Monday Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner’s horses to follow and forgive from Flemington on Saturday

Form expert Gilbert Gardiner analyses Saturday’s Flemington Community Race Day, revealing his horses to follow as well as five to forgive.

Splash Back, ridden by Tom Prebble, wins the Brian Beattie Handicap at Flemington. Picture: Reg Ryan / Racing Photos

Form expert Gilbert Gardiner analyses Saturday’s Flemington Community Race Day, revealing his horses to follow as well as five to forgive.

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FIVE TO FOLLOW

SPLASH BACK (1-length 1st of 12, Race 7): How could you not? Savage turn of foot late to nail TERRESTAR and the plucky SASSY BOOM after being hemmed away in an almost impossible position third last in traffic. Her win at Caulfield the start prior was equally impressive. Spring beckons for the rising six-year-old mare.

SPLASH BACK FROM THE CLOUDS 🤯 🤯

She might be pretty good! Splash Back comes from nowhere to the delight of the punters, giving Tom Prebble a race to race double!@Grahame_Beggpic.twitter.com/hypH6mUZr1

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 21, 2025

FIELDELO (3.8-length 2nd of 11, Race 9): Crashed into a rising star in SHE’S AN ARTIST, who smashed the clock to win the 1100m Three-Year-Old Handicap by 3 3/4 lengths. Tracked the winner to the 800m but unable to quicken as sharply when She’s An Artist sprinted clear. Fieldelo, trained by Toby Lake, stuck to her task to run second. BRIDAL WALTZ also gallant in third.

She's An Artist shares a resemblance to a certain sprinter & she might share some of that ability... 👩‍🎨

The bald-faced filly trounces her opposition under hands & heals.@[e-mail]/Aavk6Bmdwa

— Racing.com (@Racing) June 21, 2025

RELENTLESS VOYAGER (4.5-length 6th of 12, Race 8): Expect to see more of him in coming weeks and months. A lovely Australian debut, albeit luckless, by the imported stayer, twice stakes’ placed in England last year. The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding had not raced for 10 months before last Saturday. Held up multiple times inside the last 200m and barely got out of second gear.

"What a day for team Payne!"

Jimmy The Bear atones for an uncharacteristic poor run last start, bounding away with the David Bourke Handicap 🐻

Michelle & Patrick Payne have a quartet & their apprentice, Tom Prebble, has a treble 🤩 pic.twitter.com/9UY5R1TXOV

— Racing.com (@Racing) June 21, 2025

FROM A DISTANCE (0.8-length 2nd of 11, Race 4): Worked into contention nicely in the straight but snookered between horses on the heels of winner TAKEN. The Symon Wilde-trained gelding got clear air eventually, inside the last 75m, and surged into second position. Could be hard to hold out next start at 1600m. Stablemate DARKBONEE (3rd) saved best work late after being held up.

Taken lugs 60kg to extend his winning-streak to four 👌@CWilliamsJockey collects his first winner of the [e-mail]/bosQSKIXv9

— Racing.com (@Racing) June 21, 2025

HARD TO CROSS (4.3-length 8th of 13, Race 5): Wet track, 1600m third-up could be a nice recipe for the typically consistent performer. Posted wide without cover last Saturday in the second half of the field and shunted deeper again in the straight. BRIGHT STRIPES (3.1-length 7th) an eye-catching run late.

Cafe Millennium collects an elusive second victory after going winless since his debut 🤝@lindsayparkrace has their galloper humming since joining the team this [e-mail]/TD5v4299TN

— Racing.com (@Racing) June 21, 2025

• ‘I just have to work harder’: Williams zeros in on jockeys’ premiership, despite suspension

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FORGIVE

RED GALAXY (6.4-length 11th of 16, Race 5): Travelled outside leader FREAK OF NATURE (11.2-length 13th of 13) and both weakened in the straight. Jockey Craig Williams told stewards Red Galaxy made an abnormal respiratory noise on pulling up. A post-race endoscopy detected a throat condition that may have affected Red Galaxy’s performance. Freak Of Nature also pulled up with signs of a throat condition.

AVEBURY (4.6-length 8th of 12, Race 7): Faded out of contention late but potentially reached the end of her preparation. Raced consistently of late, with big weights, including a Caulfield win four starts back.

OBSERVER (6.4-length 5th of 8, Race 1): Won too impressively the start prior at Sandown, bolted in by five lengths, to sack off one blemish. The two-year-old colt appeared to travel well at Flemington but wilted when jockey Craig Williams asked for an effort as BUCCLEUCH (1st) and MILLENNIUM BLADE (3rd) challenged at the 300m.

Buccleuch surges away from his fellow 2yos under the guidance of @TheBeeegan 👌@mj_paynepic.twitter.com/j3FK3oisac

— Racing.com (@Racing) June 21, 2025

• Mullins strengthens Melbourne Cup hand with Royal Ascot winner Sober

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STEWARDS SAY

Jockey John Allen reported ST LAWRENCE (Race 8) failed to respond under pressure and was disappointing. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any significant findings. Trainer Gavin Bedggood could offer no explanation for the performance. Stewards will follow up with the stable.

Jockeys DECLAN BATES (From A Distance, Race 4) and CRAIG NEWITT (Muktamil, Race 6) escaped with reprimands for respective minor careless riding infringements.

Originally published as Monday Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner’s horses to follow and forgive from Flemington on Saturday