NewsBite

Monday Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner’s five to follow from 2025 Australian Cup day at Flemington

Racing writer Gilbert Gardiner runs a rule over Australian Cup Day at Flemington, revealing his five horses to follow and forgive from the card.

Gilbert GardinerGilbert Gardiner
@gilbertgardiner
2 min read
March 31, 2025 - 5:30AM
This is how we race - Dederang Picnic Races | Punters + Racing Victoria

Racing writer Gilbert Gardiner runs a rule over Australian Cup Day at Flemington, revealing his five horses to follow and forgive from the card.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

FIVE TO FOLLOW

DENY KNOWLEDGE (2-length 2nd of 10, Race 8): Went from possible dictator to the dictated in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) after she missed the start a length. Raced three wide with cover and eventually slotted in one off the rail but damage was done as the Group 1 mare essentially carted winner LIGHT INFANTRY MAN into the contest. Looked set to run fourth as ZARDOZI (3rd) and ATISHU (4th) emerged after more economical runs in transit, but Deny Knowledge rallied to regain and hold second spot. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained mare would need Sydney to dry out a bit to be most effective but she is certainly up to a Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

IMMEDIACY (3.6-length 6th of 16, Race 5): Race shape was against and not helped by being slow into stride. Cluttered up among backmarkers and denied any real momentum approaching and around the bend as a result. Laid in under pressure in the straight but locked into the task properly once in the clear. Could improve sharply second up.

SANS DOUTE (2.2-length 5th of 12, Race 6): Too far back to make an impression but certainly appreciated a drop in grade second-up and could go on with the job. Sans Doute recorded the fastest last 800m, 600m and 400m sectionals on the entire cad last Saturday at Flemington in the Listed ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m).

JASMINE ROUGE (1.7-length 4th of 17, Race 7): Raced in restricted room, held up from about the 300m but savaged the line once clear inside the last 100m. Placed third on debut last year and then won a Group 3 quite impressively second-up before a spell. Super again first-up here and should be mighty hard to beat wherever she goes to next. WINNASEDGE (5th, beaten 1.7 lengths) was equally impressive up in grade.

POIFECT (1.7-length 5th of 14, Race 10): First go down the straight and acquitted herself nicely in a solid pipe opener. Travelled comfortably in the run but under pressure when the pace quickened from the 400m. Stuck to her task boldly late to hold fifth position in the 1100m Benchmark 78. Should only improve second-up especially around a bend and with a bit more ground.

• ‘Better than last prep’: Travel on the cards for Globe

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

FORGIVE

PRIDE OF JENNI (15.7-length 9th of 10, Race 8): Passed all relevant post-race veterinary inspections with no abnormalities so we could only assume an intangible cause for the performance – a case of second-up syndrome. Pride Of Jenni raced super first-up from a long spell to win the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield and maybe felt the pinch a fortnight later. Up in trip, a bigger track, blustery conditions and more pressure on speed among potential contributing factors as Pride Of Jenni raised the white flag from the 1000m mark.

VESTAS (4.5-length 13th of 17, Race 7): Always on the back hoof after being slow into stride and never threatened thereafter. Jockey Jamie Melham told stewards Vestas, who was agitated pre-race, may not have appreciated the addition of the tongue tie to its gear. A post-race vet examination did not reveal any significant findings.

LANGE NELLE (6.2-length 7th of 9, Race 3): Sent out favourite on debut but performed below market expectations. A post-race endoscopy detected a degree of internal exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) that may have affected the filly’s performance. Trainer Mick Price advised Lange Nelle would be spelled.

• Deakin ‘big call’ leads to Melbourne Cup berth

Originally published as Monday Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner’s five to follow from 2025 Australian Cup day at Flemington

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

More related stories

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/horse-racing/tips/monday-racebook-gilbert-gardiners-five-to-follow-from-2025-australian-cup-day-at-flemington/news-story/03dc5e7eb8d79fa5259a5c19509eca5b