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Monday Racebook: Brad Waters’ horses to follow, forgive from Flemington on Saturday

Hot conditions prevailed at Saturday’s Standish Handicap meeting at Flemington but is was a 10-race card that could produce a few runners to follow in the coming weeks.

Brad Waters
3 min read
January 13, 2025 - 6:30AM
It'sourtime, ridden by Billy Egan, wins the Standish Handicap at Flemington on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos
It'sourtime, ridden by Billy Egan, wins the Standish Handicap at Flemington on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos

Hot conditions prevailed at Saturday’s Standish Handicap meeting at Flemington but is was a 10-race card that could produce a few runners to follow in the coming weeks.

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FIVE TO FOLLOW

UNTHINKABLE (1.8-length 4th of 9, Race 3)
Stepped out for her second-up run at Flemington and showed she was ready to win when closing well behind the in-form mare Smokin’ Princess when stepping up to Benchmark 78 level. She’s a winner up to 1814m and is eligible for easier races. She’ll be fitter again and should be hard to hold out in her coming runs.

LET’S TROT (2.9-length 5th of 8, Race 5)
Set a tough task for his first-up run and was far from disgraced when stepping up sharply in class when resuming at Flemington. Let’s Trot bumped into the smart New York Lustre first-up and was only outsprinted by the impressive winner in the last 150m, holding his ground against the rest of his rivals. He’s worth following this time in.

NAME DROPPER(1.3-length 1st of 12, Race 7)
Horses that can roll forward and perform strongly from on the pace are often worth following and this fellow fits into that category. He resumed over 1400m and jockey Blaike McDougall was able to control proceedings to the home turn but the most impressive part of Name Dropper’s win was the way he responded when challenged despite having his first start since last September. He could go to a new level this time in.

JOYFUL FORTUNE: (0.4-length 3rd of 8, Race 8)
Produced a super effort when narrowly beaten first-up in the Standish Handicap. The former Hong Kong galloper had not raced since November 2022 but had jumped out well. He led and faced the breeze until the last 75m when his condition finally gave out. He’ll be much fitter for that and might be a sneaky chance in the Oakleigh Plate.

BIANCO VILANO:(1.3-length 4th of 11, Race 9)
Bursting to win a race after another solid effort at Flemington. He raced midfield when rising to Benchmark 84 company before boxing on well to finish just over a length from Elphinstone. He’s racing in great heart and the right race for him will arise soon.

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CRUNCH TIME

The 1000m race won by New York Lustre understandably produced the fastest sectionals of the Flemington meeting with the runner-up Elena Montero clocking the fastest last 600m of the day, running a sharp 31.94 seconds for the sectional. That time included the fastest last 200m of 10.97 seconds. Mr Magnus ran the day’s fastest last 400m of 21.35 seconds in that race. WA sprinter Aztec Ruler impressed at his maiden Melbourne outing, running his last 400m in 22.07 seconds, the eighth fastest last 400m while Cheval Chic clocked 11.39 seconds for the last 200m of the Standish Handicap.

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PLEASE FORGIVE

XARPO (2.3-length 3rd of 8, Race 1)
Beaten favourite in the first race of the day but it might be worth forgiving her being outsprinted by the winner Zorro’s Flight. Saturday’s race was Xarpo’s third consecutive run over 1400m, meaning she might be looking for a bit further now. Being a daughter of The Autumn Sun, Xarpo could be looking for 1600m next time out.

FLYING MIKKI(2.6-length 7th of 12, Race 7)
Was in the market as an $8 chance but had no luck in the latter stages of the race before finishing 2-½ lengths from the winner Name Dropper in his $130,000 assignment. Flying Mikki was making ground before running out of room late. The gelding’s backers could soon get a return for sticking with him.

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TRACK TALK

“I was like, ‘oh come on you bastard, there’s 20 metres to go just dig deep for me’.” — Jockey Billy Egan was anxious to get to the line on Standish Handicap winner It’sourtime.

“He’s a nice progressive sort of horse. I’ve said that mentally he wasn’t right before – he’s getting there now.” — Ballarat trainer Melody Cunningham said there were more wins in store for One Long Day after Saturday’s success.

“From here we might go towards a Torney Cup or maybe an Adelaide Cup.” — Trainer Phillip Stokes has bigger plans for Flemington winner Taramansour.

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STEWARDS SAY

Leg Drive (4.5-length 2nd of 12, Race 2): Raced three-wide without cover for the majority of the event.

Harmonious Senora (1.5-length 3rd of 9, Race 3): Held up from the 500m until approaching the 300m.

Flamin’ Romans (9.3 length 9th of 10, Race 4): Raced three wide without cover throughout & a slower than normal recovery rate.

Boonie (1.8-length 3rd of 8, Race 5): Jockey said he might appreciate softer tracks.

New Sovereign (6.4-length 11th of 12, Race 7): A slower than normal recovery rate.

Joyful Fortune (0.4-length 3rd of 8, Race 8): Lost near fore plate.

Pereille (1-length 5th of 8, Race 8): Rider Jamie Kah reported the gelding may appreciate tracks with more give.

Rewards And More (4.5-length 10th of 15, Race 10): Rider Jye McNeil reported the gelding may be better suited contesting events of a shorter distance.

Originally published as Monday Racebook: Brad Waters’ horses to follow, forgive from Flemington on Saturday

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/horse-racing/tips/monday-racebook-brad-waters-horses-to-follow-forgive-from-flemington-on-saturday/news-story/6fb727646565c41d2cabc9440bc5b137