Raceday focus: Tips, analysis and best bets for Flemington on Saturday

Enigma faces a steep class rise at Flemington as the five-year-old mare attempts to extend her winning streak. PREVIEW, BEST BETS

Enigma is also going for three straight wins. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Herald Sun form analyst Gilbert Gardiner previews every race for Saturday’s Flemington meeting. Plus, Nick Quinn’s Mailbag.

BEST BET

ENIGMA (R4 No.5 – $6.50)

VALUE BET

FUTURE SCORE (R3 No.1 – $10)

EARLY QUADDIE

2, 6/1, 3, 6, 7/3, 4, 5, 7/5, 14

$100 flexi for 156.25 per cent

BIG6

5, 7/5, 14/1, 5/5, 11/1, 7, 9/1, 2, 3, 4

$100 flexi for 52 per cent

QUADDIE

Race 6: 1, 5

Race 7: 5, 11

Race 8: 1, 7, 9

Race 9: 1, 2, 3, 4

$100 flexi for 208.33 per cent

RACE 1 (12:40PM): BENCHMARK 70 (1400m)

LUNA CAT (1) aiming for a hat-trick after impressive performances at Bendigo and The Valley. Rises in grade again but should be up to the mark. LAVISH GIRL (2) should find this a lot more suitable after going around in stakes’ company the past three starts. Respect Godolphin filly HONEYCREEPER (4) dropping in from Sydney. Just the one win from six starts but placed on occasions including last start at Warwick Farm. CHARM AND DISARM (7) still learning the caper but in astute hands. DESTINY DIAMOND (3) earned a shot in town after a nice win at Geelong.

SUGGESTED BET: LUNA CAT win.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Luna Cat $4.40-$4-$4.20, Seonee $7-$4.60.

Luna Cat rises in grade but can continue on her winning way. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

RACE 2 (1.20PM): BENCHMARK 70 (1200m)

SQUID GAME (2) has found a very winnable race here to stay undefeated. Sat on speed and kept finding on debut at Sandown Lakeside last start. Small field and first look at the Flemington straight but could be going places. MURRAMI EXPRESS (6) was narrowly beaten at Flemington last preparation when 0.6 length fourth behind Blushing Tycoon. Speedy gelding has been around the mark in all five career starts. CAPO STRADA (7) won first-up at Gosford then not beaten far at Rosehill last start. Danger if he handles conditions. MEDIA EMPIRE (8) broke through to win last start at Werribee coming from midfield position.

SUGGESTED BET: SQUID GAME (2) win.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Capo Strada $4.20-$3.90.

RACE 3 (1.55PM): BENCHMARK 100 (2600m)

FUTURE SCORE (1) will find this a lot easier than recent assignments. Was on a Melbourne Cup path and secured a start before well-documented withdrawal. Six weeks between runs into the Pakenham Cup and acquitted himself well enough. Track and distance winner. Hardest to beat. HIGH EMOCEAN (6) has to be respected from the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace outfit. DOUBLE YOU TEE (3) been schooled over jumps recently in a bid to switch him on. Often has the desired effect and as an $18 chance should be included in multiples. LONG ARM (5) gets in light and handles the trip.

SUGGESTED BET: FUTURE SCORE (1) each-way.

TAB MARKET MOVER: In A Twinkling $15-$11, Wyclif $6-$5.

RACE 4 (2.30PM): BENCHMARK 70 (1200m)

ENIGMA (5) is another shooting for a hat-trick after strong wins at Hamilton. Harder task on Saturday but has the services of Jamie Kah. Should roll forward from barrier six and give some cheek again. ROSE QUARTZ (7) descended late to win at Geelong last start. Went off the boil second and third-up last preparation so monitor market moves. GLOVES ARE OFF (8) has genuine claims in what looks a wide-open race. Deserved last start win at The Valley as a $21 shot after placings at Mornington and Ballarat. LADY DORO (4) goes well fresh and has placed at Flemington twice previously.

SUGGESTED BET: ENIGMA (5) win.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Gloves Are Off $13-$11.

Enigma is also going for three straight wins. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

RACE 5 (3.05PM): BENCHMARK 70 (1400m)

SAVANNAH CLOUD (5) broke through for a well-deserved win last start and now gets the chance to go on with the job. Finished worse than third just once in nine career starts (9: 2-5-1) and that was in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude when 3.3-length seventh. Stablemate WAY TO GO PAULA (14) looks the biggest threat Raced into fourth last start at Pakenham but left with too much ground to make up. NORDIC (2) has been off the scene almost 12 months but defeated King Magnus first-up last January. Keep safe. MRS SIPPY (11) and GARIMPEIRO (3) best of the rest.

SUGGESTED BET: SAVANNAH CLOUD (5) win.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Savvanah Cloud $4.40-$4.

RACE 6 (3.40PM): OPEN HANDICAP (1400m)

BLAZEJOWSKI (1) ticks a lot of boxes – class, track, weight, barrier and form. Gets in light with apprentice Josh Richards claiming two kilograms and from barrier two should find the prime settling position. Motored late to finish fourth at Pakenham last start. Been to Flemington eight times for three wins and a placing. Jamie Kah has ridden SECOND SLIP (5) three times for two wins – respect. Worth including consistent performer ODEON (2), OPEN MINDED (6) and YES BABY YES (7) in exotics.

