Saturday is Champions Stakes Day at Flemington on what is the last day of the prestigious four-day carnival. And what a meeting it is, and it is growing in popularity every year.
There are nine races on the program with the first kicking off at 12:40pm.
And finally with some warmer weather forecast we will likely be running on a Soft 5.
Anamoe returns and will be favourite over the 2000m distance in the Group 1 TAB Champions Stakes.
Brendan Bunworth brings you his preview and free racing tips for each race!
Champions Stakes Day Preview & Betting Tips
Race 1
(6) Unanimous gets the verdict in what is a tricky race to start off the day. He has solid form on Soft ground and he did get the win over Gunstock two starts back at this track.
Following that he was never in it (10th) at Randwick when he got too far back. He likes this track, and he can run well the longer he goes into preparations.
(14) French Emperor is looking for three in a row after wins at Mornington and Geelong. Jamie Kahwas on board both times and she sticks with him here.
(10) Chicago Bear is having his first start in Australia and must be kept safe.
(1) Winning Partner was backed on in the early markers and has to be respected. A win from barrier 18 will be tough.
(6) Unanimous E/W
$8.00/$2.80 (1 Unit)
Race 2
(8) Aesop was sixth to the impressive White Marlin two starts back when favourite and we all know how the Marlin performed on Cup Day. Before that he was an impressive winner in front of Pounding who goes alright also and the 2000m here does suit. He will settle midfield in this one for Kah and he has had a mini break for this.
(19) Wuddzz does get a long way back in his races but will run out a strong 2000m.
(5) Kissinger rarely runs a poor one and does like Soft ground. Ollie stays on and he is another who has had a break in preparation for this race for Lindsay Smith.
(3) Pounding would be my second tip if he drew a better barrier. He has 18 and may struggle to find a good position.
(8) Aesop WIN
$3.50 (2 Units)
Race 3
*SCRATCHED* (20) Garza Blanca has drawn very well in two for the Maher & Eustace team and at big odds can run a nice race i reckon. His run behind Sandpaper three weeks ago (9th) was just fair but he is fitter now and with more race experience can improve in this one. He bolted in on the Soft at Murtoa and I know the stable has a high opinion of him.
(3) Angry Skies for the Hayes team was second behind Sandpaper in the same race is another that I think might come on.
(11) Running By was just fair when 4th behind Wee Nessy at The Valley but may improve on a larger track.
(1) Sandpaper has drawn terribly in barrier 19 and it will be a huge win if he can do it. JMac is on so it is possible.
(20) Garza Blanca E/W
SCR
Race 4
(2) Persan might have his Grand Final today or will it be the Sandown Cup? He ran quite well behind the impressive Frencesco Guardi in the Moonee Valley Cup (3rd) and although there are some very good horses in this race, he has raced against better opposition over the past 12 months. He will likely settle around fourth in the run for Mark Zahra, and he has won two races over the track and distance.
(8) Warning ran well in the Lexus Stakes (4th) after sticking on very well behind Surefire. He was backed from double figure to single figure odds on Derby Day which suggests to me that the horse is training well.
(5) Lunar Flare was scratched in the Melbourne Cup but has enough miles in the legs to feature here. He will settle well back, but he will love the conditions.
(11) Soulcombe comes over from England and Waller has put Craig Williams on. I don't know much about him, but he obviously has to be respected.
(2) Persan WIN
$7.00 (2 Units)
Race 5
(8) Dynasties is on the quick backup for Peter Snowden and Kah after he ran fourth in a race where she didn't have too much luck. She was sitting 10th at the 200m but ran home very nicely for fourth and the rise back up to 2000m should hold no concerns. She will get back again and will be hoping the track stays in the Soft range.
(13) Glory Bound is third up after a six-month spell and has the combination of Moody & Nolen next to his name which is a tick at the moment. It’s his third run in Australia and an improved run wont shock.
(2) Polly Grey will push forward but it won't be wet enough for her in this one, but in a race where there is not too much speed she can place.
(8) Dynasties WIN
$5.50 (2 Units)
Race 6
(1) Nature Strip maybe had to do too much work in the first 100m last time which cost her over the final 100m at Randwick when fourth in The Everest. Over this track & distance he has won three from four and conditions will suit. He will obviously settle on speed again here and it will be interesting to see if other horses try to pressure her midrace. I just think he's too good and will win by a length or two.
(11) Roch ‘n’ Horse goes good on the Soft and was racing well before he was scratched in the Moir last start.
(14) Giga Kick was wide in The Everest and still won and the three-year-old Gelding is making every post a winner for Clayton Douglas. He won at Flemington in September, and it should suit him again when he makes his run from around midfield.
(9) Bella Nipotina is just fantastic but i think she will need more moisture in the track, and it doesn't look like she will get that this time.
(1) Nature Strip WIN
$1.95 (4 Units)
Race 7
(9) My Oberon won the Crystal Mile by 1.5L after settling midfield and I think he will get a similar run in this race from barrier seven for Johnny Allen. He has won five from 11 over this distance and the only real concern is that he has never seen Flemington. Annabel Neasham has him going excellent and he is on top due to his easy win in what was a quality field last time.
(2) Private Eye is flying and the Pride stable still admit they have no idea what its best distance is. Second pick but am confident on My Oberon though.
(4) Alligator Blood does go well at Flemington and will be in the top three with 200m to go. He was only 2.1L away from Anamoe and I’m Thunderstruck in the Cox Plate and he did stick on really well for Tim Clark. I think it will be less than that margin this time in defeat.
(3) Cascadian will be the one storming home, but will they try and put the brakes on in front? He loves Soft track and can handle Flemington.
(5) Mr. Brightside has been up a while now but can be a danger in this. He kept plugging away to the finish in the Cox Plate after getting back too far. Has he peaked?
(9) My Oberon WIN
$4.80 (2 Units)
Race 8
(1) I’m Thunderstruck was very gallant in the Cox Plate (2nd) and he does like Flemington. He was too good in the Makybe Diva Stakes at this track, and he has only been beaten .6L in his last two starts behind Anamoe. I can't really split Anamoe or I’m Thunderstruck at all this time but with the odds better for the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr galloper, I'm leaning his way for a bet.
(7) Anamoe did the nation proud on Cox Plate Day and did win it pretty easily in the end but he did get put in a perfect position in the run by JMac. It's his first time at Flemington. He will start even money and deserves to do so.
(3) Mo’Unga is flying really and Neasham has him flying. I cant believe im tipping him ahead of Zaaki but he has never gone better. He was luckless in the Cox Plate when fifth and probably should have finished closer.
(10) Elliptical faces his toughest test yet and despite running unplaced here in the Exford Plate, that was against hot competition. Craig Williams replaces Blake Shinn but Willow does know the horse.
(1) I’m Thunderstruck E/W
$4.50/$1.75 (1u Win/2u Place)
Race 9
(10) Picarones for the Blue Army and Kah will come down the grandstand side from barrier 16. She won well for Hugh Bowman last time and does like it Soft. Is naught from three at the distance but I am trusting Cummings’ judgment with this one.
(9) Najem Suhail is an interesting runner. He flopped on debut when being backed in but then bolted in at 20-1 at Sale last start on a Good track. Kah has a big opinion of him but has decided to stick with Picarones.
(6) Taunting will also go down the outside from barrier 14. JMac is on and he has won three from six on the surface.
(14) Hypothetical for the Freedman camp is up in class but did beat a handy field on Geelong Cup Day.
(10) Picarones WIN
$7.00 (1 Unit)
