s Star Day is STEALTH OF NIGHT in Race 5.
Stealth Of Night was a strong and consistent performer during her first two racing preparations, winning four of eight starts, placing on every other occasion and finding form around some classy individuals.
Her first up run this time was one of a horse that clearly required a hit-out, and with natural improvement, relief in the weights and launching from the good barrier, I’m confident she can keep alive an unbeaten second up record.
| 2. Stealth Of Night (4) J: Jackson Radley 60.5kg 123×8T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Second run back. First-up after five months 8th of 12 at Caulfield Bm78 on July 11 over 1100m, on a slow track; 2.5 len behind Markdel with 58.5kg at $6.50. Previously second-up won by 0.5 len at Sandown-Lakeside Bm70 December 10 over 1400m defeating Thorin with 57kg at $1.80. | |||
Blake Shinn returns to the saddle after a lengthy injury spell and TOUCHDOWN rates as a key winning chance for the veteran hoop.
Touchdown himself returned from a break to finished second behind an impressive Kahhof at Sandown a couple of weeks ago, and he’s open to plenty of improvement for that hit-out.
The horse has finished worse than second just once in eight trips to the races since debuting and gets plenty of ticks this week, dropping in the weights and racing on top of the ground.
| 10. Touchdown (10) J: Blake Shinn 57kg 114×2T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Second run back. First-up after six months 2nd of 14 at Sandown-Hillside Bm78 on July 15 over 1400m, in the wet; 1.5 len behind Kahhof with 58kg at $3.80. Previously second-up 2nd of 9 at Ballarat 0 – 62 on October 6 over 1600m, slow going 3.5 len behind Dancing Dolly with 60kg at $2.60. | |||
The first Group 1 features of the season are just around the corner, and a small but classy field will assemble for the Aurie’s Star Handicap; a race that so often represents as an ideal launchpad into top-line events.
Group 1 winner WAR MACHINE returns to action and if he brings his best form, he’ll be hard to beat.
It’s fair to say that he didn’t come up during the autumn this year, and after being well beaten by the likes of Hedged and Veight in the Group 2 Australia Stakes, his campaign was abandoned after he finished down the order in a Newmarket.
Having trialled up well, he’s a Group 2 winner at this track and distance, Blake Shinn rides and has options in the run from barrier 1.
| 1. War Machine (1) J: Blake Shinn 60.5kg 0x30xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Gelding returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last campaign 11th of 14 at this track in the G1 Newmarket March 7 over 1200m, 4 len behind Caballus with 57kg at $13. When resuming last campaign third in a small field at Pakenham in the G2 Aust Stks January 23 over 1200m, 3.5 len behind Hedged carrying 58.5kg at $1.30. | |||
SASS APPEAL was also included in Aurie’s Star Handicap nominations, but trainer Danny O’Brien has elected to launch the horse’s preparation in this softer race.
The So You Think filly hasn’t been seen at the races since March, but she enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence during her debut prep, winning four of five starts and finishing the runner up on the other occasion.
Having trialled up a treat, anything close to her best would be good enough to see her account for this field.
| 10. Sass Appeal (2) J: Logan Bates 53kg 1111xT: Danny O’brien | |||
| Racing first-up today. Finished off last preparation winning won by 2.75 len this track G2 Kewney March 7 over 1600m defeating Pillow Fight with 56kg at $2.35. On debut second of 13 at Sandown-Lakeside 3yo F Mdn-Sw December 10 over 1200m, 0.5 len behind Karren carrying 57kg at $26. | |||
JUST LIKE GABY resumes in a winnable race at Flemington this week.
While we haven’t seen her at the races this year, Just Like Gaby tends to fly fresh, winning once and only just denied in another of her three first up targets so far.
Down in the weights and off the back of a nice Cranbourne trial, she can use this as a springboard into something stronger.
| 11. Just Like Gaby (9) J: Jabez Johnstone 54.5kg 1547xT: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Mare returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last preparation seventh of 12 at Pakenham Bm74 December 13 over 1000m, 2 len behind Manolo Bling with 57kg at $9.50. Previous preparation first-up won by long-neck Sandown-Hillside Bm66 September 24 over 1000m defeating Actuality with 59kg at $4.80. | |||