Flemington full racing preview & quaddie tips | March 9, 2024

Race 1: 3YO Quality (1100m)

Akicita is first-up from a six-month spell but brings genuine Group-level form to the Flemington opener. He finished a neck off Australian Guineas victor Southport Tycoon, and 3.3 lengths ahead of subsequent Group 2-winner Snow Patrol. Drawn on the outside of the track, Jye McNeil can have the Grunt colt settled in the second half of the field, and from there, Akicita can overpower his rivals late.

• 8
  

  AKICITA

• 3
  

  GUMDROPS

• 4
  

  HEDGED

• 2
  

  HANCHI

Race 2: Australian Cup Prelude (1800m)

Young Werther is the best horse in the Australian Cup Prelude, and he should exert his class on the small field on Saturday. The Danny O’Brien-trained veteran returned with a narrow defeat in Group 3 company at Caulfield on February 10 and was hitting the line nicely over 1600m in a leader-dominated affair. In a field where there looks to be little to no speed influences, look for Damian Lane to use barrier one to his advantage and have Young Werther lead from barrier to box.

• 2
  

  YOUNG WERTHER

• 7
  

  FAWKNER PARK

• 5
  

  BERKELEY SQUARE

• 4
  

  BERMADEZ

Race 3: 3YO Quality (1400m)

Ersa showed plenty of promise during her initial campaign, and despite drawing barrier 14 for her return, the filly looks set to gain a perfect cart across the field and land the one-one. She is armed with a strong turn of foot, and if the race can be run to suit those on speed, Ersa can overpower her rivals late and salute at a nice price with horse racing bookmakers.

• 10
  

  ERSA

• 2
  

  SCULLY

• 3
  

  LEGACIES

• 5
  

  VIVY AIR

Race 4: Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m)

Aardvark returned with a breathtaking victory in Listed grade at the Flemington 1100m, and the 1400m looks to be right up his alley. Despite being strung up in traffic at a crucial point, the Capitalist colt produced a strong finish and won it running away from his rivals. He looks set to gain the perfect run in transit from barrier four under Damian Lane, and with a similar turn of foot, Aardvark can win again.

• 4
  

  AARDVARK

• 1
  

  RUE DE ROYALE

• 2
  

  STAY FOCUSED

• 3
  

  TRAFFIC WARDEN

Race 5: Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m)

The 151st running of the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap takes centre stage on Saturday. Imperatriz will be looking to rewrite history, while the likes of Buenos Noches, Magic Time and Benedetta are aiming to continue their rise through the grades. Can anyone upset the superstar Kiwi?

Click here for HorseBetting’s in-depth preview of the 2024 Newmarket Handicap

Race 6: Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1600m)

Serasana produced a big run on return when forced to travel three wide with no cover up on speed. The three-year-old filly tired late to be beaten by 1.8 lengths in Group 2 company, so with an easier run in transit, and the jump to the mile second-up she looks a great play. John Allen will need a touch of luck early to find cover from barrier seven, but with a swift turn of foot, Serasana can cause a minor upset in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes.

• 1
  

  SERASANA

• 6
  

  MOLLYNICKERS

• 5
  

  AUTUMN ANGEL

• 9
  

  FRENCH ENDEAVOUR

Race 7: Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m)

Plenty of early money came for Amenable and Berkshire Shadow in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap, but with both runners needing a genuinely run 1400m, the race sets up perfectly for Pinstriped to camp on the leaders’ heels and then put them away. With two wins and two runner-up efforts from five fresh runs, Pinstriped is clearly a first-up specialist, and he looks to get conditions to suit. He will need a touch of luck in the home straight, but if the breaks come, Pinstriped looks a great play.

• 2
  

  PINSTRIPED

• 3
  

  AMENABLE

• 1
  

  BERKSHIRE SHADOW

• 4
  

  SAVANNAH CLOUD

Race 8: Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m)

Foxy Cleopatra loomed as a winning hope at Caulfield last time out, but the likes of Campionessa, Vow And Declare and Gold Trip proved too strong for her over the 1800m. She steps back from Group 2 company to a 1600m Group 3 race on Saturday, and from barrier nine, the four-year-old mare can go back to the rear of the field and absorb the pressure. With a strong finish burst, Foxy Cleopatra will prove too hard to hold out this time around.

• 6
  

  FOXY CLEOPATRA
  

• 1
  

  FOXY FRIDA

• 3
  

  UNUSUAL CULTURE

• 10
  

  ETERNAL FLAME