Feature racing took place at Flemington and Randwick last Saturday, with several Group races across both programs. From those two meetings, we have found three runners that are worth putting in your blackbook so you can follow them into upcoming races during the autumn carnival.
Flemington
Rail position: True entire circuit
Race 8: Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) | Time: 0:57.54
- Horse to follow: Espiona (3rd)
Chris Waller chose to kick off Espiona’s autumn campaign over 1000m for the first time as the five-year-old mare competed in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington. Although the race distance was well short of her best, this daughter of Extreme Choice produced one of the better runs in defeat on the day. After settling at the rear of the field in a slowly run race, Espiona let down with a strong finish and recorded the fastest 600m (32.29s), 400m (21.47s), and 200m (10.97s) sections of the entire meeting.
When to bet: Waller and his team have nominated Espiona in both the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m), but considering how well she finished off over 1000m, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if the TJ Smith was her next race.
Randwick
Rail position: +4m entire circuit
Race 7: Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) | Time: 1:21.63
- Horse to follow: Militarize (2nd)
It may have been easy for most punters to miss the run of Militarize in the Apollo Stakes, considering the majority would have been watching Fangirl blitz her rivals over 1400m. However, the three-year-old colt ran through the line as strongly as any of his older rivals, bar the dominant winner. This son of Dundeel hit a flat spot at the top of the home straight, but once his stablemate went past him, he knuckled down nicely and finished over the top of the leaders late.
When to bet: With most of his key rivals choosing to target the Group 1 Australian Guineas in Victoria, it appears as though Militarize is a clear top seed for the Group 1 Randwick Guineas if Chris Waller chooses to drop him back to three-year-old company next start.
Race 8: Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) | Time: 1:09.35
- Horse to follow: Learning To Fly (2nd)
The Annabel Neasham-trained Learning To Fly made her highly anticipated return in the Light Fingers Stakes, where the three-year-old filly went to the line in a driving go with Kimochi, who just got the better of her in a photo finish. After losing the jockey and sustaining an injury in last year’s Golden Slipper, the daughter of Justify was first-up after an 11-month spell. Even though she was fresh and was going up against some of the best three-year-olds in Australia, the run of Learning To Fly was huge, and she will only improve on that performance.
When to bet: The traditional route for three-year-old fillies next would be the Group 1 Surround Stakes over 1400m. Neasham and her team have nominated this girl for a plethora of races, but it is expected that they will race Learning To Fly over 1400m for the first time next start.
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