| What | Flemington New Year’s Day Races |
| Where | Flemington Racecourse – 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031 |
| When | Saturday, January 1, 2022 |
| First Race | 10:35am AEDT |
| Watch Live | |
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Streaming Live at Sportsbet |
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A bumper nine-part card is scheduled at Flemington on Saturday afternoon and HorseBetting’s Victorian horse racing analyst presents his race-by-race preview, best bets and free quaddie numbers. The track is rated a Good 4, with the rail out 6m, for the meeting commencing at 10:35am AEDT.
Race 1: 2YO Fillies Plate (1000m)
The day of racing kicks off with a small field of six two-year-old fillies, with four of these fillies on debut. However, we will be siding with Kin who has not only had race day experience, but a run down the Flemington straight back on December 11. The filly out of Impending meets Va Via once again who she put 1.25-lengths on when finishing second and we think she can break her maiden here on Saturday. She showed on debut a want to take a sit off the speed and looks to be armed with a nice turn of foot. If she can replicate her debut effort, we expect Kin to be too good at her second career start.
Selections: 1-6-5-12
Race 2: Fillies & Mares BM70 Hcp (1400m)
We were with the Ben Brisbourne-trained Atomic Selfie when she finished fifth at the Sandown 1500m on December 15. She was defeated 2.35-lengths on that day, but did well to stick on considering she travelled three wide no cover throughout. From barrier seven, we expect to see Damian Lane to have her lobbed in a spot around midfield with cover where he can then gain a good tow into the race. It does not look to be the strongest BM70 going around and with even luck, we expect to see the four-year-old mare out of Atomic to run a big race at a nice price.
Selections: 11-4-3-12
Race 3: BM70 Hcp (1600m)
Moral Force was a dominant winner in BM64 grade on December 12 and looks well-placed to take out a BM70 like this on Saturday. He got the job done as a $1.70 favourite on that day despite travelling three wide with no cover and managed to still run away from them. The step up to the mile fourth-up looks ideal and considering he is yet to miss the top three this campaign, he is racing in fine form. From barrier eight, Craig Williams will need a touch of luck early in finding a spot with cover, but if he does then this son of Kuroshio should be too good for this field.
Selections: 12-7-5-3
Race 4: 3YO BM70 Hcp (1100m)
It may only be a BM70 over 1100m, but the fourth event of the day looks to be a race worth following on Saturday. The ever-improving Clemenceau is set to take on the undefeated Squid Game down the Flemington straight. The Patrick Payne-trained Squid Game was a touch arrogant when winning down the Flemington straight over 1200m on December 18 when settling last and finishing over the top of his rivals. The drop back to the 1100m should not hinder his winning chances and despite the class of Clemenceau, we expect Squid Game to make it three wins from three starts.
Selections: 2-3-4-5
Race 5: BM84 Hcp (1600m)
Bermadez from the Mike Moroney yard will be looking to make it three wins from four starts this campaign, which includes a win at the Flemington two starts back. The five-year-old son of Tavistock chased home the smart Lighthouse last time out over the Flemington 1400m which looks the best form in this BM84. From barrier eight, we expect to see Damien Oliver have him lobbed in a handy position just off the speed and if he can gain cover, we expect Bermadez to be too good for this field.
Selections: 2-4-5-9
Race 6: BM70 Hcp (2000m)
The quaddie opens with a BM70 affair over 2000m with it being $6 the field. The Henry Dwyer-trained Irish Butterfly looks to present great value having begun his campaign with two minor placings. He flew home when narrowly falling to Five Kingdom on December 11 and looks like he’ll enjoy the step up to 2000m from the 1800m. From barrier three, we expect Josh Richards to use his 2kg claim to the best of his advantage and have the son of O’Reilly lobbed on the heels of the leader. He has a sharp turn of foot and with even luck in the home straight, he should prove too hard to hold out.
Selections: 1-3-11-4
Race 7: Bagot Hcp (2800m)
The Listed Bagot Handicap is the joint-feature at Flemington on Saturday and we’re hoping Smokin’ Romans can make it consecutive Stakes win following his win in the Pakenham Cup. He put two-lengths on Good Idea back in second and the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained son of Ghibellines looked to have plenty left in the tanks to suggest the margin could have been greater. This will be his first time over 2500m, but with three wins at 2500m, the extra 300m should be no issue for the five-year-old. With four wins and three seconds from his last seven starts, he simply does not know how to run a bad race and we expect Smokin’ Romans to bee too good in the Bagot.
Selections: 2-9-1-6
Race 8: Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m)
Our best bet of the day comes up in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes when the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Lighthouse steps out at Stakes level for the first time in Australia. The five-year-old Mizzen Mast mare is undefeated through three starts in Australia and has wins over Frankie Pinot and Bermadez to her name. She draws barrier eight on Saturday and with Jye McNeil on board and only 54kg on her back, she looks to be perfectly placed in the Chester Manifold. With plenty of speed out in front, look for McNeil to have her primed to strike over the final furlong.
Selections: 9-12-8-3
Race 9: Grand Handicap (1100m)
The final race of the day looks to be the hardest race of the day and we’ll be hoping the Patrick Payne-trained Japery to send us home a winner at a nice price. The four-year-old son of Sizzling has a win to his name down the Flemington straight and in his last race has a 4.5-length defeat to I’m Thunderstruck which is nothing to frown at. His win down the Flemington straight came when dictating terms out in front and in a race where no known leader can be found, we expect Madison Lloyd to use her 3kg claim to her upmost advantage. If he gets his own way out in front, Japery may just prove too hard to run down.
Selections: 13-14-16-10
Saturday quaddie tips for Flemington
| Flemington quadrella selections | |
|---|---|
| Leg 1: | 1-3-4-11 |
| Leg 2: | 1-2-9 |
| Leg 3: | 9 |
| Leg 4: | 10-13-14-16 |
| Investment: | $48 for 100% |
