Ballot-free entry into the 2022 Melbourne Cup goes on the line at Flemington on Andrew Ramsden Stakes Day.
The rail will be set out two metres around the entire course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Good (4) range.
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Race 1 – Next Generation Sprinters Series Heat 1 (1100m)
Atlantic Ocean will take plenty of improvement into his second career start at Flemington on Saturday.
The I Am Invincible colt missed the jump on debut at Warwick Farm last month, but he mustered a nice turn of foot to run on for fourth.
He’ll improve for that experience and can fight out the finish.
Race 2 – Flemington Fillies Sprint (1100m)
I Am Me is a dual acceptor in a Listed race at Scone, and because I think she should be going that way, I’m going to have something on No Way Ever in this race.
No Way Ever returned a winner at Ladbrokes Park in late March and was last seen finishing fourth behind the likes of Najmaty at Caulfield.
Fitter third-up, this looks a nice race for her.
Race 3 – Mahogany Challenge Series Heat 2 (1700m)
General Firepower can win on Andrew Ramsden Day.
The Better Than Ready gelding returned a winner at Cranbourne last month and while he couldn’t get into his second-up start at Caulfield, he flashed late in a decent contest over a mile last time.
He steps out this week in peak order, and he’ll relish the small rise in trip on the big Flemington track.
Race 4 – Leilani Series Heat 1 (1400m)
I think that this shapes as very winnable race for Vespertine.
Vespertine has been up and racing for some time, but she has returned some big performances this year, finishing second in the Group 3 Frances Tressady and fourth in the Gold Bracelet at Bendigo, most notably.
She’s rock-hard fit, gets some relief in the weights and can fight out the finish.
Race 5 – 2022 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour Handicap (1600m)
Coolth can win the fifth on Andrew Ramsden Day.
The Dundeel gelding has found form around some great horses in some good races in each of his preparations to date, and he returned a nice effort to finish fourth, beaten just over a length at Caulfield when resuming.
He’ll take plenty of improvement for that effort and his second-up record is excellent.
Race 6 – Silver Bowl Series Heat 1 (1400m)
Arran Bay can win this heat of the Silver Bowl Series.
The Phillip Stokes-trained gelding simply doesn’t know how to run a bad race, he only just missed when flashing late in BM64 company at Ladbroke Park first-up.
He’s undefeated at this point of his prep, 1400m is ideal and he is my best bet on the program.
Race 7 – Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m)
This certainly isn’t the strongest ever edition of the Andrew Ramsden, but there is a winner to be found, and I think that it will be Warning.
The Victoria Derby winner went amiss for a couple of preps following his Group 1 success, but he was excellent during the recent Spring Carnival, and won both the Victorian St Leger and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, most notably.
He ran home well to finish sixth in the Warrnambool Cup last week, and I think he’ll enjoy plenty of benefit from that hit-out.
Race 8 – VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Heat 1 (1400m)
This is one of the more open contests on the program, and there is a case to be made for several gallopers, including Bold Star.
Bold Star has returned many pleasing performances in excellent races throughout his busy career, and while his first two starts back this time suggested that his best might be behind him, I thought he was outstanding in the City Of Adelaide Stakes last time out.
Fitter fourth-up and under these conditions, I think he can deliver on a generous quote.
Race 9 – Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Heat 2 (1000m)
How Womantic will make her return in the last on Andrew Ramsden Day, and it looks a great launching point for her.
The daughter of The Wow Signal has been a great horse for the Maher & Eustace camp throughout her career, and she filled the minors in both starts that she had, last time in.
I think that she would measure up in a race like the Tattersall’s Tiara in Brisbane next month, but she’d need to be racing well in something like this.