Flemington full racing tips & quaddie | Australian Guineas Day

Race 1: Listed Furphy Trophy (1000m)

We kick off a Group 1 day of racing with a Listed 1000m for the juveniles and despite being first-up from an 11-week spell, we are siding with Mach Ten in the opener. The two-year-old colt from the Mitchell Freedman barn has shown enough so far in his two start career which suggests he will take some beating as he heads down the Flemington straight for the first time. On debut he ran into the smart Empire Of Japan at Group 3 level and then weakened late in the Listed Magic Million 2YO at Wyong over 1100m. He looks perfectly-placed by the stable and over 1000m, he can make this a genuine sprint out in the lead. Mark Zahra hops on board and we expect Mach Ten will prove too hard to run down and get us off to a flyer on Saturday.

• 1
  

  MACH TEN

• 10
  

  ILLATIVE

• 3
  

  BUTCH CASSIDY

• 4
  

  MASSIRA

Race 2: Handicap (2500m)

We do not need to wait too long for our best bet on Saturday as the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained So Unusal steps out in the second event over 2500m. The four-year-old gelding has won three in a row and four of his last six and brings the best recent form to the race by a country mile. He was doing his best work late over 2400m at Sandown and despite winning by a half-length, scored in relatively soft fashion. He continues to rise through the grades with great aplomb and from barrier one on Saturday draws to gain a perfect run in transit throughout. As long as Dean Holland can get this son of Unusual Suspect off the rail at the right time, So Unusual should have too much upside for most of his rivals and continue his winning ways.

• 4
  

  SO UNUSUAL

• 5
  

  TIMOUR

• 7
  

  GLENTANEOUS

• 1
  

  MIDNIGHT BLUE

Race 3: Handicap (1000m)

A strong field of nine sprinters are set to duke it out over 1000m and having been the best of the beaten brigade behind Star Patrol last time out, On The Lead looks hartd to go past here. The five-year-old gelding from the Richard & Will Freedman barn gave the classy Star Patrol too much of a start in the running, but absolutely stormed home to be beaten 1.75 lengths. Despite this being a tough field, the race looks perfectly set up for someone like On The Lead to storm over the top of his rivals on the back of a genuine tempo. Barrier one down the straight is hardly ever ideal, but with Blake Shinn on board, On The Lead should prove too hard to hold out.

• 3
  

  ON THE LEAD

• 2
  

  KALLOS

• 6
  

  MAMARAGAN

• 5
  

  EASY SINGLE

Race 4: 3YO Fillies Handicap (1000m)

We stick at the 1000m, but this time for the three-year-old fillies and we will be looking to strike some value with the Chris Waller-trained Waverider Buoy. The Nicconi filly was a tough watch at Sandown in the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes when continually disappointed for a run at crucial times. She did well to be beaten by under 1.5 lengths on that day and with clearer air, she might have gone even closer than what she did. This will be the first time she has a look at the Flemington straight and will be her first go at 1000m, but considering these type of races set up perfectly for an 1100m-1200m horse, it shapes as a perfect race for Waverider Buoy to take a sit off the speed, storm home and bring up an overdue win.

• 8
  

  WAVERIDER BUOY

• 3
  

  OJAI

• 5
  

  WINNERTAKESITALL

• 2
  

  BISTRO

Race 5: BM84 Handicap (1600m)

One of our better bets of the day, Munhamek has continually been a hard luck story for punters and connections, but Saturday looks to be his day to get back into the winner’s circle. The seven-year-old gelding from the Nick Ryan barn has been racing in fine form but continue strikes traffic in running before launching late to be narrowly beaten. He was badly held up for a run until the final 150m during the Listed The Elms behind Scallopini and did well to be beaten by just a length. Getting stuck in traffic should be no issue from barrier 11 and with Mark Zahra on board is sure to gain every opportunity to pick up his first win in six months. Munhamek’s turn of foot is electric and we expect Zahra will have the bloke storming down the heart of the track and saluting.

• 4
  

  MUNHAMEK

• 7
  

  IMA SHELBY

• 8
  

  KETTLE Hill

• 10
  

  QUEEN AIR

Race 6: Inglis Sprint (1200m)

The Inglis Sprint is traditionally one of the tougher races to find a winner in, with the 1200m sprint for three-year-old’s often bringing together a competitive field. We’ve taken the field in our quaddie, but at a price, we’re hoping Sebonack can bounce back from a poor showing in last weeks Group 3 Zeditave Stakes. He threw away his chances of winning early on when blundering the start, but his run prior at Randwick when chasing home the smart duo of Remarque and Dragonstone has us thinking he can improve dramatically third-up. In a field where their should be a genuine tempo, the race should shape up nicely for Michael Dee to have this bloke settled in the second-half of the field, before unleashing a strong turn of foot and saluting at a big price with online bookmakers.

• 3
  

  SEBONACK

• 1
  

  SEJARDAN

• 15
  

  OPAL RIDGE

• 16
  

  NANAGUI

Race 7: Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m)

The Group 1 Australian Guineas headlines proceedings at Flemington and a strong field of 15 three-year-olds are set to face the starter. Last start C.F. Orr Stakes winner Jacquinot heads the market at $2.40 with online betting sites, with only Elliptical ($6.50) and Legarto ($9.50) being the other runners at a single figure quote.

Click here for our full betting preview & $100 betting strategy for the Group 1 Australian Guineas

Race 8: Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m)

Win and you are in to the 2023 All Star Mile, that is what is on offer for the winning of the Group 2 Blamey Stakes. However, already in the Top 10 votegetters and guaranteed a spot in the All Star Mile, we expect Gentleman Roy will bounce back from a controversial defeat in the C.F. Orr Stakes. The Ben & JD Hayes-trained frontrunner was relegated on protest to second in the Group 1, despite holding a margin to Jacquinot in the home straight. He showed plenty of tenacity for a horse over 1400m who is more suited to the 1600m and is sure to appreciate coming back to the prestigious Flemington mile. He has two wins and a runner-up effort in three starts at the track and trip and we expect that record will improve even more on Saturday. From barrier eight, Mark Zahra should be able to cross Tuvalu and take up the running and considering Gentleman Roy is third-up from a spell, he should prove too hard to run down in the Group 2.

• 4
  

  GENTLEMAN ROY

• 1
  

  TUVALU

• 6
  

  POUNDING

• 13
  

  HEZASHOCKA

Race 9: BM90 Handicap (1200m)

We round out a Group 1 day of racing with a competitive 1000m sprint at BM90 level and we’re hoping Enver Jusufovic’s Pinstriped can add a third first-up win to his name. The four-year-old gelding is yet to miss the top two from three starts when fresh and looks set to appreciate the drop in grade having competed in much tougher races than this during the spring. With Celine Gaudray hopping on board with here 3kg claim, the in-form apprentice gets the classy sprinter-miler in with just 50.5kg on his back. If he gets genuinely run 1200m event, Pinstriped’s turn of foot might just be too good for his rivals and looks a great way to “get out” in the last.

• 1
  

  PINSTRIPED

• 7
  

  D’JUMBUCK

• 10
  

  LIFE LESSONS

• 6
  

  KENTUCKY CASANOVA