Melbourne: Comprehensive preview of every race at Flemington

A COMPREHENSIVE preview of every race for Saturday’s meet at Flemington with Ray Hickson

NSW sprinter Spieth. Picture: Derrick den Hollander

NOTE: Numbers in brackets are the official handicap ratings for each horse. Track rated Soft 5 at time of writing, anticipating soft ground but not too bad.

RACE 1

There was plenty of merit in the debut effort of 8. COLONEL KLINK (61) and I can’t see why, with a bit of luck this time, he shouldn’t be in the finish. It was only a field of seven at Sale where he went around as equal favourite but he just couldn’t get a clear crack at them until the race was over. Hard to beat here. 10. TRENCHANT (61) is on the back up after quite a good performance at the Valley last week where he made up a heap of ground from well back. Shapes as though the extra journey will assist and the claim doesn’t hurt either. 2. CLIFFHANGER (65) won the race at Sale beating Colonel Klink but he did have a clear run at them down the outside and he’s also clearly a very good wet tracker. Probably won’t be as wet here but the sting out is in his favour and he’s a threat again. 4. COBBMORE (63) had support at odds at his debut and was quite impressive on the synthetic earlier this month. Hard to get a line on the form but he did it easily and this is a logical step.

RACE 2

Not much of a race really and 4. TELOPEA (82) is the in-form mare with a massive weight drop on her last start second where she was nailed in the last stride at Sandown. Meets out of form or enigmatic mares, largely, and I’d expect her to be winning this. 2. DANESTROEM (91) is a horse I can never catch but she should lead them and that gives her a chance to again get the better of me. Improved sharply second-up and the only negative for her is that she’s yet to fire at Flemington after three attempts. 6. NIMINYPIMINY (76) is slowly getting back to form and went down in a tight finish to Clemency last start and that mare has made the form look okay by winning again at the Valley. Her last win was over this course back in August and she’s capable of being in the finish. 1. IGGIMACOOL (98) would beat these pointlessly if she found the form she was in back in July and August last year and this is her chance to improve. Fair effort against the boys over this course second-up and with the claim is very well in. Just a matter of whether she’s going any good.

RACE 3

I don’t have a great of confidence in this race. 6. ELITE TIGER (73) is racing in excellent form around this grade and just failed in a similar race two weeks ago over 1400m after coming from well back. Granted the winner ran him down late. If he can hold that good form then he should be in the finish somewhere. 7. TURBO STREET (73) caught the eye first-up over this course then stepped up in distance and struck a heavy track at Morphettville and battled on fairly for third. Better suited here and a soft track will suit. Go well. 2. PIN YOUR HOPES (79) has struck form after a short break in the autumn and while he had his chance at Sandown last start he went down fighting. If he can get up on the speed he is capable of giving a good sight. 5. DISTANT ROCK (73) is frustrating to follow if you’re a win punter but he’s usually around the placings in his races so he always has to go in somewhere. 11. LANDSLIDE (69) is an up and comer who scrambled in at Sale last time out but is in good form and will make his own luck up on the speed.

RACE 4

1. SPIETH (76) has been treading water for a few weeks with the heavy tracks in Sydney since his impressive second-up victory at Rosehill a month ago. First time down the straight and I think he is very well weighted looking at the long tail in the ratings so if he can bring his A game to Melbourne he’ll take stopping. 3. FIREWORKS (78) was pulled out of the Valley last week (probably a good move considering the way it raced) and she’s dangerous here if the Lindsay Park team has her in good order. This is her first non-black type start since her second appearance in January last year. Keep safe. 9. LORD VON COSTA (66) acquitted himself very well at his first Melbourne start where he momentarily looked the winner before being claimed very late. Better for that and the extra 100m will actually help him. Bit of a fan of the horse and I can’t leave him out. 7. EUSTON ROAD (68) has performed very well in her two runs down the straight and though it has been five weeks between runs she’s hard to ignore with the 3kg drop. Sure to give a good account. I wish 16. I BOOGI (61) would show up in a maiden somewhere rather than this very strong race. He was unlucky on debut and his trials have been excellent.

RACE 5

This has all the makings of a trap race for punters. But I’m going to bite because I have to go with 1. JACQUINOT BAY (100) who overcame a wide run to win well first-up over the same course two weeks ago. I said going into that race if he runs well he’s the type that holds form and he certainly did that. Probably gets the lead on his own here and that would be disaster for his rivals. 2. RHYTHM TO SPARE (96) has burned me a few times and he comes back from a Group 3 race in Adelaide last time out where he uncharacteristically led before finishing midfield. Gate one probably sees him sit on the leader’s back and have the last shot. Capable of winning. 6. DEL PRADO (87) has threatened to win one in recent starts and did get close behind Jacquinot Bay last time but he had his chance as he got runs through the field from the second half. That said he usually runs well at Flemington and has to be considered. 3. SHE’S CLEAN (99) is the designated knockout horse. Her sixth in that race a fortnight back was solid enough without ever being a chance. If she still has the will to win then this race will tell her connections.

