Saturday racing: The Last Say with Daily Telegraph’s Ray Thomas

SATURDAY’S racing comes to you from Rosehill Gardens and Flemington. Here’s all your last minute tips from Daily Telegraph racing editor Ray Thomas.

Melbourne Racing

SATURDAY racing comes to you today from Rosehill Gardens and Flemington. Here’s all the last minute tips and info from Daily Telegraph racing editor Ray Thomas.

ROSEHILL GARDENS

Weather: Cool, sunny day with a forecast top temperature of 19c.

Track: Heavy (8)

Rail: 3m out

FLEMINGTON

Weather: Cool, partly cloudy day with a forecast top temperature of 15c.

Track: Good (4)

Rail: 9m out

BE WARY: Rosehill’s track surface is just in the heavy range with a slight chance of an upgrade during the meeting. The rail has been shifted 3m out which generally provides the best racing surface at Rosehill. Flemington’s rail is out 9m but with the track in the good range the surface should be ideal and provide opportunities for all runners.

ROSEHILL GARDENS

THE BEST BET: Lieder (race1) looked to have his chance when a beaten favourite at Warwick Farm first-up earlier this month. The Godolphin colt was in a winning position on the turn but faded near the line to finish fourth in a strong form race behind Libidosun. Lieder was ridden in a forward position first-up and is likely to be ridden more conservatively early and given the opportunity to run on late. Promising type, fitter now and ready to win.

THE NEXT BEST: Maurus (race 2) is racing well this preparation with a win and three seconds from four starts. Coming back slightly in distance but against that he is rock-hard fit. Significantly, there is no leader in this field and Maurus will take up the front-running role virtually uncontested. He rolls along at a high cruising speed and will take plenty of running down.

VALUE BET: Two Blue (race 8) has been improved by two runs from a spell and looked home at Rosehill last start only to collared right on the line by Fiftyshadesofgrey. Two Blue is at her peak now, drawn to suit and will enjoy the rain-affected conditions. She is good each way value at $12 in an open race.

Echo Gal has been primed for a return to racing with three solid barrier trials.

THE WHISPER: Echo Gal (race 4) hasn’t raced since her third in the Magic Millions Guineas behind Deiheros and Testashadow back in January but she has been primed for her return with three solid barrier trials. Her most recent trial hit-out resulted in a runaway four lengths win from Ammirata at Randwick earlier this month. She looked sharp in that trial and has a good first-up record. Untried in the heavy but won her only start on soft going.

FLEMINGTON

THE BEST BET: Got You Double (race 4) broke his maiden first-up with a powerful win at Bendigo but then went even better with a dominant effort at Flemington, scoring over 1630m by a widening margin. Promising three-year-old and will strip at his peak today. Awkwardly drawn but gets back in his races and provided he finds cover, he can sprint over the top of these late in the race.

NEXT BEST: Hard Romp (race 5) is a straight-track specialist. He edged out subsequent Group 2 winner Ball Of Muscle — albeit with a sizeable weight pull — over 1000m first-up at Flemington then followed a good on this track to the brilliant Lumosty before returning to winning form last start over 1100m here, defeating Nadeem Lass. Gets in nicely at the weights after the claim and is the one to beat.

VALUE BET: Burning Front (race 3) has raced very consistently through an extended campaign. A winner twice and four placings from six starts this time in and goes to Flemington after a narrow win at Seymour before striking trouble before running on for second to Majestic Duke at Moonee Valley. He’s an extremely genuine galloper, drawn to get the gun run and has Damien Oliver in the saddle. He is good value at double figure odds.

THE WHISPER: De Little Engine (race 6) has been improved by three runs from a spell and was doing well when working home for fourth behind Black Jag at Flemington two weeks ago. He is at his peak now after recent racing and he is a winner over the Flemington 2500m trip. This is an ideal race for him.

De Little Engine is at his peak and worth some interest.

THE BIG MONEY AND MARKET MOVERS

ROSEHILL GARDENS

In race 1, TAB Fixed Odds betting has firmed Libidosun from $2.40 to $2.10. Race 2, Missvonn’s odds have been shortened from $4.60 to $3.60 after bets of $500 at $4.60, $200 at $4.60 and $250 at $4.60. Race 3, It’s About You is the day’s big firmer, his odds slashed from $3.60-$2.30-$2.30 after bets of $800 at $3.60 and $600 at $3.40. Race 4. Bonfire $3.80-$2.70 after bets of $500 at $3.80 and $500 at $3. Race 5, Echo Gal has firmed from $6 to $5. Race 6, Cafe Society has firmed from $8 to $6 after bets of $200 at $8, $500 at $7, $500 at $6. Race 8, Two Blue has firmed from $17 to $12 after bets of $100 each way at $17/$5 and $100 each way at $16/$4.75.

FLEMINGTON

Race 1, El Greco has firmed from $2.25-$2.10 with bets of $400 at $2.25, $1,000 at $2.20. Race 2, Star Stealer $4.20-$4 after a $1,001 at $4.20. Race 4, Kaizaen $7.50-$5 after bets of $350 at $7.50, Penny To Sell $19-$17 after bets of $500 e/w at $19/$5.50, $250 e/w at $17/$5. Race 5, Hard Romp $5-$4.50-$4.40 with bets of $1,000 at $5, $551 at $4.60, $200 at $4.40. Race 6, Cadillac Mountain $16-$8.50-$5.50 with bets of $250 e/w at $16/$4.33, $1,000 at $8.50, De Little Engine $4-$3.60-$3.40 with bets of $600 at $4, $1,001 at $3.60, $200 at $3.40. Race 8, Sir Andrew $4.20-$4-$3.70 with bets of $500 at $4.20, $300 at $4.20, $1,000 at $4. Race 9, Miss Rose De Lago $5.50-$4.80 with bets of $5,000 at $5.50 and $6,000 at $5.

INTERSTATE

Doomben race 3: McHawi

Doomben race 5: Rocky King

Morphettville race 2: Pure Justice

Morphettville race 7: Shavano’s Image

NSW PROVINCIALS

Kembla Grange race 5: Satirical Dame

Kembla Grange race 6: Allex Chival

#Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners.

Originally published as Saturday racing: The Last Say with Daily Telegraph’s Ray Thomas