Flemington full racing tips & quaddie | VRC Derby Day 2023

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

The Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) is the traditional opener to the Melbourne Cup Carnival, and it is impossible to go past Brave Mead. The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained colt was a soft Caulfield winner on October 21 in a field that is no harder than what he faces on Saturday. Jamie Spencer takes the steer from barrier five and if he can lob in the one-one position upon settling, Brave Mead could have the race sewn up a long way out from home.

• 1
  

  BRAVE MEAD

• 2
  

  HEMAN

• 5
  

  INFLUENTIAL

• 7
  

  ERSA

Race 2: Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m)

Win and you are in to the 2023 Melbourne Cup (3200m), that is what is on offer for five of the seven acceptors in the Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m). Ladies Man was a dominant winner in the Group 1 Livamol Classic (2000m) on October 14 and looks well-placed to bring his New Zealand form to these shores. The six-year-old gelding has a thunderous turn of foot for a stayer and despite not winning at a distance further than 2200m, he has shown that a trip like this is right up his alley. Dean Yendall will have Ladies Man building through his gears 600m out, where he should blouse his rivals inside the final 100m and book his spot in the Cup on Tuesday.

• 1
  

  LADIES MAN

• 3
  

  ATHABASCAN

• 4
  

  MOSTLY CLOUDY

• 5
  

  UNITED NATIONS

Race 3: Group 3 Begonia Belle Stakes (1100m)

Dancing Alone has built an impressive record thus far, winning six of her first seven starts, and can claim her first black-type success on Saturday. The I Am Invincible mare was a smart Flemington 1100m winner two runs back, before smashing her rivals at the Caulfield 1100m on October 18. She returns to the Flemington 1100m and with Billy Egan on board from barrier 10, can lead from barrier to box.

• 10
  

  DANCING ALONE

• 8
  

  HYPOTHETICAL

• 4
  

  RED CARD

• 6
  

  ROSE QUARTZ

Race 4: Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m)

Chain Of Lightning returned with an eye-catching third in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) and can go on with the job in the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m). She was taking off substantial ground off Uncommon James and eventual Asfoora at Caulfield, to suggest the step up to 1200m second-up is ideal. She has two wins from three second-up starts and in a race that is going to be run to suit those with a sit off a hot speed, Chain Of Lightning should prove too hard to hold out.

• 2
  

  CHAIN OF LIGHTNING

• 7
  

  SPACEWALK

• 5
  

  TRIPLE MISSILE

• 4
  

  IT’SOURTIME

Race 5: Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m)

Our best of the day comes up in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) when Zardozi looks to build on her dominant win in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m). The three-year-old filly put 1.5 lengths on her rivals that day and looked every bit a VRC Oaks (2500m) chance when only getting warm through the line over 1600m. The extra 400m on Saturday looks perfect and as long as James McDonald can find a spot midfield with cover from barrier 10, Zardozi should prove too powerful for her rivals over 2000m.

• 1
  

  ZARDOZI

• 4
  

  HARLOW MIST

• 3
  

  KONASANA

• 7
  

  SUBRISING

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

Often referred to as a stallion-making race, the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) has assembled a massive field of 19 three-year-old sprinters. The trifecta from this year’s Golden Slipper will line up in the event, while several other Group winners will feature. Cylinder heads the market at +340 indicating how open an affair the Coolmore Stud Stakes is for 2023.

Click here for our full preview of the 2023 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes

Race 7: Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500M)

First run in 1855, the Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) is one of the most prestigious races in Australia. Chris Waller is hunting a second straight win in the race as Riff Rocket jumps as a short-priced favourite. Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) quinella Apulia and Verdad are looking to cause minor upsets, whilst there looks to be a few chances that horse racing bookmakers might have missed at a price.

Click here for our full preview of the 2023 Group 1 VRC Derby

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

The third and final Group 1, the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) as always has attracted an even field of mares for the $1 million event, and this year is no exception. Hope In Your Heart is one of the most consistent mares in the country and looks set to break her Group 1 maiden at the ninth time of asking. The Kerry Parker-trained five-year-old was beaten two-lengths in the Epsom Handicap (1600m), before finishing on the heels of Kovalica and Think It Over in the King Charles III Stakes (1600m). She will a bit of luck from barrier one considering she will be towards the rear of the field upon settling. Hope In Your Heart has an elite turn of foot and with even luck, should prove too good for her rivals in the Empire Rose.

• 3
  

  HOPE IN YOUR HEART

• 12
  

  LIFE LESSONS

• 2
  

  PRINCESS GRACE

• 14
  

  WISHLOR LASS

Race 9: Group 2 The Damien Oliver (1400m)

The inaugural running of The Damien Oliver (1400m) (formerly the Linlithgow Stakes) brings a close to a jam-packed Derby Day. Ayrton returned a smart winner in the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m) and in doing so looks to be back to somewhere near his best. He loves the 1400m, having won four times and placed on a further two occasions from 10 goes and can build on that record at Flemington. He will need some luck early from barrier 17 under Mark Zahra, but if the pair can hold a spot in the three wide line with cover, Ayrton can send us home a winner at a nice price.

• 4
  

  AYRTON

• 1
  

  VILANA

• 5
  

  TAMERLANE

• 10
  

  HERE TO SHOCK