Flemington, Saturday, 1/10
Conditions - Good
Race 1
10- CHARM STONE (BEST OF THE DAY)
4- MOUNT OLYMPUS
5- PANTELONE
No exposed race form in this. Thinking the key in this will be the runners who have trial experience down the Flemington Straight. CHARM STONE was an expensive yearling purchase who has seen the straight and has early market support which is always encouraging for a debutant. MOUNT OLYMPUS has also seen the Flemington straight when he beat home CHARM STONE in that trial. PANTELONE has also seen the straight in a trial, he has the services of Damien Oliver who is a super booking for a Flemington straight race.
Race 2
9- THE GARDEN
7- VISINARI
2- CHARACTER
THE GARDEN has good fitness coming into this 3rd up. He is 2/2 wins when he gets to 3rd Up and was an impressive winner last start with weight and from a wide barrier, he should find the race conditions easier with less weight but it is a tougher race, willing to be with him at better odds. Resuming VISINARI looks like he might be tough to beat. The form at the end of his last prep was super and form from those races has stacked up since. But it is hard to back him at the short odds but he may have good upside. On CHARACTER’S previous form, he generally improves the fitter he gets and he will come into this 3rd up now. He draws a low barrier and should get a soft run.
Race 3
1- SHE’S LICKETYSPLIT
12- AS TIME GOES BY
2- SUMATRA
SHE’S LICKETYSPLIT endured a tough run last start when she was well backed making her Australian debut. She had to carry a heavy weight and got caught wide. Less weight here today and 3rd up and fitter, should improve for having had the 1st up Australian run. AS TIME GOES BY looks a sneaky chance at bigger odds. She is a well bred filly and the stable thought enough of her to debut her at Group 3 level. She’s had more time now and should be improved from the 1st up run this prep. SUMATRA was 2nd last start and beat home todays fave in that race. The run was impressive considering she was coming from a wider barrier. She should appreciate more distance and a big open track.
Race 4
8- EXCELDIA
11- PRIDE OF JENNI
5- ARGENTIA
Looking past EXCELDIA’S 1st up run. She doesn’t often run well 1st up, but once she is 2nd up she is always a big improver. Her 2nd up record is (4:2-1-0) and she goes well here at Flemington, expecting she will be a big improver here. PRIDE OF JENNI is the current race fave. She is coming off a win in a good level race, she will push forwards and is good at this trip. ARGENTIA is a class runner when she finds her best form. She has a good 1st up record (3:2-0-0)and is good at the track. She gets every chance to find her best form here today.
Race 5
8- DOULL
3- GIGA KICK
5- BUENOS NOCHES
GIGA KICK has had an impressive start to his career he is the one to beat and will be a big chance to win, but I’m not too keen to play him at the short price due to the class of the horses that are in this field. Leaning towards DOULL at a better price, he was an impressive winner over this track/distance on debut. Like the fact that he is 2nd up and will be fitter after the spell. BUENOS NOCHES was a winner against a sharp field down the straight here last start, a repeat performance will be good enough again.
Race 6
4- DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR
5- DESERT ICON
10- INTERPRETATION
DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR is another runner who usually takes a few runs to find his best form. He is unplaced 1st & 2nd up, but has won 3rd up previously. 3rd up today and rising to a staying trip close to where he finds his best form. The 2400m trip is a big tick as he is proven over it. DESERT ICON has been flying of late, he has won back to back races at Moonee Valley and is now rising up in trip. The way he won his last start indicates the rise in distance shouldn’t bother him. In form and maps for a soft run, should be every chance here. INTERPRETATION is a European import, he is the current race fave and showed improvement 2nd up when rising in trip, could again improve given he will be fitter now.
Race 7
12- GOLD TRIP
2- DUAIS
13- CRYSTAL PEGASUS
Going to play GOLD TRIP in this, he is an import who we haven’t seen the best of here in Australia yet. He will carry a much lighter weight here today than he has in his most previous runs in Australia, booked with an inform jockey, expect he gets every chance to find his best form. DUAIS looks on a Melbourne Cup path, she has been building and is 3rd up today where she has a strong record (3:2-0-0). She goes well on this surface and has won here at the track, big watch. CRYSTAL PEGASUS shouldn’t be ignored at a big price. He has been going around on a heavy track and finally finds some much better ground, he is a lot better on a good surface, at this stage of a prep (3rd up) and his record over the trip is impressive (8:5-1-0)
Race 8
5- KEMALPASA (EW/VALUE OF DAY)
13- SWATS THAT
6- ROCH N HORSE
This should be a super race, looks tough as there is plenty of mixing form lines so we are looking form value. Happy to be with SA visitor KEMALPASA who has a super record here down the Flemington straight (5:2-1-2) over this track & distance and that includes 2x Group 2 wins. Not only with him due to that fact, but also how he returned in his 1st up run, he had no right to finish 2nd when he was caught wide carrying 62kgs. If he his at his best and over the foot issues, he looks a big chance. SWATS THAT was well supported last start when 3rd behind a pair of runners in this race. She found some trouble in the race and a clear run she might have won. She has put in strong performances at Group 1 level. ROCH N HORSE is a Group 1 winner down the Flemington straight. He goes well here at Flemington and is expected to improve now 3rd up.
Race 9
2- MAJOR BEEL
4- ARTZINO
1- MR MAESTRO
MAJOR BEEL was backed into a short price favourite last start when over this track/distance. He should improve finding better ground today and is proven here at Flemington. ARTZINO won his maiden well after missing the kick and running then down late, suggest that rising to the 1800m will suit him. MR MAESTRO beat home MAJOR BEEL last start to win here over the same track/distance. Rises in weight now, but need to be included in the numbers.
Quaddie
2,4,5,7,10
2,4,8,12,13
2,5,6,13
1,2,4
$300 = 100%
