Mailbag: Alex Donnelly’s tips and preview for Flemington on Saturday

Punters host Alex Donnelly assesses three key races on the Makybe Diva Stakes card at Flemington and gives his suggested bets.

Punters host Alex Donnelly assesses three key races and gives his suggested bets for Flemington on Saturday.

BEST BET: RIGHT TO PARTY (R9, No.9)

VALUE BET: KHADIME (R3, No.13)

LAY OF THE DAY: BERKSHIRE BREEZE (R5, No.6)

GROUP 1 MAKYBE DIVA STAKES (1600m)

Flemington, R8, 4.20pm

A mouth-watering clash between Via Sistina, who comes to Melbourne for the first time, Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni. The trifecta from the Queen Elizabeth Stakes as well as last-start Memsie Stakes winner Pinstriped. Provided she gets off the fence from the inside barrier, Via Sistina ($2.20) is the one to beat after she was electric in the Winx Stakes in her return. Mr Brightside ($3.90) was fantastic first-up from a spell in the Memsie and has won four from six second-up. Pride Of Jenni ($6) is out to prove she wasn’t just a flash in the pan last season and will be looking to bounce back after a poor first-up run. Her last three runs at Flemington have yielded two Group 1 wins and a second in the Australian Cup.

THE TIP: VIA SISTINA win

The Winx Stakes, the first G1 of the season in 🇦🇺…

VIA SISTINA grinds out the W for @cwallerracing!

🎥: @SkyRacingAU

pic.twitter.com/y42OB3tQYp

— World Horse Racing (@WHR) August 24, 2024

GROUP 2 BOBBIE LEWIS QUALITY (1200m)

Flemington, R9, 4.55pm

The betting suggests this is an even race with $5 the field. Straight-track specialist Right To Party ($5) has drawn a middle gate and will give Jye McNeil plenty of opportunity to find her feet and unleash her withering turn of foot as she continues to step up in grade. Arkansaw Kid ($9.50) was beaten, but not disgraced, last week at The Valley. He’s yet to have a seven-day back-up in his career so watch him in the yard, but he was good enough to run fourth in a Coolmore last spring. Mumbai Muse ($16) was good first-up at Randwick after some nice trials and was a winner during Melbourne Cup week last year over 1100m.

THE TIP: RIGHT TO PARTY win

Right To Party wins the Aurie's Star in style! ⭐@[e-mail]/ijilaz3ShB

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 3, 2024

LISTED CAP D’ANTIBES STAKES (1100m)

Flemington, R3, 1.15pm

The fillies look to stamp their spring credentials in a wide-open race and at odds Khadime ($19) appeals first-up from a break. She was great on debut before running into Growing Empire in Adelaide and has jumped out very well. Bold Bastille ($3.80) drops in grade after an OK run at The Valley last start where Mornington Glory was the winner, so the form out of it looks good. Just a matter if the fillies have now caught up to her or not. Tobeornottobe ($7) was beaten by Hayasugi twice in the Blue Diamond series, before herself beating Ameena at Flemington. That form has already stacked right up in Sydney and she can find herself in the finish.

THE TIP: KHADIME each-way

Originally published as Mailbag: Alex Donnelly’s tips and preview for Flemington on Saturday