Flemington is where the main Victorian racing program will take place this Saturday, with eight races to be run and won, including heats of the Creswick Series, All Victorian Sprint Series, Winter Championship, Banjo Patterson Series and the Leilani Series.

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Race One (12:35) : Murray Cox Handicap 1410m:

Back Me: Putting Crafty on top. Robert Smerdon trainer youngster who showed a nice turn of foot on slow going to record an impressive maiden win at Sportingbet Park in what looked to be a pretty strong race. That was 1200m and she was strong through the line, so I don’t have any qualms about this daughter of Manhattan Rain stepping up to 1410m.
Big Danger: What A Hoot was unwanted in betting on debut at the Valley three weeks back, but he worked home quite nicely late when second to Nicoscene. Trialled on Monday at Cranbourne and went like a bomb, winning by a space, and a repeat of that will see this colt go close.
Roughie: Zebulon was specked at odds on debut at Werribee where he ran second to the highly impressive winner Zeletto. He made up ground from the back and out wide, which wasn’t the place to be, so I thought he was one of the runs on the program there. Natural improvement and a rise in trip should see him in the mix.

Race Two (13:10) : A.R. Creswick Series Heat 5 1100m:

Back Me: Tricky race to sort out. Putting the South Australian visitor Counter Spin on top. He was enormous last time out on the Morphettville Parks circuit, coming from near last to run a a slashing second. That track always favours on pace runners, so for him to make up the ground he did on a slow track with 58.5kg was excellent. Back to 1100m probably isn’t ideal, but I’m hoping there is good speed and he can have the last crack.
Big Danger: Allez Eagle was an arrogant winner at Te Rapa two back, winning by 2.5 lengths, but it really could have been triple. He then made his Australian debut at the Valley where he was far from disgraced when fifth to Kievann. That form has been franked with that horse winning last Saturday at that track. I think the big, spacious surroundings of Flemington will suit him perfectly and given how impressive he has been so far in his career, he gets in pretty well at the weights.
Roughie: Melrose Place has really done nothing since her stunning win on Oaks Day last year over the 1200m here. Looked run off her legs last time out when well held by the speed demon Il Cavallo. Up to 1100m is a plus, as is the engagement of a senior rider. On her best form, she is a definite chance.

Race Three (13:45) : Brian Beattie Handicap 1610m:

Back Me: Going for some value in Kwanza. Handy gelding who showed he has talent in his first prep with a second to his well performed stablemate Worth A Ransom. Spelled after that, gelded, given 10 months off and resumed on the Geelong Synthetic where he looked in need of the run, then went to Mornington and continued to chip away from midfield to get the win in the last couple of strides. He still has plenty of upside left, bigger track looks ideal and Nick Hall sticks.
Big Danger: Good Music got a long way back here a fortnight back and never looked likely but did run on at the end to grab third. The pace was quite strong there, and I don’t think they’ll go as hard here, so she won’t be as far back as she was last time out, and getting up to the mile is a big tick.
Roughie: Pit Boss was an arrogant first up winner at Balaklava, then went to Morphettville Parks and was made to carry the 60.5kg impost due to a very strong speed and tired late to run fourth. Drops 3.5kg here, Harry Coffey is riding very well at the moment and the stable have a decent strike rate when running at headquarters.

Race Four (14:22) : Banjo Patterson Series Heat 5 2520m:

Back Me: Sacred Flyer, like last time out, looks a good thing. He was ridden very confidently by Chris Symons here two weeks back and it almost brought about his undoing when he couldn’t quite get a run until the furlong mark where he shoved into clear air and let down strongly. The margin of a half length flattered his rivals I thought, and I think with a more aggressive steer here, the margin will be further, and with the likelihood of a wet track, his stranglehold on this race is even more immense.
Big Danger: Tampere tried his guts when racing against Sacred Flyer, looming as the winner 300m out before Sacred Flyer got the split and clicked into gear. Doubt he can turn the tables, but he is racing so well at the moment and has to go in.
Roughie: Crafty Cruiser could be the one to watch out for from the Sacred Flyer formline. He was second up there and ran on quite strongly til the 100m mark where fitness gave out. That was his second run since January, so I have no doubt there is a stack of upside left, and he does get a 1.5kg weight pull on the top tip.

Race Five (14:57) : David Bourke Provincial Plate 1610m:

Back Me: I’ve got this down to a two horse race between Charmed Harmony and Aeratus. Slight leaning towards the former just because he simply brained them last start at Sportingbet Park, winning by eight lengths and increasing the margin with every stride. He will get a very soft lead here, and his lone run on rain affected was in Adelaide this time last year where he ran third carrying 59kg. Only a half kilo over the minimum, on his home track, soft lead…it’s going to take a big effort to topple him.
Big Danger: Aeratus ran here a fortnight back and was very gallant in defeat, running a nose second to Wrotham Heath, who had a picnic in front and just kept finding. He has the toughness on his side from that 1800m run, so I have no doubt that 1610m on a slow/heavy track will not be an issue…it’s just a question on how easy the top tip gets it in front.
Roughie: Thumbtacks has had two starts with Cranbourne trainer Nick Harnett, both of which have been in Winter Championship heats. Looked in need of the run at Sale, then was much better last Sunday at Cranbourne when making up ground late for sixth. Up to the mile suits, and his lone run here was this time last year and he was excellent, savaging the line late. A must for exotics.

