The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Saturday preview: Darren Weir to have another big day at Flemington

Winx's path to victory - running faster than other horses - may be predictable, but it's dang effective. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Expert
20th July, 2018
1

It can be hard to get motivated if you are a punter at this time of year. The racing is a little bit flat. We are in that small window where the spring horses are not quite back yet, but we are seeing them at the trials.

Take Monday, for example, where Winx and Chautauqua headline an amazing trial field in Sydney.

There’s some decent racing at Doomben, Morphettville and Randwick this Saturday, but I have opted to focus entirely on Flemington for my five-race preview.

I suspect Darren Weir will have another solid day. He has runners in seven of the nine races and most of them should be considered in with a winning chance.

Followers of last week’s tips should have a few dollars to play with this Saturday and hopefully the good times keep rolling.

Flemington (VIC)
Rail out three metres for the entire course. Rated Good 3 at the time of writing. Showers forecast Friday. Partly cloudy Saturday.
Race 2 – 12.30pm Rising Stars Final (1700m): A reasonable fillies and mares race with some talented horses. The horse I think has the most upside is the Chris Waller-trained So Splendid.

She’s run around in better company before and is now third-up from a spell, having put in two decent runs in Sydney, finishing third in both races.

She drops 4.5kg on Saturday and even though she’s a horse that gets back in the field a bit, there does look to be enough speed to allow her to finish over the top of them. Danger could be the topweight Miles Of Krishan, but I think Waller gets the chocolates here.
Suggested bet: So Splendid to win.

Advertisement

Race 4 – 1.40pm Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m): This should be a punters’ nightmare. A low class race with a capacity field of 20 down the straight. Most of these horses are not city class, but there’s a horse who is first emergency who does look to be better than these if he gets a run.

Eduardo has only had two runs and won on debut at Moe on a heavy track before backing it up with a nice mid-week win at Sandown on a firm track.

Both of those wins were impressive. Brian Park retains the services on board the four-year-old gelding and if all goes well on Saturday (assuming he gets a run) then he should be winning. Hard to find a clear danger, but Godolphin runner Chatuchak should be respected.
Suggested bet: Eduardo to win.

Race 6 – 2.55pm ATA Trainers’ Trust Handicap (1100m): A good sprint race this with a watch on Brave Song, who has been gelded since last running in Group company earlier this year. He’s probably the best horse in the race, but it’s hard to back him with confidence first-up and only reasonable trial form.

Order Of Command also attracted some early support in betting. But the horse I like is from the DK Weir yard and was absolutely dreadful last time.

He did not settle and was woeful behind stablemate Nature Strip. But his run before that was excellent, with a nice second down the straight at Flemington. The cross-over nose band goes back on and if this colt can settle for jockey Ben Allan, he represents the best value in the race.
Suggested bet: Ducimus to win.

Race 7 – 3.35pm Murray Cox Handicap (1600m): I suggested to back Streets Of Avalon each-way last week at around $8 and he got the job done, running second for a reasonable collect. But I wouldn’t back him on Saturday at the $4.50 mark.

Advertisement

Not because I don’t think he can win, but because he’s only won once in 18 starts and I don’t like taking those odds about “non winners”. Casa De Lago has been racing against her own sex and has a go against the boys on Saturday and I think she’s good enough to do well. It’s not a strong race and she’s at least tested in blacktype company.

I think she’s OK value.
Suggested bet: Casa De Lago each-way.

Race 8 – 4.15pm KA Morrison Handicap (2000): Sixties Groove carried the weight of punters two weeks ago as an odds-on favourite and didn’t disappoint and I don’t see why he won’t win this race again.

He’s a talented horse who seemingly loves the 2000m at Flemington and should be the horse to beat. The danger will be stablemate Pacodali, who beat Sixties Groove over 1800m last month. I’d nearly stand these two out in the quaddie.
Suggested bet: Sixties Groove to win.

Total spend in 2018: $260*
Total return in 2018: $397*
* Based on $20 spend per selection and CrownBet’s top tote dividend.

close