Anzac Day racing in Melbourne heads to Flemington for a strong program, headlined by the St Leger (2800m). The weather is fine, the track is good (4) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.
VRC St Leger 🏆: View the Field and Odds for the VRC St Leger
Anzac Day Stakes 🏆: View the Field and Odds for the Anzac Day Stakes
Race 1. (13:00) WILLIAM NEWTON VC HCP 2600m
1 Steel Prince (Bet Now: $3.20) looks one of the best on the card. Jury was out on him after two runs back from a spell, but last start over 2400m at Caulfield, he kept finding the line and was very good late behind Maserartie Bay. Love him up to 2600m, back to Flemington and gets a significant jockey upgrade. Keen.
2 Rousseau (Bet Now: $2.10) has been up a while but is holding his form really well. Looking to make it three on the bounce, winning two back on a testing Rosehill track. Then went to Mornington where Olly rode him a treat in front, got complete control and gave nothing else a look in. 2600m is the query, but hard to knock the way he’s going.
4 English King (Bet Now: $11.00) hasn’t quite set the world on fire since arriving from overseas but is getting to a suitable trip and is at peak fitness. Ran over 2400m at Bendigo last time out where the race shape was against him but he stuck on okay in defeat behind Point Nepean. Down in the weights, big track…his best overseas form is good enough to be dangerous.
Race 2. (13:35) AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED (BM78) 1100m
12 I Am Me (Bet Now: $1.85) quite clearly on top. Maher/Eustace trained filly that has been electric in two runs back from a spell. Resumed with a spank job win at Canberra where she smashed the clock and repeated the dose in dominant fashion at Ballarat. Scratched from Caulfield on Saturday to run here. Keen.
3 Capriccio (Bet Now: $8.00) saves her best for the straight course at Flemington so keen to see how she goes. Forget she went around at Caufield last time. When she’s back in the run and those on speed are running sub 33 the last 600m, those behind had no hope. She’ll get back but be strong at the end.
4 Love Sensation (Bet Now: $16.00) is certainly capable if she’s near her best. Hasn’t shown that in some time for Kevin Corstens but the form around reads very well for this and her recent jumpout work was encouraging. In well after the claim, she’s in with a shout.
Race 3. (14:10) ANZAC DAY STKS 1400m
I’m more than happy to speck 4 Perfect Thought (Bet Now: $9.50) each way. John Sargent trained colt that is on debut. Had a Spring/Summer prep with one trial. Spelled and has had two trials this time in to get ready. Last trial over 1045m, he was pushed out, but liked the way he finished off nearer the inside. 1400m on debut on the big track I love and at near $20, happy to speck each way.
1 Tijuana (Bet Now: $4.00) looks a smart colt for Team Hayes. He was smashed in betting when debuting over 1200m at Pakenham and what I liked about him was the ticker he showed. He was there to be run down, but found and drew clear to win and win well. Off that, 1400m is ideal and maps well from the gate.
10 Foreign Raider (Bet Now: $4.80) is a talented filly I feel. John Sadler trains and she’s been kept on ice since her debut at Cranbourne back on March 11 when a closing second over 1200m in a good piece of work. She’ll eat up 1400m and if she’s within range, she can be dangerous.
Race 4. (14:45) VERA DEAKIN HCP 1400m
I can’t believe near $20 is on offer for 5 Tonneofgrit (Bet Now: $12.00). I think he has been quite good in two runs back from a spell, both on wet ground in Sydney. Resumed with a second at Canterbury before going to the South Pacific at Randwick where he had little luck on the testing ground. Firmer footing here, has upside and drawn soft, I think he’s a crazy price.
2 Cardigan Queen (Bet Now: $3.40) has been up a little while but is holding her form. Should have won at this track/distance two back before going to the Bendigo Guineas where she got back and wide and worked to the line pretty well without really threatening after the early work. Best is good enough. Just depends what is left in the tank.
4 Daily Bugle (Bet Now: $20.00) can bounce back. Griffiths/De Kock trained three year old that comes back to 1400m after contesting the Mornington Guineas where he got back in the run and was never a factor, but his finale was okay I thought behind a handy one, Jungle Magnate. Gets down in the weights, has upside and should be strong late.