Race Six (15:32) : VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Heat 6 1410m:

Back Me: Pretty keen on Akavoroun. He was a heavily backed favourite last time out at the Valley, but he wouldn’t have lost many admirers given he was forced to make a long searching run out wide whereas the winner sneaked runs on the fence and pinched it. On the minimum now, bigger track, should be cherry ripe fitness wise and handles wet ground with ease. Looks one of the better bets on the program.
Big Danger: Ringo is the interesting runner here. Kiwi making his Australian debut after a dominant first up win at the end of last month back in his homeland. He didn’t beat much, but the manner in which he did it was quite impressive. Deserves a crack in Australia and finds a suitable race.
Roughie: The change of lifestyle and surroundings could spark improvement from Said Com, who as we all know, has been a nightmare to follow. He was ridden far too aggressively by Pumper at Rosehill and the effort told where he weakened late to run fifth. Draws beautifully here, well weighted, and with these older horses, a change of scenery could spark life into the legs.

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Race Seven (16:07) : All Victorian Sprint Series Heat 8 1100m:

Back Me: Doubtfilly on top. Former Queensland filly who really caught the eye at her Victorian debut for Danny O’Brien with a fast finishing third to The Thief over 1100m here. The key here is getting the blinkers back on, a gear change which has sparked improvement in her when trained up north. Drawn the right part of the track and bred to swim.
Big Danger: All you can do is win and that is exactly what The Thief did in that race mentioned above. Took a little while to get balanced up, but when he did, he went past Shanghai Warrior very quickly and put the rest of the field away with ease. A repeat effort will see him go very close here.
Roughie: Although 1100m is short of his best, keep an eye on Felidea, who resumes here off the back of a couple of really impressive trials, in particular last time out at Cranbourne where he missed the kick, peeled wide and picked them up under a very good hold. Wants 1400m, but the two trials tell me he is forward enough to run a decent race here.

Race Eight (16:42) : Leilani Series Heat 4 1410m:

Back Me: Nautical for me. Trialled brilliantly on her home track at Cranbourne before resuming at the Valley where she had no luck, sitting last and being forced to peel very wide. She worked to the line strongly when balanced up and told me she’ll be winning races this prep. Shouldn’t be too far away from the good draw, has placed here before, handles the wet and carries 52kg after the claim for Jackie Beriman.
Big Danger: Jolie Blonde was another who made up good ground from the back in that race mentioned above. Her two runs prior to that, both at Stakes level, were full of merit, and now she is getting punished for it by creeping up in the weights, meeting Nautical 6.5kg worse off the weights from their last start clash. In saying that, she does have gate speed and will take full advantage of that, and will be have a start on Nautical.
Roughie: Sinhala was unwanted in betting last time out at Sportingbet Park, but she led from the outset and never gave her rivals a look in, spanking them by nearly five lengths. She’ll carry no weight here, so expect Katelyn Mallyon to have her rolling along in front and giving them something to chase.

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[showbest best=”Race Four Number 5 Sacred Flyer” next = “Race Six Number 14 Akavoroun” value = “Race Three Number 13 Kwanza”]

Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):

Leg One: 3, 4

Leg Two: 6, 11, 14

Leg Three: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11

Leg Four: 1, 2, 5, 6, 8

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All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

News:

If form patterns are any indication, Jimando will win Saturday’s Winter Championship Heat at Flemington at good odds.

Jimando’s last two second-up outings have reaped wins over the Flemington 1400m course with bookies offering the generous prices of $12 and $15 in those successes.

One part of the equation is in place with the TAB offering $13 about Jimando repeating his personal history in Saturday’s $80,000 contest.

But not everything has gone the Tony McEvoy-trained gelding’s way since his promising first-up third at Morphettville Parks on May 17.

“He had a raised temperature for a couple of days,” McEvoy said.

“I had to back off him a little bit and that’s why there’s the gap (six weeks) between runs.”

McEvoy says Jimando recovered quickly from his minor issue but he brought the four-year-old up to race fitness slowly, which he added was not ideal.

However, McEvoy said Jimando has pleased him with his work leading up to his Flemington assignment.

“If I was worried about him, I wouldn’t bring him over (to Melbourne),” Hayes said.

Jimando will proceed to the Winter Championship Final on July 12 if he earns enough points on Saturday.

McEvoy said the 1600m distance of the final would suit Jimando better than the 1400m of the Winter Championship heat.

Apprentice Harry Coffey has been booked to ride Jimando despite the fact the young jockey cannot use his 2kg claim in the race.

Coffey can use his claim when he rides McEvoy’s other Flemington runner Pit Boss in the Brian Beattie Handicap (1610m).

Pit Boss won a Class 1 at Balaklava two starts back but finds himself at the top of the weight for the open three-year-old race.

The Casino Prince gelding will carry 57kg after Coffey’s claim in a race McEvoy said was a winnable assignment for the gelding.

“When you look at the ratings of the race, it’s not a strong race, and he’s a good little horse,” McEvoy said.