THE LAST SAY: Via Sistina ‘better when it’s raining’, trainer Chris Waller warns rivals in Makybe Diva Stakes

Via Sistina fans shouldn’t be worried about wet weather at Flemington, trainer Chris Waller says, as Storm Boy and Joliestar headline racing at Rosehill Gardens. Get Ray Thomas’s tips late mail for racing right around Australia today.

This is a race day full of intriguing clashes that have the potential to shape betting for some of the major races of the spring carnivals.

At Flemington, the feature is the high-profile showdown of outstanding mares Via Sistina and Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).

• ‘She’s right’: Pride Of Jenni set for Makybe Diva rebound

When they last met, Pride Of Jenni produced one of the great front-running efforts to beat Via Sistina by more than six lengths in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

But in their only starts since, Via Sistina was an outstanding winner of the Group 1 Winx Stakes and Pride Of Jenni was beaten out of a place in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes.

Via Sistina is the early TAB Fixed Odds favourite at $2.40 and while there’s plenty of rain about at Flemington, that holds no fears for trainer Chris Waller.

“The mail I’ve got (from the imported mare’s previous owner) is she’s better when it’s raining,” he told Sky Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy this morning.

That will give Via Sistina backers confidence … but write off Pride Of Jenni ($4) at your peril.

• Everest audition at Flemington for Growing Empire

On the support card is boom three-year-old Growing Empire who is trying to keep his winning streak going in the Listed $175,000 Poseidon Stakes (1100m).

At Rosehill Gardens, Waller’s brilliant mare Joliestar is racing for an Everest slot in the Group 2 $300,000 Sheraco Stakes (1200m).

Joliestar was super impressive winning the Show County Quality when resuming and is the $1.85 favourite for the Sheraco but this isn’t a one-horse race. Sunshine In Paris broke 1m 9s to win this race brilliantly last year and is capable of making a race of it with the favourite.

• The Everest or Cox Plate? Fork in the road for Storm Boy

The Group 2 $300,000 Run To The Rose (1200m) is challenging for race of the day status as it brings together some of the best three-year-old talent in training including Storm Boy, Bustling, Traffic Warden, Switzerland and Linebacker.

But don’t forget Celestial Legend, the dual Group 1 winner of the Rosehill Guineas and Doncaster Mile in autumn, who makes his four-year-old debut in the Group 2 $300,000 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m).

• ‘It was like, wow’: Mare’s slashing return a Jolie surprise

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ROSEHILL GARDENS
Weather: Warm, sunny day with a forecast top temperature of 24c.
Track: Good (4)
Rail: Out 5m entire circuit

FLEMINGTON
Weather: Cold day with a high chance of showers, possible hail, and a forecast top temperature of 12c.
Track: Soft (5)
Rail: True

EAGLE FARM
Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with a forecast top temperature of 23c.
Track: Soft (5)
Rail: True

MORPHETTVILLE
Weather: Cool, partly cloudy day with a forecast top temperature of 17c.
Track: Soft (5)
Rail: Out 11m from the 1200m chute, out 8m remainder

• PREMIUM TIPS: Get the best bets from Racenet’s team of experts

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BE WARY
The Rosehill rail position has shifted 5m out after being 2m out at the most recent meeting on August 31. Horses on the rail were favoured at the last meeting so with the rail out further and the track firm, those on pace are likely to be advantaged again. Flemington’s rail is in the true and the track should play fairly although the weather forecast for rain and possible hail could impact the way the track plays.

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ROSEHILL GARDENS

THE BEST BET
JOLIESTAR (Race 6 No.3) was absolutely dynamic when resuming in the Show County Quality, sprinting home her final 600m in a brilliant 32.71s – the best of the meeting – as she raced away to win by nearly three lengths at Randwick last month. It was a monstrous return by a mare who has never missed a top two placing in seven starts, winning four. She is short enough in betting but looks a safe bet in the Sheraco Stakes where bad luck in running is her main danger.

THE NEXT BEST
STORM BOY (Race 8 No.2) resumed with a brilliant win in the San Domenico Stakes here two weeks ago. He dominated from the front, got his rivals off the bit and chasing a long way out and the strongest part of his race was the last 200m. Extremely talented colt who could not have been more impressive when resuming. Storm Boy can only be improved by the run and is the one to beat in the Run To The Rose.

VALUE BET
FIRST LIGHT (Race 4 No.4) has been improved by two runs from a spell and indicated a return to winning form is imminent when he closed out his race strongly to finish fourth behind Matusalem over 2000m here two weeks ago. The Chris Waller-trained duo meet again but First Light has a 3kg weight advantage and he gets out to his optimum 2400m trip. Terrific each way value at $10.

THE WHISPER
UNUSUAL LEGACY (Race 3 No.7) got held up back in the field before stretching out generously late for an eye-catching third behind Too Much Caviar when resuming over 1500m here. Unusual Legacy zoomed home his final 600m in 33.56s including a 200m closing split of 11.43s as he powered to the line to finish third. The step up to 1800m is certainly advantageous for Unusual Legacy who is protecting an unbeaten second-up record.

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Rosehill Gardens

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FLEMINGTON

THE BEST BET
GROWING EMPIRE (Race 4 No.1) scored a stunning first-up in the McNeil Stakes at Caulfield, settling back in the field then unleashed a brilliant burst of acceleration to race clear of his rivals before eased down late in the race. This is his first attempt down the Flemington straight but his two stakes wins as a two-year-old were all-the-way efforts so he has the versatility to settle anywhere in a race. Gifted colt who is set to be a major player this spring carnival.

