The sprinting feature of the day is the running of the Gilgai Stakes up the Flemington straight. With a majority of runners using this race as the starting point for their Spring campaigns, punters are sticking with the exposed form of last start winner Bel Sprinter who is $2.80 favourite.
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1. ATOMIC FORCE – Scratched
2. SPIRIT OF BOOM
Very good first up here earlier this month when beaten narrowly by We’re Gonna Rock (since run second in a G1) in the G3 Bobbie Lewis (1200m) and backed that up with a fast finishing fourth in the G2 The Shorts at Randwick a fortnight ago. He appears to be in very good form and a live chance here.
Odds: $4.50
3. GALAH
After a promising Spring campaign last year, more was expected from him than what he delivered in the Autumn in four runs. First up here and, unlike recent campaigns, has had two barrier trials in readiness however; never competed in a race less than 1300m, so think he’d need this run.
Odds: $26.00
4. BEL SPRINTER
Another gelding who didn’t quite deliver what we all expected him to in the Autumn but signalled he was back to his best with a great first up win in the G3 McEwan Stakes at Moonee Valley three weeks ago. Ran near track record time on that occasion and all reports on him have been positive since, he’ll be hard to beat.
Odds: $2.70
5. LIVEANDLETDIE
Lightly raced 5yo trained by Mark Kavanagh who, after a layoff of eight months, won a Flemington Open race earlier in the year. Is first up again today after twenty weeks off and generally runs well here so not to dismissing all together.
Odds: $15.00
6. MID SUMMER MUSIC
The Stradbroke Handicap winner who returns to racing after a fifteen week lay-off. Has a good record of three wins from five first up runs and whilst none of those wins were in races of this quality, with a second to Sepoy and a third behind Black Caviar and Buffering on her CV, can’t rule her out.
Odds: $6.00
7. KING’S ROSE
Stable-mate of Mid Summer Music from the Peter Moody yard who faces this race first up as well. She ran a good race first up last prep finishing eighth (beaten 3.1) behind Hay List in the G1 Newmarket Handicap this track/trip. No trails public trials but interestingly, stable Jockey has opted for her over Mid Summer Music.
Odds: $7.50
8. SISTINE ANGEL
She ran second in this race last year first up, as she is here today, behind Temple of Boom at 30/1. Whilst she only has two wins from twenty starts to her name, she’s been competitive this class in the past and can produce a run fresh.
Big odds here but might get a run that allows her to finish off well.
Odds: $17.00
9. EXCELLANTES
Stable-mate to Buffering who produced some good performances in the sprint races over the Brisbane Winter Carnival. Has been readied for this with a four length barrier trial win however, up against some of the slickest sprinters going around and may find this a bit rich.
Odds: $19.00
10. METALLURGICAL
Multi-million dollar purchase by Patinack Farm as a yearling but hasn’t lived up to that price tag. His career wins have all be in Queensland the best of which was the Listed Hinkler Quality (1200m). He’ll find this out of his reach.
Odds: $81.00
11. HALLOWELL BELLE
Smart mare that put together a stellar campaign during the Autumn which included a third behind Master of Design and Rain Affair in the G1 TJ Smith. She’s first up here today and hasn’t missed a place in three first up runs to date but will find this easily, the toughest test of those first up efforts.
Odds: $13.00
OVERVIEW
Bel Sprinter was very good first up at the Valley and you only have to cast your mind back to the start of the year where he was luckless in the G1 Oakleigh Plate as 9/4 favourite, to realise how smart he can be. From his inside draw, he’ll be close to if not leading and with a run already under his belt, may be too slick for these. Give a good chance to Spirit of Boom who has been very good in his two runs this time in and that form has been franked. In form jockey Michael Walker is onboard and he’ll be finishing very hard. Moody’s pair of King’s Rose and Mid Summer Music have proven in the past that, whilst not their most preferred distances, are more than capable in a race like this. Value runner could be Sistine Angel who will get nice trail from her draw and be finish well.
