Flemington will host Group 1 Australian Guineas Day on Saturday as thousands of punters take to the iconic course to get amongst the action. The race of the day comes up in race eight with the Cairon Maher trained Observer the $2.25 favourite. The Blamey Stakes headlines the rest of the card with the first race starting at 12:15pm (AEDT).
The weather looks fine and runners will be racing on a Good4 surface. Every race as well as the Quaddie has been covered below!
Flemington Racing Tips: Saturday, February 28th 2026
Race 1: TAB We’re On 1000m - 12:15pm (AEDT)
(5) Jacaranda for the Hayes Team gets the nod in what is an even race. On debut she only raced against two other horses and was way too good at Seymour and then she wasn’t disgraced in a harder race at Randwick when 5th but only beaten 1.15L. Back to Melbourne and she might find this a little easier.
(6) Gin Twist is a maiden who rolls forward and has placed in both career starts. Freshened for this after her 3rd at Caulfield.
(7) La Gitana is another who likes to settle handy and has placed over this distance.
(5) Jacaranda WIN
$4.00 (1 unit)
Race 2: Rubaroc Handicap 1200m - 12:45pm (AEDT)
(7) Behaviour gets back in the pack but he did run home very well last start at Flemington. He returns to the same track and distance and gets a more senior jockey with Beau Mertens on top. He has 2 wins and 2 thirds over the distance and on January 31 he ran a good 4th at Caulfield behind the talented Gallant Son.
(1) Rue De Royale is another who usually settles back in the field and will be running on but has a big weight to carry this time. We have backed him on here a few times now.
(5) Regal Tycoon has the inside which isn’t usually ideal up the straight but a Dry track is the key here. Should settle about 4th and get a good run.
(7) Behaviour WIN
$7.50 (1 unit)
Race 3: Good Friday Appeal Plate 1400m - 1:20pm (AEDT)
(2) Red Galaxy was poor last start at this track when 8th but we will forgive that. Before the Flemington run he was very good at Geelong when he really stormed home over the concluding stages to run 3rd at big odds. Its his third run from a spell now and he should be cherry ripe for this.
(3) Little Jack hasn’t raced in a long time but his trials have been good enough to put up a real fight in this. On February 19 he won his Sale jumpout and looked good in doing so. Jake Noonan knows him well and will ride.
(7) Watersports gets weight relief even after winning last start. He was fav when winning at Hillside but this is harder.
(2) Red Galaxy WIN
$7.50 (0.50 units)
Race 4: Kirin Ichiban Trophy 1600m - 1:15pm (AEDT)
(9) Ahha Ahha has drawn well in barrier 2 and Jamie Melham stays on which is another positive. Last start at Caulfield he was just worse of midfield and ran on very well despite running 2nd and with the good barrier here he may settle in around 4th in the run. Stays with 54kg and will attract support.
(8) Astral Flame was wide at Cranbourne last start but still won over this distance. Lachie Neiendorf has won twice on top previously and he may try to lead this field.
(5) Mometz has won 4 from 10 races on Good tracks and did storm home to win at Caulfield Heath last start. This is a little harder but I can see him running on well again into the placings with the 2kg claim.
(9) Ahha Ahha WIN
$3.40 (2 units)
Race 5: VOBIS Gold Comet 1000m - 2:30pm (AEDT)
(4) McGaw won the Group 2 Danehill Stakes at this track during the Spring and is resuming. He settles on speed and will give punters a good sight in conditions which suit. He goes well on Dry tracks and he has won three times before for Damien Lane. Lane has been on in both trials since his spell so will know where he is at.
(3) Celui box seated and saluted at Randwick last start on a Good surface. Remains at the 1000m in which he has won on five occasions previously.
(1) Bridal Waltz is a classy mare who is first up and she has won first up previously. May go better on Soft tracks though but is still good enough to Place in this. Consistent having been in the money 10 from 14 starts.
