Flemington, Saturday, 29/10
Conditions - Soft
Race 1
1- TIJUANA
12- PUNGO
4- THE FORTUNE TELLER
TIJUANA bring the strongest form lines into this race today. He was 5th at Group 1 level last start behind some sharp runners who have since gone on to frank form. He is a winner here at the track as well. PUNGO comes into this after winning at maiden level last start. He has big wraps about him and is proven on a heavy track but this is a much harder race now. THE FORTUNE TELLER wasn’t far behind TIJUANA last start in the Group 1. He has a wider barrier to deal with but still think the form from that Group 1 is the strongest form lines.
Race 2
1- ALEGRON (VALUE OF THE DAY)
8- SUREFIRE
4- CRYSTAL PEGASUS
ALEGRON was well supported for The Caulfield Cup, but had a few things go against him. He can be a big improver here on a track where he has had previous success and I like the fact he is 4th up and fitter into this prep now. SUREFIRE is coming into this after a 2nd placing in The Geelong Cup after he was supported into favouritism that day. He is proven on the heavy going so if he finds those conditions here, expect he will handle them fine. CRYSTAL PEGASUS put in a good run in The Caulfield Cup and at big odds he wouldn’t surprise here as he has shown he generally improves the deeper into a prep he gets.
Race 3
3- GENERATION
8- TRIPLE MISSILE
1- THE ASTROLOGIST
GENERATION put in a huge performance 2 starts back in The Group 1 Moir last start. The form from that race has since been franked with the 2nd placed horse winning a Group 1 last weekend. If GENERATION can handle the wet track, he maps for a soft run from barrier 3 and will be well positioned. Feel TRIPLE MISSILE’S chances will improve if the track conditions improve towards a soft track. Barrier 12 gives him options and the only other time we have seen him down the Flemington straight he was a winner. THE ASTROLOGIST is a straight track specialist and has a 8:2-2-2 record at this track/distance.
Race 4
8- AS TIME GOES BY
1- JENNY JEROME
6- ZENNZELLA
AS TIME GOES BY looks to have been building towards a race such as this. The last start 5th she was only 2.7L behind a runner who is in the market for a Group 1 here today. While AS TIME GOES BY is still yet to win a maiden, she looks like she may peak now at the 2000m trip. JENNY JEROME gets out to the 2000m trip for the 1st time as well today. If conditions don’t improve, she came ho against a heavy track last start and did look like she managed to handle it fine. ZENZELLA went back in grade last start and accounted easily for a field at maiden level. She is bred to handle wet conditions and comes from a stable who has a super record with these stayers. She shouldn’t be discounted at big odds.
Race 5
7- TURAATH (BEST OF THE DAY)
8- OLD FLAME
15- PRIDE OF JENNI
TURAATH was ultra impressive when winning 2nd up at Geelong against a handy field last start. She looks as if she will get a lot of favours in this today as she has a good record at this track/distance (2:2-0-0), she has proven to be able to handle a heavy track if that is what she has to face today and she is drawn an inside barrier to utilise early speed. OLD FLAME was strongly supported last start but ended up in a horrible position and was never a chance. He should be given another chance after that performance. PRIDE OF JENNI is a winner on a heavy track and maps as the leader through this race. If she gets that run soft enough, she will take some catching.
Race 6
15- IN SECRET
4- LOFTY STRIKE
1- JACQUINOT
IN SECRET is only lightly raced but continues to improve on an already impressive record. She is proven on the wet track so conditions shouldn’t bother her and last time she was over the 1200m she was an impressive winner. LOFTY STRIKE wouldn’t surprise at big odds, he is a winner here down the straight and was progressing well prior to an injury. Expect he can be an improver 2nd up now after that injury. JACQUINOT is coming into this on the back of a super effort in The Everest where he was 1.5L off the winners. He draws out wide which may suit him to be on superior ground late.
Race 7
2- BERKLEY SQUARE
1- SHARP N SMART
5- PERICLES
The way BERKLEY SQUARE was finishing off when he won last weekend suggests that he will be able to handle the rise in trip here today. His overall record is super and he will adapt to any of the track conditions. Feel this has been his goal for a while now and he will be peaking at the right time. SHARP N SMART has won 3 in a row and none so was more impressive than his win last weekend when he was powering over the line in tough conditions, a performance similar to that last start will be good enough here. PERICLES is from an in form stable who is having big success winning Group 1s this season. It won’t be a surprise if this is his grand final run and he peaks here today.
Race 8
14- LA CRIQUE
16- SHE’S LICKETYSPLIT
3- KISSONALLFORCHEEKS
LA CRIQUE makes her Australian debut here today. She has deserved the trip from NZ after a huge last start run when winning a Group 1 . If she can live up to the form that she has displayed in NZ, she will be hard to beat. SHE’S LICKETYSPLIT was a winner over this track/distance 2 starts back but then didn’t look to appreciate the heavy going as much in her last start. If she gets improving ground here today, it should improve her chances. KISSONALLFORCHEEKS has won 2/2 previous runs here at Flemington. He has a good winning record and wouldn’t surprise at big odds but will want a drying track.
Race 9
2- ASFOORA
3- ZAPATEO
7- WRITTEN BEAUTY
ASFOORA was horribly unlucky 2 starts back at Moonee Valley when not finding a run in the straight but with a heap left in the tank. She has then come out and destroyed her rivals next start at Caulfield in impressive time. Drawn well here and will get a good run, should prove hard to beat. ZAPATEO went down at short odds a fortnight ago. Forgiving hIm for that 1 run. He potentially will find himself in the better part of the track out wide in the straight and is proven on a heavy surface. WRITTEN BEAUTY is also drawn out wide which may be an advantage but this time of the day, goes well on a heavy and has won down the straight before.
Quaddie
1,4,6,14,15
1,2,4,5,8,10
14
2,3
$60 = 100%