Award of Merit. Picture Campbell Brodie.

RACE 6

1. WAR LEGEND (73) was dominant in winning over the Sandown mile three weeks ago after a wide run and he’s hard to go past in a race where he should get a more economical run and there really looks to be only one serious danger. He wasn’t far off them in Group company in three starts before coming back in grade at Sandown and I can’t see why he won’t hold that form. 8. EURO ANGEL (71) is the danger but she does have a big job to overcome the outside alley and give War Legend a decent head start. Could they chance the arm and go forward with the claim giving her a 4kg buffer on the top weight? She was impressive first-up and if War Legend doesn’t win I’m saying she will. 7. PAYROLL (72) was a drifter in betting second-up but showed improvement running third to Euro Angel but she does have a fair bit of ground to make up. At her peak and at a mile she will get every chance to make up that deficit. 4. SHOCKAHOLIC (70) took on older horses at Sale last time and went down narrowly in conditions that I’m not sure he’s overly comfortable. He had the thumps when beaten here on good ground two starts back and if the track is in the 5 or 6 range he’s right in it. 13. PALACE TYCOON (64) wasn’t disgraced off a break and he has run well at Flemington before. Good each-way hope at odds if you’re looking for something a bit wide.

RACE 7

5. AWARD OF MERIT (77) has struck a great race to continue his good run of recent form and the six week break between runs isn’t an issue. Since his easy win at Morphettville he’s been kept up to the mark with a trial win that was a solid gallop for him in quick time. Stays on the limit and retains Craig Williams and this is his race to lose. 3. ARTIE’S SHORE (82) didn’t have a lot of luck two starts back over 1400m here behind Jimando and I’d be forgiving of his Swan Hill Cup failure. Drawn to get some nice cover and he should be competitive. 2. ROYAL RAPTURE (84) has put in three consistent efforts since joining Darren Weir and did make an early bit for victory at Sandown last start before being run down by Nesbo. Yet to win at a mile but if last start is any indication he’s close to a win. 6. AURUM SPIRIT (74) wins one every now and then and he made ground from last here a couple of weeks ago over 1400m without ever looking a chance. He’s had 14 attempts at Flemington and is still a maiden here but he’s an each-way hope as per usual.

RACE 8

11. STREAMING BY (74) is the new kid on the block in these staying races and after his very strong midweek win at Sandown over 2400m there’s no reason he can’t take that next step. We know he’ll get the trip and with 51kg he has every opportunity to measure up now he’s right at his top. 6. MASTER OF ARTS (90) has had a hurdle trial since his last start second at Sandown a month ago where he drifted a bit too far back and had to do too much work. Gets a soft run here and though he has been up for quite a while he’s racing well and has to be respected. 5. FALAGO (90) continues to race well at this level and was outsprinted by Araldo Junior over this course two weeks ago after he got away with a picnic in front Yogi Bear would be proud of. If this race is more competitive it gives him a solid chance. 1. BOLD SNIPER (94) put in easily his best performance since Her Majesty sent him down under when he romped in at Sandown beating Master Of Arts. If he can settle and repeat that effort then he can be in the finish again but you’re entitled to be gun shy if you missed the 20/1 last time.

RACE 9

Tricky race. 2. ALBERTO MAGIC (97) ran a very nice race at his first run for Mick Price and with the sting likely to be out of the track again he’ll get a big chance to improve off that closing third. An extra 100m and being drawn just outside the likely leader will be great assets and he’s entitled to feature. He was a drifter first-up and the trainer was a little negative about him so keep an eye on those things for a further guide. 10. ATMOSPHERICAL (95) looked a little more like her old self in a jump out recently which suggested she might be back in order. She failed in good company in two runs in the autumn and really hasn’t been herself this season on the track. She might be on her last chance but it might be worth giving her that one shot. 5. HOSTING (94) has been sparingly raced this season but the outside gate gives him a chance to find his feet and gather momentum. He’s a very smart sprinter on his day and if the outside is favoured he could be the knockout. 15. ODYSSEY MOON (85) finally broke through for his second win when he scrambled home at Sandown in a three-year-old event but he’d measured up well in the Straight Six before that so he’s worth keeping in mind.