(4) McGaw WIN
$3.00 (2 units)
Race 6: HKJC World Pool Trophy 1100m - 3:05pm (AEDT)
(6) Educated has drawn the inside which isn’t ideal but the filly may lead again after doing so when winning at Cranbourne last start. On that occasion she was a hot favourite and won easily by 3L. Another Dry track helps and there doesn’t appear to be an abundance of early pace in this race.
(1) Bel Merci is down in class and classy. She hasn’t won in a very long time but ran on well at Caulfield from near last to run 3rd last start. Stablemate to Educated and if they do over do it up front, she can run over the top of them.
(4) Wintery has quality form on Good tracks and is a rough hope for Andrew Purcell. Settled on speed and was 2nd in the Group 3 Kev Heys at Caulfield last start.
(3) Educated WIN
$3.60 (2 units)
Race 7: TAB Blamey Stakes Group 2 1600m - 3:40pm (AEDT)
(8) Enxuto loves the mile and was unlucky in a couple of runs last campaign. On resumption from a spell and at this track last start he ran well coming from off midfield to run 3rd beaten under a length. He loves Good tracks and from barrier 4 I reckon he might settle a pair closer this time in around midfield position. He drops another kilogram and is fitter.
(5) Birdman was unlucky last start at this track when 4th behind Cafe Millenium. The rise in distance helps but he is yet to really impress on Dry ground.
(1) Willydoit has to carry 59kg but enjoys the mile more so than the 1400m. Similar to Birdman he races better on Soft tracks but I reckon he picks up a race in the Autumn. Declan Bates hops on for the first time.
(8) Enxuto Each-Way
$6.50/$1.95 (1 unit)
Race 8: Australian Guineas GROUP 1 1600m - 4:20pm (AEDT)
(1) Observer sat handy to the speed when the tempo was pretty good and saluted upon resumption at Caulfield last start. All of his career wins have been on Good ground and the Victorian Derby winner should only get better as he increases his distances. When winning the Group 2 Vase at The Valley in the Spring he led on that occasion so he might even try and lead all of the way in this.
(2) Planet Red was a great run last start behind Observer and if the sectionals are quick, he is the one to watch late. He came from 12th at the 600m to run 2nd last start.
(4) Sixties has won two in a row and importantly one at this track. He was wide last start in the Group 3 Col Heys but still went on to win by 1.25L. First try at the mile.
(1) Observer WIN
$2.30 (3 units)
Race 9: Inglis Sprint 1200m - 4:55pm (AEDT)
(3) Alpha Sofie is going for five in a row for Moody&Coleman and she will be fitter with this beig her second run back from a spell. First up from a spell she came from midfield to score over 1100m and the extra 100m here is of no issues because she has won three times over the 1200m before. Barrier 7 looks fine and I expect her to settle midfield again. Zac Spain is 2 from 2 on top and he stays on.
(5) Trapper John was good on debut to win after settling near last and then he was fav, settled closer and still scored at Pakenham last start when on a Good4. Should get another Good4 here which will be to his liking.
(15) Layla may lead this field likes she did at Cranbourne last start when winning. Harder here but raced well for 3rd when first up last campaign.
(3) Alpha Sophie WIN
$2.40 (3 units)
Race 10: 3AW Handicap 2000m - 5:35pm (AEDT)
(7) Fiorenot is a Dry track specialist and he appreciated being back at Flemington last start where he stormed home to just miss. Jordan Childs has 3 times on top and has a good association with him and with this being his third go at 2000m, I think he will be harderened to run it out well again.
(15) Georgie Get Mad has been racing well without winning and is big odds. Was 20-1 and caught wide last start but didn’t give up when 3rd here.
(11) Ambassadorial was our top pick last time and he saluted for us when a short priced favourite. Went forward and led last time but if he does that again, my worry is that he will be a sitting duck over the last 100m.
(7) Fiorenot WIN
$3.60 (2 units)
Quaddie Tips
Leg one: 1, 2, 5, 8
Leg two: 1, 2, 4
Leg three: 3, 5, 15
Leg four: 7, 11, 15
