The Group 1 Newmarket Handicap is the feature on Saturday’s condensed eight-race card at Flemington.
Melbourne’s upcoming heat wave has seen the program reduced by two races with the $1.5 million sprint contest standing out amongst the bunch.
Multiple Group 1 winner Imperatriz will take her place in the 1200m feature, joined by Bella Nipotina, Buenos Noches, and Lightning Stakes third place-getter, Espiona.
For our thoughts across the entire meeting, read on below.
Race 1 – 11:45AM Cirka Plate (1100 METRES)
Akicita is a lightly-raced colt making just his third start for the Griffiths and de Kock Team.
The three-year-old by Grunt was an impressive 3.5 length winner on debut at Pakenham last August, returning in superb style to finish runner-up to last week’s Australian Guineas winner Southport Tycoon at Sandown during the spring.
Despite the wide gate, this looks a nice easy lead off point for him coming off some decent jump outs.
Suggested Bet: No. 8 Akicita
Race 2 – 1:20PM TAB Australian Cup Prelude (1800 METRES)
Young Werther was back off a let-up last month at Caulfield where he ran on alte for third in the Carlyon Cup.
Danny O’Brien’s stayer was a little wayward in the run home, hitting a flat spot before finding top gear 200m from the post to really charge through the line.
He’s typically raced well second-up off a break and does look better suited over further. Damian Lane sticking helps his chances providing the pair find some room when it matters from the inside gate.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Young Werther
Race 3 – 1:55PM Super Saturday Plate (1400 METRES)
Scully is attempting 1400m for the first time coming off a last-start effort for third at Group 3 level.
The Shooting To Win three-year-old has really gone to another level this prep, resuming at Sandown in January where he showed an impressive turn of foot to win over shorter.
He was held up badly at Caulfield last start, racing across heels at the top of the straight and only getting a clear crack at the leaders over the final 100m.
The wide gate leaves John Allen with some decisions to make here, but given how well he hit the line that day, I think he’ll be one of the toughest to hold out.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Scully
Race 4 – 1:30PM MSS Security Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400 METRES)
Rue De Royale looks one of the more intriguing runners here in an open race between the two-year-olds.
The McEvoy-trained colt by Per Incanto is winless from four starts, but I do think he can run an improved race on his last-start effort in the Blue Diamond where he was always wide from a tricky gate and forced to make up ground down the outside.
His first-up effort at Randwick in the Inglis Millennium was choc-full of merit, sticking to the inside where he showed an elite turn of foot to run second once a gap opened up.
Having finally drawn an inside gate with Blake Shinn taking over, I’m keen on his chances here in the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at a nice price.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Rue De Royale
Race 5 – 2:05PM Group 1 Yulong Newmarket Handicap (1200 METRES)
Confident Espiona can lay down a challenge here to the short-priced favourite Imperatriz in the Newmarket Handicap.
Chris Waller’s mare found the line really nice fresh in the Black Caviar Lightning, charging clear down the outside to run third where she clocked the fastest final 200m sectional of the meeting.
A slow start probably cost her two or three important strides in the end, but out over further where she’s won before, I think she can give the favourite a real run for her money with a weight advantage and some fitness on her side.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Espiona
Race 6 – 2:40PM TAB Kewney Stakes (1600 METRES)
Happy to stick with Autumn Angel in the Kewney Stakes markets coming off a forgive run two weeks ago in the Armanasco Stakes over shorter at Caulfield.
I was with the daughter of The Autumn Sun that day at a similar price, and I’m confident she would have finished closer than sixth if she wasn’t checked across heels badly midway down the straight and forced to peel away from the fence.
The run told beaten 3.8 lengths in the end, but this does look a winnable assignment for her second-up when you consider she beat home last week’s Surround Stakes winner Tropical Squall the start prior in the Ethereal during the spring.
Fitter with some relief at the weights under Mark Zahra, she looks a big danger in this race for Peter Moody.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Autumn Angel
Race 7 – 3:15PM Furphy Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400 METRES)
Pinstriped could be over the odds here based on class alone.
The Street Boss five-year-old hasn’t been seen since he finished last in the Mackinnon Stakes back in November, a disappointing effort after struggling just as much in the Cox Plate two weeks earlier.
Group 2 level is more his go I feel, while you have to respect his first-up record with two wins and as many placings to his name.
He’s appeared in decent order at the jump outs leading in and with the winkers back on, I think he can give this race a shake given his record over this trip (5:1-2-1).
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Pinstriped
Race 8 – 3:55PM Matron Stakes (1600 METRES)
The tactics should prove key to Foxy Cleopatra’s chances once again.
I was with her two weeks ago at weight-for-age in the Peter Young where she was afforded a nice patient ride off the speed but failed to produce much of a turn of foot in the run home.
Beaten nearly five lengths in the end, it’s obvious she doesn’t want to chase, but if Blake Shinn can go forward from the wide gate and dictate, maybe she’ll go all the way.
Suggested Bet: No. 6 Foxy Cleopatra