David Gately: Best bets, analysis for Flemington, Randwick races
Top shelf racing lands on our doorstep this weekend with two exceptional meetings out of Melbourne and Sydney and tipping guru David ‘Gator’ Gately is ready to roll out the big artillery.
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Randwick holds centre stage on Saturday with three Group 1 races. A couple of elite fillies do battle in the Flight Stakes. The time-honoured Epsom and Metropolitan are typically wide-open betting races with plenty of chances, and this year is no different.
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In Melbourne, the Group 1 racing is at Flemington in the form of Turnbull Stakes. It is a crossroads race for a number of potential stars, including MYSTIC JOURNEY, who is having her first try at the 2000m. This race may decide her path, and her chances in the Cox Plate in three weeks. Similarly, rising star MR QUICKIE has his connections pondering a start in the Cox Plate, or will they take aim at the Caulfield Cup?
TRACK PATTERNS
All ratings for Randwick are for a good track. The rail is out 3m. It was true at the previous meeting and no pattern was evident.
Ratings at Flemington are for a good track. The rail is out 9m. It was 14m out on September 25, when it was better to be near the speed. Not expecting any on-pace bias today.
BEST BETS
FUNSTAR
GP 1 FLIGHT STAKES (RANDWICK 1600M, RACE 4)
Gave weight to Yao Dash and chased hard (that horse was then on the heels of the elite males in a Golden Rose), then came wide and nailed another star, Libertini, in the Tea Rose. She will relish 1600m. High-class filly.
KOLDING
GP 1 EPSOM (RANDWICK 1600M, RACE 7)
He’s won five of six since being gelded and was badly held up in the miss, yet still crossed the line with key rival here, Te Akau Shark. Back to handicap conditions, he meets rivals from that race considerably better at the weights.
ATTENTION RUN
GP 1 METROPOLITAN (RANDWICK 2400M, RACE 8)
She was excellent in the Newcastle Cup, working hard early on a fast speed yet still there swinging at the end. That was only her 12th start, she plummets to 50kg and, with a softer run, can run a great race here at juicy odds.
MR QUICKIE
GP 1 TURNBULL STAKES (FLEMINGTON 2000M, RACE 7)
What a phenomenal return to racing from this rising star. He was way back and held up, then flew at the line running the quickest last 200m of the day at the end of a fast mile. He has won both his previous second-up runs and can give star mare Mystic Journey a real race.
OTHER HORSES TO FOLLOW
CLASSIQUE LEGEND
GROUP 2 PREMIERE STAKES (RANDWICK 1200M, RACE 5)
Measured up very well at his first crack at the elite level, beating home Redzel but just failing to hold off Pierata. Fancy he is more seasoned now, and fitter. He gets on to dry ground, and he won his only start on a dry track by six lengths.
MORE BETTING ADVICE
THE EARLY OIL: FLEMINGTON RACE-BY-RACE ANALYSIS
WEEKEND BEST BETS: WHO CAN WIN AND WHY?
QUINNY’S TIPS: SURPRISE PICK TO GO DISTANCE
OFF AND RACING: SHAYNO’S EPSOM DAY TIPS
FIDELIA
GP 2 BLAZER STAKES (FLEMINGTON 1400M, RACE 4)
Attacked the line fresh, then beaten by the slow speed and traffic issues here last time, but she still broke 11 seconds for her last 200m. Drawn to get to the outside and charge over them.
SURPRISE BABY
GP 3 THE BART CUMMINGS (FLEMINGTON 2520M, RACE 8)
Slashing return from him at 1600m. He jumps to 2520m here in a bid to win his way into the Melbourne Cup. Although this is an unconventional approach by Australian standards, this is no garden-variety stayer or athlete.
Don’t forget you can see all of David “Gator’’ Gately’s selections on every race in Sydney and Melbourne each week by subscribing to his email service at wwww.ozracingform.com or tune into Sky 1 on Saturday mornings.