Lee and Shannon Hope-trained Cindy Falls the best bet for Saturday’s Aurie’s Star Handicap meeting at Flemington

Guiding consistent mare Cindy Falls back to winning ways could form part of a big day for top jockey Blake Shinn at Saturday’s Aurie’s Star meeting at Flemington.

Former Kiwi mare Cindy Falls can bounce back to winning form when she heads to Flemington on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images.

Herald Sun and Racenet form analyst Brad Waters takes an early look at Saturday’s Aurie’s Star Handicap meeting at Flemington.

BEST BET

CINDY FALLS (Race 3, No.3)

Cindy Falls won impressively two runs back but was solid again at Flemington last start. She’ll have every chance to bounce back on Saturday.

BEST VALUE

KIKO (Race 9 No.8)

Kiko is racing in great heart and the form out of her last-start win has held up. She’ll be prominent for a long way again at Flemington.

EARLY QUADDIE

1, 3/1, 3, 7, 9/3, 5, 6/3, 6

$100 flexi for 208 per cent

BIG6

3, 5, 6/3, 6/1, 2, 3, 7, 8/5, 8, 9, 11/1, 2, 3/2, 5, 8, 11

$100 flexi for 6.9 per cent

QUADDIE

Race 7: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8

Race 8: 5, 8, 9, 11

Race 9: 1, 2, 3

Race 10: 2, 5, 8, 11

$100 flexi for 41 per cent

Detroit City will attempt to repeat his dominant debut win at Flemington on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

RACE 1: 12.20PM TAB WE’RE ON (1410m)

Nine runners in the opener but DETROIT CITY (1) could be one to follow judging by his dominant debut win at Wodonga, which indicated the 1410m wouldn’t pose a problem. SCOUNDREL (2) showed plenty of fight to score second-up and will improve again. STOLEN KISS (9) will be suited over this longer trip while KHABALOV (6) should improve on his debut fourth at Sandown.

SUGGESTED BET: Small win bet Detroit City.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Detroit City $4 – $3.20.

RACE 2: 12.55PM INSIDE RUN TROPHY (2530m)

BERKSHIRE BREEZE (3) will be short odds but should also again be too good for his rivals after easy Flemington wins at his last two starts. POST IMPRESSIONIST (1) will give away a fitness edge to the favourite but won at Group 3 level first-up in the autumn. LORDSHIP (6) was well held at his Australian debut but could improve sharply jumping 830m in trip. HORRIFYING (2) surprised with his last-start win but could sneak a place again.

SUGGESTED BET: Trifecta 3/1, 2, 6/1, 2, 6

TAB MARKET MOVER: Horrifying $19 – $15.

RACE 3: 1:30PM DONATE RO RDA AUSTRALIA (1410m)

Happy to back CINDY FALLS (3) to return to the winner’s list after another strong effort when giving away 4kg to the promising Arqana last time out. Blake Shinn going on is a plus. JUSTDOIT (7) was too strong in an easier race at Sandown but wasn’t disgraced at Flemington before that. FIASCO TESS (9) was outsprinted in heavy ground at Sandown and could improve on better footing. ALPINE FLYER (1) won first-up last time in and is worth thought.

SUGGESTED BET: Cindy Falls to win.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Ithadtobezou $6.50 – $5.

Berkshire Breeze will shoot for his fourth straight win when the Ciaron Maher-trained stayer returns to Flemington on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

RACE 4: 2.05PM JOCKEYS CELEBRATION DAY SPRINT (1100m)

PROWLING (5) could be the one to fire fresh after jumping out well at Cranbourne leading up to this and his first-up record is solid. FORTUNATE KISS (6) is on debut for the Kennewell and Yeomans camp but is another that has impressed at the jumpouts. MIDTOWN BOSS (3) goes well first-up and likes the straight course. HOME RULE (4) is consistent and worth putting in multiples.

SUGGESTED BET: Prowling to win.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Midtown Boss $2.70 – $2.40.

RACE 5: 2.40PM VRC SEASON PREMIERE RACE DAY PLATE (1620m)

LE ZEBRA (6) steps up to open-age racing for the first time but the gelding was most impressive with his last win and should again have every chance. RISE AT DAWN (3) is a gutsy on-pacer that should be hard to get past despite an awkward draw. STEP ASIDE (11) will be fitter for a solid second-up outing at Caulfield. NAILS MURPHY (10) is racing consistently and is worth thought again.

SUGGESTED BET: Box trifecta 3, 6, 10, 11

TAB MARKET MOVER: Rise At Dawn $4 – $3.50.

RACE 6: 3.15PM GROUP 3 AURIE’S STAR HANDICAP (1200m)

LA DANSEUSE ROUGE (7) could provide a minor upset fresh. She won well at Caulfield before a break and was placed at Group 3 level last spring so has the ability. THE ASTROLOGIST (3) will be fitter for a solid fresh run and always races well down the straight. IT’SOURTIME (2) won this race last year and has hit form at the right time. ZARASTRO (1) will be on the speed for a long way here.

SUGGESTED BET: La Danseuse Rouge each-way.

TAB MARKET MOVER: The Astrologist $10 – $7.

Leading Flemington fancy Astero was a five-length winner at Caulfield at his last appearance. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

RACE 7: 3.55PM VRC SPRING GALA PLATE (2000m)

ST VINCENTS GARDEN (8) is a lightly-raced stayer but made an encouraging Australian debut in Queensland last month. Expecting him to improve for this assignment. REBADGE (9) drops slightly in trip here but expecting him to finish strongly. STAR VEGA (11) was close-up at Sandown last start and looks ready for 2000m. UNANIMOUS (5) was sound in Sydney last start and is a 2000m winner.

SUGGESTED BET: St Vincents Garden to win.

TAB MARKET MOVER: St Vincents Garden $5.50 – $4.60.

RACE 8: 4.30PM FLEMINGTON KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS HANDICAP (1410m)

ASTERO (3) led and bolted in at Caulfield last time out but he looks to have an even softer run trailing the leader in this affair. GENTLEMAN ROY (1) is fresh for this but should give them something to chase from barrier one. HOLYMANZ (2) resumes and will find this much easier than chasing Pride Of Jenni in the All-Star Mile. RHEINBERG (4) is racing well and is worth considering again.

SUGGESTED BET: Back both Astero and Gentleman Roy.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Gentleman Roy $13 – $7.

RACE 9: 5.02PM VICTORIAN JOCKEYS’ ASSOCIATION SPRINT (1200m)

Tough race to finish but KIKO (8) could be hard to run down after her strong last-start win under 59kg at Sandown. She drops 1.5kg for this, which will help. HEURISTIC (5) wasn’t far away at Sandown and races well over this trip. HOLLY LOLLY (11) turned in a better effort last time and is hard-fit for this. BEWS (2) will give a start but should be strong late.

SUGGESTED BET: Kiko each-way.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Dazzling Lucy $10 – $9.

Originally published as Lee and Shannon Hope-trained Cindy Falls the best bet for Saturday’s Aurie’s Star Handicap meeting at Flemington