Last weekend, Flemington and Randwick held feature racing on Saturday afternoon, where 14 Group races were held across both meetings. In this week’s edition of The Follow Files, we have found three runners that are worth following and adding to your blackbook with horse racing bookmakers.
Flemington
Rail position: +5m entire circuit
Race 2: Group 3 Ottawa Stakes (1000m) | Time: 0:57.89
- Horse to follow: Pure Passion (3rd)
Peter Moody & Katerine Coleman sent Pure Passion to Flemington to compete in the Group 3 Ottawa Stakes, where the two-year-old filly was far from disgraced, finishing in third place. The daughter of Snitzel settled at the back of the field and had to weave her way through traffic to get to the outside of runners. Once Jamie Melham got her into clear air, Pure Passion finished off strongly, recording the fastest last 600m (32.65s), 400m (21.83), and 200m (11.22s) sections of the entire meeting.
When to bet: Although she didn’t win last Saturday, a victory is near for Pure Passion. If Moody & Coleman drop her back in grade and run her in a 1100m or 1200m next start, she will break her maiden with a similar effort.
Race 9: Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) | Time: 1:08.75
- Horse to follow: Benedetta (10th)
The connections of Benedetta were left to think of what could have been in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap when their five-year-old mare ran into a roadblock at the 100m mark. The Jason Warren-trained galloper was storming home on the outside of the field before running up behind the tiring Ostraka and Arkansaw Kid. From then on, Ben Melham had to grab hold of his mount, and they went over the line untested to finish in 10th place. With even luck and a clearer run, Benedetta would have finished in the placings.
When to bet: Benedetta is nominated for the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes, but the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes or Group 1 Goodwood in South Australia appear to be hers for the taking.
Randwick
Rail position: +3m entire circuit
Race 9: Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m) | Time: 2:01.86
- Horse to follow: Warmonger (2nd)
Warmonger bounced back with a strong performance in the Listed Randwick City Stakes after his last-place finish in the Group 3 JRA Plate first up at Caulfield. The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained gelding settled worse than midfield and ran on strongly down the outside to finish second behind Alalcance, beaten by just over half a length. Following his underwhelming run first-up, Warmonger appears to be back on track for a crack at the Group 1 Sydney Cup.
When to bet: The Group 1 Sydney Cup has been the target for Warmonger this preparation, and going off his most recent performance, he will prove very hard to beat in the 3200m classic.
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