Flemington full racing tips & quaddie | Newmarket Handicap Day

Race 1: Grand Handicap Classic Prelude (2000m)

How do you go past the Alex Rae-trained Shock ‘Em Ova in the first? It’s simple you cannot. The four-year-old gelding was far from disgraced when chasing home Alvderdun (who he meets again on Saturday) at Moonee Valley on February 17 to finish second after simply giving his rival too much of a head start. The lightly-raced son of Shocking drops 3kg off that start and gains the services of Craig Williams as he steps out on to Flemington for the first time. He showed in his initial campaign that he is a stayer on the way up and we anticipate the big surroundings of Flemington will suit him perfectly. He has a turn of foot that most of these cannot match and considering he has the most upside in a field like this, Shock ‘Em Ova looks to be one of the better bets of the day and a nice bank builder early on in the program.

• 4
  

  SHOCK ‘EM OVA

• 1
  

  ALVERDUN

• 3
  

  UNIQUELY

• 2
  

  SPARKLE

Race 2: 3YO Handicap (1100m)

Despite What You Need set to go around as an odds-on favourite, we are hoping the Phillip Stokes-trained General Barca can cause somewhat of an upset. Having last been seen finishing four-lengths off subsequent Everest winner Giga Kick in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes, we’re hoping the I Am Invincible colt can fire fresh, much like he did at Pakenham on debut back in September. He will be giving the favourite a start in the race, with Zac Spain likely to have General Barca smoking the pipe out the back, but when asked for an effort on the back of a genuine tempo, we expect General Barca to sweep past his rivals and return a winner.

• 8
  

  GENERAL BARCA

• 6
  

  WHAT YOU NEED

• 3
  

  KAYGEEBEE

• 9
  

  SWEETENED

Race 3: Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1600m)

The first of the black-type races is the Group 2 Kewney Stakes and despite finishing third in a similar race last time out, the Greg Eurell-trained Papillon Club looks a great bet here. The three-year-old Toronado filly was beaten two-lengths by Wollombi who she meets again when they faced in The Vanity, but having run three wide with no cover throughout on that occasion, Papillon Club’s run reads a lot better than what it may on paper. That was her first crack at Group level and with the step up to 1600m on Saturday, we expect plenty of improvement to come. From barrier six, we are hoping Damian Lane can have his filly settled in the one-one or at least in the moving line with cover. If Frosty can do that, then Papillon Club looks over the odds at $7.50 with online betting sites.

• 7
  

  PAPILLON CLUB

• 3
  

  SHUFFLE DANCER

• 5
  

  WOLLOMBI

• 1
  

  REVOLUTIONARY MISS

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

The juveniles are set to duke it out in the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1400m and having flashed home for sixth in the Blue Diamond Stakes, we cannot go past the Chris Bieg-trained Dubenenko. The Russian Revolution filly simply gave her rivals too much of a start, but the way she flew home suggested the 1400m will suit her perfectly in what looked to be a perfect trial for the Sires’ Produce. Craig Williams takes over the steer and if Willow can have her within striking distance on the home turn, the long straight at Flemington should suit this girl perfectly. Dubenenko has an elite turn of foot and we expect to see that on display at Flemington.

• 11
  

  DUBENENKO

• 7
  

  VEIGHT

• 6
  

  FREAKOFNATURE

• 3
  

  GANBARE

Race 5: Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m)

A strong field of mares will compete in the Group 3 Matron Stakes over the Flemington mile and we are hopeful Mike Moroney’s No Secret can handle the rapid rise in grade. The five-year-old has been nothing short of impressive in her two wins at Moonee Valley when settling at the rear of the field. Those were wins in BM70 and BM78 grade and considering she comes up against the likes of Barb Raider, El Patroness and Excelida who are genuine Group-class horses, we hope she can get the job done on talent alone. Since the blinkers have gone on she has been a different animal and if Fred Kersley can have her presenting at the right time, then the $12 with online bookmakers looks a great price with online bookmakers about No Secret.

• 10
  

  NO SECRET

• 3
  

  BARB RAIDER

• 4
  

  EXCELIDA

• 8
  

  SO YOU SEE

Race 6: Australian Cup Prelude (2000m)

The Mike Moroney-trained Emissary was an eye catcher when finishing fifth upon resumption in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes at Sandown and is sure to improve second-up here in the Australian Cup Prelude. The six-year-old gelding returns to the scene of his career highlight, finishing second in last year’s Melbourne Cup and looks ready to strike second-up from a spell. Despite not running in the top three at four second-up runs, Emissary looks to be a different horse to what he was early on his career and should appreciate the way this race will be run. Blake Shinn will have this bloke settled midfield and with Marocchino and Right You Are set to make this a genuinely run 2000m event, the race looks perfectly set up for Emissary to blouse his rivals in the shadows of the winning post.

• 5
  

  EMISSARY

• 7
  

  RIGHT YOU ARE

• 4
  

  MAROCCHINO

• 3
  

  VOW AND DECLARE

Race 7: Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m)

The Group 1 Newmarket Handicap is one of the most prestigious races in this country and the 2023 edition looks to be a cracker. Last year’s Golden Eagle winner I Wish I Win ($4.40) heads the market, with Coolmore Stud Stakes winner In Secret ($4.60) looking to add another Flemington Group 1 to her record. Throw in the likes of Private Eye, Roch ‘N’ Horse, Bella Nipotina and Buenos Noches and Saturday’s Newmarket is as open as ever.

Click here for our full betting preview & $100 betting strategy for the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap

Race 8: Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m)

Scallopini carried 60kgs to victory in the Listed Elms Handicap and we anticipate he will do the same thing on Saturday afternoon. The Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted-trained veteran has two wins from two starts at the track and trip in races which are quite the same to what he faces on the weekend. Damian Lane will need to be alert early on and have this guy charging across to the front of the field from barrier 15. If he does not get trapped wide and can be a key speed influencer, Scallopini has shown he can carry a large weight to victory in these types of races and there is no reason why he cannot do the same here.

• 1
  

  SCALLOPINI

• 14
  

  LIFE LESSONS

• 12
  

  SAVANNAH CLOUD

• 15
  

  WORSFOLD

Race 9: Super Vobis 3YO Handicap (1400m)

We save our best bet of the day until last, with the Daniel Bowman-trained Is It Me looking mightily hard to beat in the final race of the day. The three-year-old gelding smashed his rivals on debut at Penshurst on November 19, before heading to Morphettville and dealing with his rivals with relative ease before heading for a spell. He has returned with quite the tidy jumpout when going stride-for-stride alongside Group 1 winner Tuvalu under his own steam and from barrier one, with Jamie Kah booked on Saturday looks a clear best bet of the day. Kah will only need a touch of luck on the home turn as he might be three back the fence, but if afforded clear air, then we expect Is It Me to use this three-year-old event as a launching pad to bigger and better things this campaign.

• 11
  

  IS IT ME

• 6
  

  JENNY JEROME

• 2
  

  MERIDIUS

• 8
  

  LETHAL THOUGHTS