The Early Oil: Best bets and value plays for 2025 Standish Handicap Day at Flemington

A consistent import can land a deserved win while a runner from the Tony and Calvin McEvoy camp could relish a rise in trip at Saturday’s Standish Handicap meeting at Flemington.

Form analyst Brad Waters takes an early look at Saturday’s Standish Handicap meeting at Flemington.

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BEST BET
PRINCE ERIC (Race 9, No. 8)
Has gone well at all three runs this time in and will be at peak fitness on Saturday. He can break through this time.

BEST VALUE
VIVIDEEL (Race 4, No. 7)

Has steadily improved with each step up in trip this time in. He’s ready to win over 2500m at Flemington.

EARLY QUADDIE
1, 2, 3/2, 5, 7, 8, 12/1, 2, 5/1, 6, 7, 11, 12
$100 flexi for 44.4 per cent

BIG6
1, 2, 5/6, 7, 11, 12/8, 10, 13/2, 4, 5, 9/4, 8/10, 14, 16
$100 flexi for 11.5 per cent

QUADDIE
Race 7: 3, 8, 10, 13, 19
Race 8: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9
Race 9: 4, 8, 9, 11
Race 10: 3, 10, 14, 16
$100 flexi for 25 per cent

MULTI
Race 1 No. 5 ZORRO’S FLIGHT (place)
Race 4 No. 7 VIVIDEEL (place)
Race 9 No. 8 PRINCE ERIC (win)
Current odds $36.43

Zorro's Flight could improve on his last start Sale win when he heads to Flemington on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos

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RACE 1: 12:20PM TAB WE’RE ON (1400m)

Interesting start to the Flemington meeting, which should be run on firm ground. ZORRO’S FLIGHT (5) was a determined winner at Sale second-up and should be hard to run down again. XARPO (3) is capable of repeating her Flemington win on New Year’s Day. MR MARKLE (4) improved to score second-up and has won a jumpout since. ACTA NON VERBA (1) will be fitter for his last run at The Valley, which was his first for seven weeks.

SUGGESTED BET: Box trifecta 1, 3, 4, 5.

LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Stormy Grove $6.50 – $5.50.

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RACE 2: 12:50PM NATIONAL JOCKEYS’ TRUST TROPHY (2000m)

Another open race but MR VERSE (6) looks a talented stayer in the making and could make it two runs in a row. THEDOCTOROFLOVE (9) is still a maiden but is shaping as though the 2000m will suit at Flemington. HARSH (11) is another developing type that can build on her last start win. VERONA RUPES (1) was a game winner at The Valley and has had two trials since.

SUGGESTED BET: Mr Verse each-way.

LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Sigiriya Rock $4.80 – $3.70.

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RACE 3: 1:23PM JOCKEY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT PLATE (1600m)

SMOKIN’ PRINCESS (1) gave a start as usual but did her best work late at Pakenham and another trial since will have her much fitter for this outing. KEEP YOUR COOL (2) is racing well and rates a chance to complete the hat trick. HARMONIOUS SENORA (6) wasn’t far away in a harder race on Boxing Day while SEEKING STARDOM (3) is going well enough in Adelaide to warrant consideration here.

SUGGESTED BET: Smokin’ Princess to win.

LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Keep Your Cool $3.60 – $3.30.

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RACE 4: 1:58PM READINESS APP HANDICAP (2500m)

VIVIDEEL (7) is shaping well this time in with three solid efforts and looks set for this longer trip. BITCOIN (11) found trouble at The Valley when up to 2500m last time out and can improve. FLAMIN’ ROMANS (5) wasn’t far away at Pakenham and this is no harder.

SUGGESTED BET: Vivideel each-way.

LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Newfoundland $5 – $4.80.

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RACE 5: 2:33PM VICTORIAN JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION TROPHY (1000m)

NEW YORK LUSTRE (5) is lightly-raced but a promising sprinter that can make it two in a row to start his campaign. LET’S TROT (9) showed ability in his first preparation and has had more time to develop. BOONIE (1) went down narrowly in similar race here on New Year’s Day and should go well again. KATE’S TIARA (7) was too strong first-up and could also measure up here.

SUGGESTED BET: Box trifecta 1, 5, 7, 9.

LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: New York Lustre $2.45 – $2.05.

Emerging sprinter New York Lustre could again be too speedy for his rivals at Flemington on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos

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RACE 6: 3:08PM HONOURING OUR JOCKEYS PLATE (1600m)

Another tough race for punters but ENXUTO (12) was solid over this course on New Year’s Day and should be fitter for two runs back. LA FRACAS (7) ran on well when up in class at Bendigo and 1600m will suit. CASTLE ON HIGH (11) is a talented type that could build on his first-up win. ERSA (6) has come back well and should again be thereabouts.

SUGGESTED BET: Enxuto to win.

LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: La Fracas $6.50 – $4.60.

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RACE 7: 3:43PM THE STUD AND STABLE STAFF AWARDS (1400m)

KIKO (13) is on trial at the 1400m but all her runs this time in have been good and she’ll have every chance to see out the trip from barrier two. ARQANA (8) has drawn wide but she’s consistent and her recent trials have been good. RUSSIAN METEOR (10) is fresh for this but races best over this distance. NEW SOVEREIGN (19) is building a good record and will be around the mark.

SUGGESTED BET: Kiko each-way.

LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: New Sovereign $7.50 – $5.50.

Honest sprinter It’sourtime will be hard to hold out in the Group 3 Standish Handicap at Flemington. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.

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RACE 8: 4:18PM GROUP 3 STANDISH HANDICAP (1200m)

IT’SOURTIME (4) gets back to the Flemington straight after two good efforts at Caulfield while returning to 1200m will suit him. WONDER BOY (9) is a smart three-year-old that should sprint well fresh. PEREILLE (5) is always competitive in this type of race.

SUGGESTED BET: It’sourtime to win with a saver on Wonder Boy.

LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Aztec Ruler $8.50 – $6.50.

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RACE 9: 4:58PM OFF THE TRACK TROPHY (1600m)

PRINCE ERIC (8) gets his chance to break through here after three solid placings to start his Australian campaign. UNSEEN RULER (4) has impressed with his last two wins and should be strong late. PRINCEOFNOTTINGHAM (9) rises in weight but is racing in great form. ELPHINSTONE (11) was a solid winner at Pakenham and will be fitter.

SUGGESTED BET: Prince Eric to win.

LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Le Zebra $4 – $3.80.

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RACE 10: 5:38PM JOCKEY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PLATE (1200m)

A wide open race to finish but SISTERHOOD (16) worth another chance after two good efforts to start her campaign. LIBERAMI (14) might need it a touch further but should be running on well late first-up. REWARDS AND MORE (10) is consistent and could handle the step up in class. DEEKAY (3) was narrowly beaten at Caulfield and should be strong late.

SUGGESTED BET: Small bet Sisterhood to win.

LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Deekay $13 – $9.

Originally published as The Early Oil: Best bets and value plays for 2025 Standish Handicap Day at Flemington