Race 5. (15:20) THE LES CARLYON HCP 1700m
5 Flash Aah (Bet Now: $3.90) is going to win better races than this I assume. First run for the new stable came at Bendigo where he gave them an absolute spanking in an outstanding display. He was horrendously placed when trained in Queensland. If placed right here, he’ll win races and good races, including this.
1 Cherry Tortoni (Bet Now: $3.00) is a Patrick Payne trained gelding that was bursting to win a race for some time and it came in the Golden Mile at Bendigo, with Mick Dee riding the four year old with initiative and voila, the result was a win instead of flopping out to last and producing a flashing light run. If he’s ridden with intent, he can win again.
10 Accountability (Bet Now: $34.00) might want one more but has a touch of quality when right. Resumed over the mile at Caulfield a couple of weeks back where he paraded like he would need the run and that’s how it panned out when down the track behind Think N Fly. One for exotics I’d suggest.
Race 6. (15:55) FLT LT PETER ARMYTAGE HCP 1200m
4 Squid Game (Bet Now: $3.40) is a quality animal for Patrick Payne that resumes. He did a really good job in his first prep, winning two of three, the only defeat coming last run when third to a classy horse in Clemenceau. Three trials to get ready, so he’s good to go fitness wise, and clearly has a liking for the track.
5 Cheerful Legend (Bet Now: $26.00) is an interesting runner. John Sadler trained three year old that resumes and returns to racing as a gelding. His Spring/Summer prep was sound, which included a game effort during the Carnival behind Extreme Flight. Just one soft jumpout, market watch for sure, especially with this stable.
Hard to knock the way 3 Flying Sultan (Bet Now: $41.00) is racing this time in. Strong on speed win two back on the Riverside track at Wagga before going to the home track at Albury where sustained speed came to the fore and he was dominant. That was 1175m. Just has to stretch it to 1200m. If he does that, he’s right in the mix.
Race 7. (16:30) VRC ST LEGER 2800m
To me, this race is either Alegron bolts up, or speck something at odds. I’m going towards the latter and backing 8 Bastida (Bet Now: $16.00) each way. He has won two on the bounce for Sargent, winning two back in a 2100m Maiden/Class 1 at Gosford before a dominant win over 2000m at Wyong on testing ground. He’s racing like 2800m will be no issue and drawn soft with J Kah, $20+, he’ll do me as an each way bet.
1 Alegron (Bet Now: $1.65) is a genuine $1.50 chance if he brings his Derby effort. He was outstanding behind a star in Hitotsu. Outstanding given he was 1600m to 2400m with several weeks between runs. On class, he has several lengths on these, Olly back on. He can win, clearly, but at the shorts, I couldn’t back.
12 Sonic The Hedgehog (Bet Now: $81.00) is a progressive galloper for Mark Newnham that will have no issue with 2800m I feel. Slogged it out best to win at Wyong last time on testing ground, but his late splits were very good after sitting on speed. He’ll be near the front a and batting away.
Race 8. (17:05) WGCDR IAN BAYLES DFC (BM78) 1200m
12 Rockribbed (Bet Now: $3.70) in the get out. Had the peach sit behind a slow speed at Sandown last time and in a dash home, he proved too sharp for them late, beating D’Jumbuck, who won last week at Sandown to frank the form. Like him drawn out, J Kah sticks and has more upside than most.
8 Beehunter (Bet Now: $5.00) is knocking on the door. John Sadler trained gelding that was ridden positively a few weeks back at Caulfield and tried hard from the wide gate but just felt the pinch late behind Paperboy. I reckon with a conservative steer, he’ll be more effective at the end.
9 Yulong Storm (Bet Now: $19.00) will be strong late. Nathan Hobson trained gelding that resumed at Bendigo a few weeks back and was a real eye catcher from near last on the turn when fourth to Colesridge. Whether he’s being set for a race, not sure, but the return was very encouraging.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Five Number 5 Flash Aah
NEXT BEST: Race One Number 1 Steel Prince
LONG SHOT: Race Seven Number 8 Bastida
Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):
Leg One: 1, 5
Leg Two: 1, 3, 4, 5
Leg Three: 1, 2, 4, 8, 12
Leg Four: 7, 8, 9, 12
$50 Investment = 31.25% of the dividend if successful
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