Flemington top racing tips & quaddie | Australian Cup Day 2024

Race 1: Handicap (1100m)

Rich Fortune returns to the Flemington straight having finished 2.4 lengths off Imperatriz in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) two starts ago. She was last seen finishing last in Group 3 company at Rosehill, but with a return to Victoria, it should see her return to the winner’s stall for the first time in over a year. The four-year-old mare will stalk the speed throughout, and armed with a strong turn of foot, Rich Fortune should prove a touch too classy for her rivals in the opener.

• 4
  

  RICH FORTUNE

• 7
  

  GIRL

• 3
  

  MEGAMEA

• 2
  

  LEMPICKA

Race 2: BM78 Handicap (1100m)

Big Watch has strung together consecutive victories down the Flemington straight, and at a big price with horse racing bookies, he can continue that winning sequence. The Mike Moroney-trained sprinter drops back to the 1100m after saluting over 1200m on March 2. No doubt Midtown Boss is a deserved favourite, but armed with a strong finish, Big Watch can absorb the pressure set in the early-middle stages, and with a strong finish can cause an upset.

• 4
  

  BIG WATCH

• 3
  

  MIDTOWN BOSS

• 13
  

  FLYING ON A LIMB

• 14
  

  SCULLY

Race 3: Handicap (1600m)

Having his ninth start of the campaign, the rock hard fit El Soleado looks a great play as he steps back in class to the 1600m. The Robbie Laing-trained middle distance runner was outclassed in Group 2 company last time out when defeated by 3.2 lengths behind the likes of Campionessa, Vow And Declare and Gold Trip. With plenty of speed drawn underneath, Craig Williams will look to stalk the speed throughout, and when the gaps come at the top of the straight, El Soleado should have no issue in putting the race away in a couple of strides.

• 9
  

  EL SOLEADO

• 5
  

  FRANKIE PINOT

• 3
  

  WILD PLANET

• 7
  

  ARRAN BAY

Race 4: Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m)

Ameena has been breathtaking his her first two careers starts, winning by a combined 6.3 lengths at Bendigo and then Caulfield. The Tassort filly managed to lead from barrier to box in arrogant style last time out when winning under hands and heels. Mark Zahra will likely dictate the race from barrier one and try to hold the rail. As is the case in most juvenile races down the straight, rail in-running is key and with a cheap sectional or two, Ameena should prove too slick for her rivals in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes.

• 4
  

  AMEENA

• 3
  

  TOBEORNOTTOBE

• 8
  

  YES LULU

• 2
  

  FLATTERED

Race 5: Listed Ata/Bob Hoysted Handicap (1100m)

Back from a brief nine-week freshen up, the Grahame Begg-trained Katsu looks to have found the right race to return a winner in. The classy sprinter faded late in Listed company on January 26 when finishing two-lengths off subsequent Group 1 winner Queman. With a stack of speed engaged, Jordan Childs will have the son of Mikki Isle settled on the heels of the leading pack throughout. When asked for an ultimate effort, Katsu has a strong finish under his bonnet, and he looks the right play.

• 6
  

  KATSU

• 9
  

  SANS DOUTE

• 7
  

  WHAT YOU NEED

• 4
  

  NAJEM SUHAIL

Race 6: BM80 Handicap (2000m)

Sea What I Sea has been nothing short of sensational in his three runs this campaign, winning with plenty hand at all three starts. The son of Sea The Stars was last seen putting 3.8 lengths on rivals on the Heath track at Caulfield, and if he produces a similar performance at Flemington, he looks the goods. Blake Shinn will need a touch of luck from barrier seven, but if the breaks come their way, Sea The Star should continue his rise through the grades in style.

• 12
  

  SEA WHAT I SEE

• 6
  

  SIR ATLAS

• 7
  

  ARISTONOUS

• 1
  

  LAUDING

Race 7: Listed Sunline Classic (1100m)

A purse of $500,000 is on the line in the Listed Sunline Classic (1100m), and based off his classy first-up win, Hedged looks a great play at a nice price. The three-year-old gelding has always oozed class, and based on what he did first-up at the track and trip, he looks ready to strike second-up. He beat subsequent Stakes winner Gumdrops in that performance, and a repeat effort will have him in the finish when the whips are cracking. He will need to go to a new level considering the rivals he faces, but at a quote of $8.50, Hedged is hard to go past.

• 6
  

  HEDGED

• 11
  

  ESTRIELLA

• 2
  

  I AM UNSTOPPABLE

• 3
  

  STRETAN ANGEL

Race 8: Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m)

The Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) has attracted one of the best fields in recent times. Eight of the nine runners are previous Group 1 winners, headlined by Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni. Cascadian will be looking to spoil the party and defend his Australian Cup crown from 12 months prior, whilst track specialist Atishu will look to blouse her rivals.

Click here for HorseBetting’s free preview of the 2024 Group 1 Australian Cup.

Race 9: Listed Roy Higgins (2600m)

Win, and you are in to the 2024 Melbourne Cup (3200m), that is what is on offer for the winner of the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m). Kiwi raider Mark Twain produced a strong finish in the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) when giving the on-pace runners a massive start, before unleashing a strong finish on an Ellerslie track that tends to disadvantage backmarkers. With just 55kg on his back, Michael Dee will have the son of Shocking settled towards the rear of the field once again, but if he can replicate his turn of foot shown in Group 2 company last time out, Mark Twain can blow his rivals away on his return to Australia.

• 13
  

  MARK TWAIN
  

• 6
  

  DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR

• 3
  

  DUNKEL

• 5
  

  GLENTANEOUS

Race 10: BM84 Handicap (1400m)

Rheinberg was impressive first-up from a spell at Ballarat when nosed out late after needing to pass a pre-race vet track at the barriers on March 11. The five-year-old gelding was having his first start since October 1, and based on his four consecutive wins last campaign, he looks a clear on top selection in the Flemington finale. Celine Gaudray hops on board claiming 1.5kg, and if the pair can find a spot with cover in the first six upon settling, Rheinberg has a bit of class about him, and should prove too hard to hold out.

• 2
  

  RHEINBERG
  

• 9
  

  GOLDEN PATH

• 6
  

  GRINGOTTS

• 3
  

  DASHING