Flemington full racing preview & quaddie | VRC Derby Day 2024

Race 1: Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m)

The traditional opener to Derby Day looks a perfect event for the Chris Waller-trained Aeliana. The three-year-old filly was held up for a run before surging to the line late to claim Group 3 glory at Randwick on October 19 over 1400m, and she is set to appreciate getting to the mile. James McDonald will have her settled towards the rear of the field, but with the long Flemington straight at her disposal, Aeliana looks hard to hold out in the 2024 Carbine Club Stakes.

• 6
  

  AELIANA

• 1
  

  FEROCE

• 3
  

  ACTA NON VERBA

• 8
  

  ANOTHER PROPHET

Race 2: Group 2 The Vanity (1400m)

Good Sort arguably should have beaten Aeliana last time out. The Tassort filly was held up for a run basically for the entirety of the Randwick straight before launching late to be beaten by a half-length. Barrier 10 should mean James McDonald has her in clear air approaching the home turn, and if she can follow a back into the race, Good Sort has a strong enough turn of foot to account for her rivals in The Vanity.

• 9
  

  GOOD SORT

• 10
  

  LOVELYCUT

• 7
  

  MATISSE

• 13
  

  EXTREMELY HARDYS

Race 3: Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m)

Maharba produced a scintillating finish first-up at Caulfield after a five-month layoff. Having settled towards the rear of the field, he was left with too much to do late on but closed nicely to suggest he was worth following. He steps up to 1200m second-up, a distance where he has won twice and placed on four other occasions. If he can settle a touch closer to the speed, Maharba has a swift turn of foot and will take some holding out in the 2024 Rising Fast Stakes.

• 2
  

  MAHARBA

• 3
  

  SPACEWALK

• 1
  

  STAR PATROL

• 6
  

  SCHWARZ

Race 4: Group 2 The Damien Oliver (1400m)

It took a ridiculous effort from Antino to undo Another Wil in the Toorak Handicap. That form reads very well for this Group 2, as outside of stablemate Jimmysstar, The Damien Oliver lacks depth. From barrier two, Jamie Kah can have Another Wil in a prominent position throughout the 1400m trip, and if he brings anything close to what he produced in his first two runs this campaign, he can make it eight wins from 12 career starts.

• 2
  

  ANOTHER WIL

• 5
  

  JIMMYSSTAR

• 6
  

  RIPCORD

• 1
  

  MIGHTY ULYSSES

Race 5: Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m)

Powers Of Opal put 5.5 lengths on her rivals at Hawkesbury on October 17 after competing in Group 1 company the start prior. The Ocean Park filly is a top hope for Thursday’s VRC Oaks (2500m), and this is the perfect stepping stool towards Group 1 glory. James McDonald will have her settled midfield with cover, and when asked to quicken, Powers Of Opal should be too classy in the 2024 Wakeful Stakes.

• 5
  

  POWERS OF OPAL

• 4
  

  IN HER EYES

• 2
  

  TREASURETHE MOMENT

• 1
  

  JENNI’S MEADOW

Race 6: Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m)

In what is one of the best editions of the 2024 Coolmore Stud Stakes, the Mark Walker-trained Bellatrix Star presents great value with horse racing bookmakers. The Star Witness filly was too good for her older rivals in weight-for-age company at Caulfield last time out, and prior to that produced two stunning victories against her own age group over 1100m and 1200m. She will be smoking the pipe out the back of the field, and with a stack of speed expected, Bellatrix Star can absorb the pressure and launch late to cause a minor upset in the Coolmore.

• 14
  

  BELLATRIX STAR

• 3
  

  TRAFFIC WARDEN

• 1
  

  GROWING EMPIRE

• 2
  

  COLEMAN

Race 7: Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500)

The time-honoured Group 1 VRC Derby is the headline act on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. A full field of 16 will duke it out for the $2 million on offer and look to etch their name into the history books. Will El Castello complete the Spring Champion Stakes and VRC Derby, or is there somewhat of an upset brewing?

Click here for our full preview of the 2024 VRC Derby

Race 8: Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m)

With three wins and two minor placings from eight goes at Flemington, Atishu looks extremely hard to go past in the 2024 Empire Rose Stakes. The Chris Waller-trained mare is already a Group 1 winner over 2000m at the track and is sure to appreciate getting away from the likes of Mr Brightside and Via Sistina. With Grinzinger Belle set to make this a genuinely run mile, the race sets up perfectly for James McDonald to have Atishu towards the rear of the field before unleashing a stunning finish and blousing some potentially vulnerable rivals late on.

• 1
  

  ATISHU

• 13
  

  PLENTY OF AMMO

• 2
  

  AMELIA’S JEWEL

• 7
  

  ALSEPHINA

Race 9: Group 3 Furphy Sprint (1100m)

Pharari is coming off a couple of handy BM78 performances at Rosehill and returns to the Flemington straight for the first time since a poor run in the Listed Creswick Sprint Series Final in July. The four-year-old mare is blessed with a stack of speed and is drawn perfectly out wide in barrier 14. Ethan Brown will likely have her stalking the leaders throughout, and as long as Pharari can handle the Flemington straight, look for her to roar to victory in style.

• 15
  

  PHARARI

• 3
  

  SANS DOUTE

• 17
  

  ISTHMUS

• 5
  

  A LITTLE DEEP