Flemington, Saturday, 5/11
Conditions - Good
Race 1
5- CASTLEREAGH KID
6- UNANIMOUS
10- CHICAGO BEAR
CASTLEREAGH KID resumes here today and has a super 1st up record and well as a super record in these expected good track conditions. He was contesting at a sharper level during his last prep and I’m expecting he will be here in sharp condition and can fire fresh. UNANIMOUS was a winner here at Flemington recently, he goes well on a good track and should be prominent in the running. Usually runs well here at Flemington. CHICAGO BEAR is an import making a debut here today. His recent trials have been encouraging, expect he can run well fresh but is definitely one to follow going forwards out of this race.
Race 2
19- WUDDZZ
8- AESOPP
5- KISSINGER
WUDDZZ should be an improver now he is 2nd up, he made an impressive run late coming through the field to flash late last start. I think he will be more suited here on the bigger track and these imports can be big improvers after making their Aus debut, so banking on him finding the improvement today. AESOPP was an impressive winner 2 starts back before racing under expectation next at Caulfield. Suggest he didn’t enjoy the heavy conditions that day and he may be an improver here getting onto better ground. KISSINGER is coming back down in distance, but feel he could still be competitive based on his recent form against some strong competition. He has won at this distance previously and is capable.
Race 3
8- EPONYMOUS
1- SANDPAPER
3- ANGRY SKIES
Very open race here so looking for some EW value. EPONYMOUS was unlucky to not win 2 starts back at Moonee Valley and then he didn’t really improve late in the last start at Caulfield. Feel he didn’t appreciate the wet track and he finds a good track here which should help him improve. SANDPAPER is a last start listed level winner, no knock on his form at all, but he has drawn a horrible barrier and has a lot of work to do, he will need a lot of luck in running but has talent. ANGRY SKIES was 2nd to SANDPAPER last time. He is lightly raced and was coming off a freshen up in that last race, feel he will be a big improver today with a bit more fitness on his side and he will appreciate a bigger track today.
Race 4
4- GREAT HOUSE
5- LUNAR FLARE
11- SOULCOMBE
GREAT HOUSE takes a drop in grade today after contesting The Turnbull Stakes and then The Caulfield Cup. I feel he is much better suited to this grade and he is proven to get the trip, so expect he will be strong late. LUNAR FLARE was on a Melbourne Cup path before he was scratched on vets advice. Expecting based on that he will be at a peak level of fitness. He won a Group 3 here 2 starts back in a similar race and good track conditions are going to suit him. SOULCOMBE is a bit of an unknown making his debut as a European import. His form is super back in Europe so it’s no doubt he is a talented stayer. The only question mark is how he has adjusted since arriving in Aus and the dry track conditions.
Race 5
4- ATICHU
3- SIRILEO MISS
12- THE MAP
ATICHU was 2L off a Group 1 and it was a strong run considering she was help up in the straight. Believe that form line will stack up back in this level. She looked to appreciate this track in the last start and a dryer track will suit. SIRILEO MISS gets a super race map here and should be able to push forwards and take control of this race. Would concede that her record here at Flemington isn’t ideal, but she is much better on a Good surface and she is going to find that here. Including SA runner THE MAP who is a talented filly and at her best she could be capable at this level. She is big odds and it’s a sharp step up in class, but she is strong late and this track and trip will suit.
Race 6
1- NATURE STRIP (BEST OF DAY)
13- ARGENTIA
14- GIGA KICK
NATURE STRIP is a star and is every chance to bounce back from The Everest defeat here at Flemington today. The Everest wasn’t run to suit him with a very hot tempo put into the race and he still fought on impressively. His record here down the Flemington straight is super and he will be hard to stop. Giving ARGENTIA a big chance at large odds today, she rises in grade but the way she has been winning is impressive and she has a great straight track record. GIGA KICK is the young up and coming star runner who won The Everest and that is super form. The ceiling on his talented hasn’t been found yet, so he needs to be included based on that last start and the potential he has.
Race 7
4- ALLIGATOR BLOOD (VALUE OF DAY)
2- PRIVATE EYE
5- MR BRIGHTSIDE
Thought ALLIGATOR BLOOD’S run in the Cox Plate was huge. He was drawn out wide and fought to get across to share the lead. I like him back at the 1600m and he is well suited here on a good track, boasts a 3:2-1-0 record at Flemington as well. PRIVATE EYE is coming into this race with some super strong form lines including a 2nd placing in The Everest. His recent form is super and he will rise to the 1600m here, but his 3:2-0-0 record suggests he will handle this trip easily. MR BRIGHTSIDE has been running super lately in high level races. He probably finds easier competition here today which will help give him a chance. He has won a Doncaster Mile as well so his class can’t be discounted in this on a good track.
Race 8
7- ANAMOE
2- ZAAKI
1- IM THUNDERSTRUCK
This is a rematch for some of the major players from the recent Cox Plate. ANAMOE is an absolute star and is flying, feel the others will struggle to make the ground up on him based on how good he has been this prep. This is his 1st look at Flemington but it’s a track that feel will suit him and he will be storming home late. ZAAKI maps to take up the lead like he did in the Cox Plate and with this race map today, he probably has an easier run on speed with less runners wanting the challenge for that position. If he gets it soft enough up, he may prove hard to reel in on this track where he has a super record. IM THUNDERSTRUCK has finished 2nd behind ANAMOE in both his last starts. He hasn’t been far away from turning the tables and with the space at this track, he gets the room to be able to find a position with clear running space and run them down.
Race 9
6- TAUNTING
10- PICARONES
20- TREPORTI
TAUNTING was horribly unlucky in his last start at Moonee Valley when he couldn’t find a run through the field. The stable have a big opinion of how talented he is, I feel he profiles really well for a run here down the straight. If he does handle the straight and finds room late, he will be hard to hold out. PICARONES is a last start winner but is dropping back in distance which appears as if it may not suit. Think she has class and is a good chance given she draws an outside barrier and expecting that may play as the best part of the track come this time of the meeting. TREPORTI will get a run in this now as the emergency after the scratchings have come out. He resumes here today and generally runs well fresh and will find suitable conditions here today, expect he will be a big chance.
Quaddie
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2,4,5,8
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6,9,10,20
$16 = 100%