NEXT BEST
VIA SISTINA (Race 8 No.8) could not have been more impressive winning the Group 1 Winx Stakes first-up at Randwick. The 1400m trip was short of her best and she had to switch back inside horses to inferior going in the straight but still finished powerfully to win. The big Flemington track will suit her, as will the 1600m trip, and the tempo will be solid which gives her the chance to unleash her terrific finishing speed. Top class mare and the one to beat in the Makybe Diva Stakes.

• Racenet, Punters experts’ tips, betting strategies for Makybe Diva Stakes
• Retired hoop says Jenni key to Makybe Diva result

VALUE BET
ARKANSAW KID (Race 9 No.10) resumed with a tough win in the Regal Roller Stakes then looked to have his chance in the Chautauqua Stakes when beaten by Little Deep. He does to the Bobbie Lewis Quality very fit and gets in with only 53.5kg. Consistent sprinter who is at value odds of $9.

THE WHISPER
POSITIVITY (Race 10 No.11) was runner-up in the New Zealand Oaks and won the Group 3 SA Classic last season. Promising mare who resumed with a game effort to finishing a close second to the in-form and rock-hard fit Rise At Dawn in the Heatherlie Handicap two weeks ago. Positivity is staying at 1700m but has only 54.5kg, she will strip fitter and will go close.

• EXPERT TIPS: Mark Guest’s tips, analysis and quaddie picks for Flemington

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TAB FIXED ODDS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

ROSEHILL GARDENS
Race 1: Alabama State $6.50-$3.40
Race 2: Intervarsity $2.90-$2.60 with a bet of $4500 at $2.70
Race 3: Unusual Legacy $3.80-$2.60 after a bet of $2000 at $3.50, Forecaster $12-$8
Race 4: Matusalem $6-$4.80, Kureder $8-$7, Kapakiri $15-$9.50
Race 5: High Dandy $5.50-$4.40, Vivy Air $7-$6
Race 6: Joliestar $2-$1.80 with bets of $4000 at $1.80, $2000 at $1.95, $2000 at $1.90, Commemorative $11-$7.50
Race 7: Clear Proof $8-$7, Henlein $15-$8 with a bet of $2000 e/w at $14/$4, Last Command $26-$11
Race 8: Storm Boy $2.30-$2.10 with bets of $3000 at $2.10, $2350 at $2.30, $2000 at $2.10, Bustling $6-$5
Race 9: Celestial Legend $4.40-$3.80, Bases Loaded $4.40-$4, Punch Lance $6-$5 with a bet of $1500 e/w at $5/$1.85, Boom Torque $15-$6.50
Race 10: The Black Cloud $8-$7.50

FLEMINGTON
Race 1: Baraqiel $10-$7 with a bet of $2000 at $9, Big Me $15-$7, Wolfy $15-$10, Prinzerro $17-$11
Race 2: Wonder Boy $3.30-$2.60, Detroit City $7-$5.50
Race 3: Bold Bastille $4-$3.40, Drifting $4-$3.70 with bets of $3000 at $3.90, Overfull $34-$18
Race 4: Growing Empire $1.80-$1.75 with a bet of $2400 at $1.80, First Settler $13-$8.50, Ndola $15-$10, The Showvinist $34-$19
Race 5: Point King $5-$3.80, Post Impressionist $9-$7.50, Dashing Duchess $8.50-$7.50
Race 6: Nicolini Vito $6.50-$4.60, Holymanz $7-$5.50
Race 7: See You In Heaven $6-$5, Running By $8-$6.50, Wollombi $9-$8
Race 8: Via Sistina $2.25-$2.15-$2.30 with bets of $2000 at $2.25, $2000 at $2.20, Mr Brightside $4-$3.10 with a bet of $6000 at $3.90, Pride Of Jenni $6-$5.50-$6.50
Race 9: Right To Party $5-$4 with a bet of $4190 at $4.40, Buenos Noches $7.50-$7, Sans Doute $10-$7 with a bet of $3000 at $7.50, Arkansaw Kid $10-$8.50
Race 10: Positivity $5-$4.60, Milford $10-$5.50, Shaiyhar $10-$6.50, Green Fly $9.50-$7

• Saturday Market Movers: $6 to $3.80 in feature race
• Big Bets: Top galloper tipped to bounce back into winner’s stall
• Tips From The Big Bookies: Makybe Diva Stakes Day

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INTERSTATE MAIL
Eagle Farm Race 3 No.3 JOHN RAMBO
Eagle Farm Race 6 No.2 CLOUDLAND
Morphettville Race 1 No.3 DUCHESS OF SUSSEX
Morphettville Race 5 No.9 ZARKANA

• MORPHETTVILLE, BELMONT TIPS: $6 chance dropping sharply in class
• EAGLE FARM TIPS: Graeme Carey’s best bets, value picks and race-by-race analysis
• CAMERON HAPP TIPS: ‘Maximum bet early’ at Flemington
• LAURIE’S LONGSHOTS: Laurie Sainsbury’s best each-way plays for today’s racing

PROVINCIAL MAIL
Kembla Grange Race 1 No.7 HARLEM QUEEN
Kembla Grange Race 6 No.8 AFTER MATCH

• GREG POLSON: NSW form guru’s best bets for Kembla today
• KEMBLA TIPS: Adam Sherry’s best bets and inside mail

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