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Monday racebook: Brad Waters’ five horses to follow from Flemington

Brad Waters gives five horses to follow from Saturday’s race meeting at Flemington.

Brad Waters
3 min read
January 19, 2025 - 3:30PM
Racing took place at Flemington on Saturday. Picture: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos
Racing took place at Flemington on Saturday. Picture: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos

Saturday’s Flemington meeting was the last Melbourne fixture with no stakes racing for months but there were a few to follow out of the 10-race card.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

SPEYCASTER: The Chris Waller-trained Speycaster was never going to win first-up but the stayer made an excellent start to his summer/autumn campaign. Speycaster found himself in a small field with no speed to the home turn but the six-year-old worked home solidly from the rear to finish 2½ lengths from the winner. No reason he can’t continue to improve with more ground as his campaign develops.

GRONKOWSKI: Gronkowski is simply ready to win. The Clayton Douglas-trained galloper again performed well down the straight with another second placing, this time behind the Nick Ryan-trained Wolfy. Gronkowski raced on the speed, facing the breeze, but fought on gamely before holding off all but Wolfy, who had a much softer run back in the field. Getting around a turn could bring a win for Gronkowski.

LEGIO TEN: Legio Ten had his first start for the Gavin Bedggood stable at Flemington and showed he would be a good money-spinner for his new connections. Legio Ten has a good Flemington straight record and loomed to win at Benchmark 84 level first-up but his condition just gave out a touch late in the races. He handles good or soft tracks and can be followed deep into his preparation.

ACTUALITY: Trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman have handled Actuality with plenty of patience and the Snitzel filly could repay them this time in. The three-year-old had only had one previous start for a win at Geelong last September but chased well from midfield to be beaten a long neck when resuming down the straight. Expecting her to win a couple this time in.

HOWGOODAREYOU: Howgoodareyou was well held on debut for the Grahame Begg stable at Flemington but there was a glimpse of possible improvement with more ground. The former Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained mare was strong through the line and can improve sharply when she gets to 1600m or further.

CRUNCH TIME

SPEYCASTER made the horses to follow section with his effort in the opening race and the sectional times backed that up. The import ran the fastest last 200m sectional of the Flemington meeting, clocking 10.79sec. MARBLE ARCH clocked the quickest last 400m of the day in the same race, finishing off his race in 21.25sec. Sprinter WOLFY ran the fastest last 600m of the day in race five, covering the distance in 21.47sec. Two-year-old SWORD OF LEGACY was also prominent on the day’s timesheets, running her last 800m in 44.25sec, the third fastest time of the day.

PLEASE FORGIVE

SAMANGU: Samangu was a beaten odds-on favourite but the Grahame Begg-trained mare was far from disgraced. She raced on the speed before she was outsprinted late. She was only beaten half a length into third spot and is still learning her craft. She’ll be better for the experience down the Flemington straight.

MANOLO BLING: Manolo Bling was another beaten favourite that showed plenty of fight when third in her Flemington assignment. She was another that pushed forward to face the breeze but her 60kg impost weighed her down late in the race. Manolo Bling gave 5kg to the winner Reluctantlycharmed and 5.5kg to the runner-up Actuality to her effort to share third spot was honest.

TRACK TALK

“There’s a little black-type race in about three weeks’ time at Caulfield, maybe we’ve got to consider that and have a little roll at that,” Grahame Begg is happy to look at harder races for Reluctantlycharmed after her win.

“The last time I was here at this track was for his funeral and I followed his coffin down the straight and the next time I was going to be here I was going to be winning a race and thinking of Dean,” Warrnambool trainer Adam Chambers’s first thought was his late mate Dean Holland after Major Share’s success.

“I went to the filling station this morning, getting a coffee, and I asked (fellow trainer) Jason Warren to lend me a map to Flemington because I’d forgotten how to get here,” trainer Tony Noonan had his first winner at Flemington since 2020 when Dazzling Lucy scored on Saturday.

STEWARDS SAY

Wings Of Song (Second Race 1) – Vetted pre-race after shifting a plate in the mounting yard.

Hot Whiskers (Late Scratching Race 2) – Late scratching on veterinary advice after being fractious in the tie-up stalls, shifting the off hind plate, sustaining a wound to the off foreleg and being lame in the off hind leg.

Bancory Bay (Unplace Race 3) – Held up for clear running from the 500m until passing the 300m.

Miss Cotoletta (Unplaced Race 7) – Reared at the start and lost five lengths.

Et Tu Brute (Unplaced Race 10) – Lame in off foreleg post-race.

Originally published as Monday racebook: Brad Waters’ five horses to follow from Flemington

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