Flemington, Thursday, 3/11
Conditions - Soft
Race 1
1- ARKTIKA (BEST OF THE DAY)
7- MATRON BULLWINKEL
8- STALKING
ARKTIKA was a big improver when 2nd up last start rising in trip and finding suitable conditions. She will find similar conditions here today and is at an ideal trip again. Form from her runs this prep have begun to stack up so she looks the best placed. MATRON BULLWINKEL will rise from the 1400m to a more suitable trip which should see her improve on the last start. She is with an in form jockey and stable, looks a strong chance. STALKING was an improver when she got to 3rd up last prep, this trip will suit and if the track gets to a heavy she will appreciate it.
Race 2
2- CHARM STONE
12- EMPRESS OF WONDER
3- HARLEEN
Leaning on the fact that CHARM STONE has race experience down this Flemington straight as a big advantage. She was well supported that day, indicating she has decent talent. Like the wider draw as well as the outside may be the better part of the track. EMPRESS OF WONDER is the debutant who has had the most impressive trials and might be ready for a big debut. She has drawn the outside which again may be the best part of the track today. HARLEEN was an impressive debutant winner in SA recently. Has good early speed and an ideal jockey. This race was won by an SA horse at decent odds last year.
Race 3
8- ROOTS
4- SUR LA MER
12- CLIMBING STAR
ROOTS is becoming real short now, but she just looks really well placed and should be hard to beat. Handles a wet track and this is coming back down in grade now, think she has the extra class against these and a very strong association with McDonald. SUR LA MER gets a much better race map than what she had to deal with last start. She has drawn barrier 1 today so she gets a chance to roll more forward and be positive. The wet conditions will suit as well. CLIMBING STAR was 2nd in a Group 2 and this appears an easier race now. Showed that day that she is capable of handling a wet track.
Race 4
1- SEE YOU IN HEAVEN (EW/VALUE OF DAY)
4- PORTRAY
12- GREY RIVER
SEE YOU IN HEAVEN had a massive 2YO season here and back in SA, she is clearly a talented filly and we haven’t seen the best of her yet this prep, but she has had impressive runs. The last start run was particularly impressive as it was a stronger race and she was dealt a wide barrier, came hard late and was only 2L off the winner, looks as if she will appreciate the 1400m. PORTRAY maps to get the soft run up on the speed here today and should land in a strong position through the run. Was a winner last start on a heavy deck so if the track is cut up, it will suit. GREY RIVER looks another exciting prospect coming from South Aus. She went a miss in her 1st prep but has returned with back to back wins and the last start win at Morphettville was a demolition job.
Race 5
4- ALCYONE
12- SAINT BATHANS
14- RIGHT YOU ARE
ALCYONE come back out to a trip that will suit him much better than the last start 1500m. He has a great record here at the track and has won at this track/distance previously. Conditions will suit and he should get a gun run. SAINT BATHANS was an impressive winner in his last start. He should be peaking in fitness now and absolutely loves a wet track, if conditions get to a heavy, he is a huge consideration. RIGHT YOU ARE is 3rd up and will strip fitter now, he chased home SAINT BATHANS last start but meets him here better at the weights and has the fitness now 3rd up.
Race 6
1- KALLOS
3- ZOUSTYLE
5- JOYFUL FORTUNE
KALLOS has won here previously at the track and down the straight as well. He was 2nd last start behind Asfoora at Group 2 level and Asfoora has since come out and won again, that is a good form line for this today. ZOUSTYLE hasn’t been far away from a win in all of his 3 starts here in Victoria since coming down from Queensland. He looks a type that should appreciate the straight track and a good straight track jockey has been booked. JOYFUL FORTUNE brings the strongest sprint form lines into this race having contested The Everest in his last start. He was less than 5L away from the winner but it’s still hard to judge exactly how good he is as his run prior to that was still at BM level.
Race 7
13- CORONA LAD
1- MAXIMUS PRIME
4- ATOMIC GOLD
This is the toughest race of all day with a big mix of form lines making it tough to navigate. CORONA LAD didn’t win his heat of this series back in September, but he has since had a run while a few others haven’t, he should have the fitness edge based on that, looks a big chance to improve on the recent 2nd placings and is still good EW value. MAXIMUS PRIME is the highest rated runner in this field, we will have to carry weight because of that fact, but the last start was an impressive win in a similar type race, will adapt to the wetter track conditions if they come. ATOMIC GOLD beat home CORONA LAD when they met in their best for this race. He has since freshened up, so his fitness level will be the query but including him based on that performance in the heat.
Race 8
2- ZENNZELLA
1- SHE’S EXTREME
5- FOXY CLEOPATRA
ZENXELLA for me in the Group 1 today, the question on most of this field is how will they handle the 2500m trip. The way she was finishing off when she won the recent 2000m lead up race suggests she will handle the trip quite well. She is bred for distance and wet conditions. SHE’S EXTREME is definitely bringing the strongest form lines into this race, her last start she was 3rd behind the 2 horses who finished Top 2 in Saturdays Derby. The only knock on her is how she will handle the staying trip, but she does get the soft run from barrier 1 up on the speed. FOXY CLEOPATRA has been impressive in her last 2 runs, she made a mess of a field 2 starts back over the 1600m and then 2nd last start over the 2000m. She comes into this fresh which will be helping late.
Race 9
18- GREECE
11- SHE DANCES
2- ENGLISH RIVIERA
The same thing has been continually said of GREECE lately. She has huge potential and looks a good type, but doesn’t like a track that’s too wet. Expect she will be scratched if the track looks like it’s getting towards that heavy range. If it’s a soft 6 or better, I expect she runs and she could prove hard to beat. SHE DANCES was a winner on debut on a heavy track before running behind a couple smart ones next start. She resumes here today and drawn out of barrier 20, she is potentially be getting a soft run on the better ground. Strong form lines this prep around ENGLISH RIVIERA including a last start win at Group 3 level, she will likely land on the speed and be in a strong position.
Quaddie
1,2,3,4,5
1,4,13,14
1,2,3,5
1,2,11,18
$320 = 100%
