Nine races have been set this Saturday at Flemington to celebrate VRC Members Day.
We’ve run the rule over the entire program and offer our best bets below.
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – Trevor Clarke Handicap (1000m)
Open race to start, so I’m having something small on Lascars at double figures.
This lightly raced son of Sepoy has contested much tougher races than this, running second on debut in a Stakes race over the track and distance during the spring before resuming at Caulfield where he found it tough going in the Blue Diamond Prelude.
Recent trial form has been good though, particularly last month at Randwick when beating home a promising type. Draws well, gets Damien Oliver in the saddle, and looks up to the challenge.
Race 2 – Ken Cox Handicap (1700m)
Thalassophile is a consistent type that looks ready to win again for Chris Waller.
The daughter of Not A Single Doubt has been up a while, but she’s held her form strongly to return a place in four of her last five starts, including an impressive performance in the Silver Bowl Final here a couple of weeks ago over the mile.
That form around Cardinal Gem and Arran Bay stacks up rather well, and given the ground she made up, 1700m doesn’t look an issue.
Race 3 – RMBL Investments Rising Stars Final (1600m)
I was with Zousonic two weeks ago in the Leilani Final and I’m not about to hop off.
The speed never suited her that day as she got back and never made up much ground, but with a more genuine tempo expected and up to the mile, I think she can atone.
That race was obviously much tougher, and she does have form over this trip with a win and a place to her name. Gets in well with the claim and should be able to save her best for late from out wide.
Race 4 – Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m)
Not sure what to make of this race on paper, but if it’s a genuine staying contest, Through Irish Eyes just wins.
The Tavistock four-year-old was last seen at Eagle Farm running second in the Brisbane Cup, a race he probably deserved to win after just coming undone in the final stages when narrowly beaten by Irish Sequel.
Back to 2800m off a freshen-up looks a plus, and he does love racing here at Flemington. You obviously have to respect the stable and if the pace is genuine, I trust Jamie Kah to get the job done.
Race 5 – Byerley Handicap (1800m)
Tricky race, but I’m looking the way of Quang Tri despite the awkward draw.
We haven’t seen enough of this girl to say what she’s truly capable of, but she has won her last two starts at Swan Hill and here at Flemington in impressive fashion.
Her last win came over the mile where she raced three-wide no cover and still found plenty over the final furlong to win by a length. Off that, I doubt 1800m is an issue, and providing she handles the extra weight, I can’t find any reason why she won’t win.
Race 6 – Sir Eugene Gorman Handicap (1000m)
Squid Game is a horse who does plenty wrong, but the turn of foot he possesses almost always makes him a threat.
Patrick Payne’s three-year-old has placed in both runs this time in, most recently at Caulfield where he gave away a start and had no real room to manoeuvre down the straight finishing a clear three lengths behind Inundation.
That run was still full of merit given his awful racing pattern, and the times he clocked over the final 600m warrant enormous respect. Drawn well with Craig Williams now in the saddle, he’ll be hard to beat.
Race 7 – VRC Members Handicap (2000m)
Just how good is Mankayan?
Back to back wins at Caulfield and Sandown suggest he’s well on his way to bigger and better things during the spring, and he can certainly stamp himself as one to watch by making it a hat-trick against some of these.
His win in similar conditions last time out was nothing short of dominant, and I expect we’ll see a similar performance given his fresh record. He’s twice placed over 2000m and clearly, Matthew Cartwright has a good rapport building.
Race 8 – K.A. Morrison Handicap (1400m)
Siding with another one in search of her hat-trick, My Yankee Girl.
I was taken with her win here two weeks ago in the Rivette Final where she overcame a three-wide position to just get up and win over Rioyuki right before the post.
She likes some sting out of the ground and was a comfortable winner on the heavy at Sandown two back. Jye McNeil sticks, and from the low draw, I think the pair can settle back and really save their best for late.
Race 9 – L.V. Lachal Handicap (1200m)
Florescent Star doesn’t win out of turn, but she should find this slightly easier coming out of the Victoria Spring a couple of weeks ago when beaten a length by Sirius Suspect.
The daughter of Zoustar was just on the wrong part of the track in the finish, something she’ll likely have to overcome again here after drawing wide.
Still, she’s got a class edge over some of these and has also found the money twice on heavy going before. Loves 1200m and she’s as honest as they come.