SUGGESTED BET: BLAZEJOWSKI (1) win

TAB MARKET MOVER: Odeon $11-$8.

RACE 7 (4.20PM): BENCHMARK 84 (1200m)

IT’SOURTIME (5) returns to Flemington after an impressive down the straight on Stakes day. Only blemish on the resume came in the Group 1 Australian Guineas last year, otherwise three wins and two placings from remaining five starts. SIXBYSIXTYTHREE (11) unbeaten in three starts and earned a shot in the big smoke. Should be in the first couple in the run and hard to get past late. THE GAUCH (7) has found one better the past two starts and could well be in the same boat again. MORE THAN EXCEED (1) could add value to exotics as tends to be around the mark – eight wins and eight placings from 32 starts.

SUGGESTED BET: ITSOURTIME win.

TAB MARKET MOVER: It’sourtime $4-$3.60, Sig Positano $10-$7.50.

It’sourtime won on Stakes day down the Flemington straight. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

RACE 8 (5PM): BENCHMARK 84 (1600m)

AKECHETA (1) just keeps racing well and there’s no reason to jump off now. The seven-year-old gelding has won four of the past 13 Victorian starts and placed on a further five occasions. HIGH N DRY (9) needs only to hold form – after finding the progressive Lyrical Lad too good last start – to be in the finish. BLACK SAIL (2) should be ready to peak now with four runs under the belt. BEA TEMPTED (7) usually needs a run but if they steam along in front as expected the Patrick Payne-trained mare will be charging late.

SUGGESTED BET: AKECHETA each-way.

TAB MARKET MOVER: No bets or movements of note.

RACE 9 (5.40PM): BENCHMARK 78 (1000m)

EASY SINGLE (4) has oodles of speed and is drawn on the right side of the track to be effective. Should be hard to hold out. SCORCHED EARTH (7) could punch a ticket to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) with a victory on Saturday. Built for speed and a length off Gimme Par first-up last preparation. South Australian sprinter ALLEBOOM (1) won at Flemington last year towards the end of a long preparation and gets conditions to suit again. SWEETZOU (8) launched to win a 955m race at The Valley last start, nailing Kev’s Girl who has won since. YULONG COMMAND (2) will take plenty of running down, while GALENUS (3) has won four of six first-up assignments.

SUGGESTED BET: SCORCHED EARTH each-way.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Scorched Earth $8.50-$7.

NICK QUINN’S MAILBAG

TAB tipping expert Nick Quinn gives his suggested bets for the main races at Flemington and Eagle Farm.

KENNEDY HANDICAP (1400M)

Flemington, R6, 3.40pm

The reliable Second Slip heads the market at $3.10 and with Jamie Kah in the saddle, is the one to beat.

He has been racing in tougher grade and will race at Flemington for the first time in his 23-start career.

He steps back up to 1400m where he is a previous winner. There has been early support for Tavidance, who has been backed from $5 into $4.80.

The ultra-consistent Odeon kicks off his 10th campaign and as he closes in on $1m in prizemoney, is worth including in multis.

THE TIP: SECOND SLIP 

Second Slip races at Flemington for the first time. Picture: Getty Images

FESTIVE SEASON SPRINT (1200M)

Flemington, R7, 4.20pm

Plenty of runners come into this race with strong form, including the favourite and last-start Flemington winner It'sourtime.

The Danny O’Brien-trained runner resumed from a spell by winning the final race of the Flemington spring carnival and again must be respected.

Sixbysixtythree is undefeated in three career starts and was a race-day scratching last Saturday when a fancied favourite.

My concern with Sixbysixtythree is stepping up in grade after having a setback and as a result I am taking him on.

I’m sticking with The Gauch. He has finished in the top two in 11 of his 13 starts (winning five), and with the claim for top apprentice Josh Richards, again looks well placed.

THE TIP: THE GAUCH each-way

BENCHMARK 84 (1600M)

Flemington, R8, 5pm

Another competitive race with High N Dry heading the market at $3.80. High N Dry was last on the turn at Pakenham last start when working home well to run second to the well-backed Lyrical Lad.

The one niggle with him is that he has won just three times in 26 starts but deserves to lead the market.

Real Sensation is knocking on the door of a win and is on the second line of betting at $4 after opening $4.40 while there has been some support for Black Sail, backed from $15 into $14.

THE TIP: HIGH N DRY

GRAND PRIX STAKES (2100m)

Eagle Farm, R5, 3.12pm

The unbeaten David Vandyke-trained filly Gypsy Goddess could not have been more dominant last start when winning over 2000m and is again the one to beat.

She shapes as a really exciting staying prospect who will be worth sticking with after Saturday.

Stephanie Thornton takes the ride and her little challenge will be negotiating a clear path from gate one in the straight.

But should Thornton do that, expect to see Gypsy Goddess a perfect four from four.

Pool Pony stuck on valiantly behind Gypsy Goddess last start and should again feature in the placings.

THE TIP: GYPSY GODDESS