The following is a survey of Flemington racing tips for Melbourne Cup day this Tuesday, November 5. More tips and previews will be added as they become available.
We have also published a survey of Melbourne Cup tips (Race 7).
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Best bets
Flemington Race 2, No. 7 Phaistos
Flemington Race 3, No. 7 Sure Knee
Flemington Race 4, No. 3 Shared Ambition
Flemington Race 10, No. 4 Pretty Brazen
Flemington
Race 2, No.5 East Indiaman – 3.5 stars
Race 3, No.7 Sure Knee – BEST BET – 5 stars
Race 5, No.14 Athiri – 3.5 stars
Race 6, No.4 Sweet Scandal – 4 stars
Race 8, No.8 So You Win – 3.5 stars
Race 10, No.4 Pretty Brazen – 4 stars
Quaddie: 12,18,19,20,23 / 6,8,11,16,17 / 3,4,6,11,12,13 / 4,5,6
Betfair – Feature Race Reports:
Race 1:
Betting Confidence: Low
Back – #13 Thala; #16 Write The Score
Race 6:
Betting Confidence: High
Back – #1 Jamaican Rain; #4 Sweet Scandal
Race 1: Marchena – each-way
Race 2: Phaistos
Race 3: Sure Knee
Race 4: Shared Ambition
Race 5: Athiri
Race 6: Victory Kingdom
Race 8: Looks Like Elvis and So You Win
Race 9: Tactical Advantage
Race 10: Mayaaseh – each-way
Race 1:
5. Hard Rock Girl (5 stars)
3. Cut It Out (4 stars)
4. Divine Caprice (2 stars)
6. La Girl (2 stars)
Race 2:
8. Yeldarb (3 stars)
1. William Thomas (3 stars)
5. East Indiaman (3 stars)
3. Bravo Tango (3 stars)
Race 3:
13. Extreme Pride (5 stars)
6. Romani Girl (3 stars)
10. Seewhatshebrings (3 stars)
5. Aristocratic Miss (3 stars)
Race 4:
3. Shared Ambition (5 stars)
13. Kentucky Diva (4 stars)
9. Franked (2 stars)
2. Sin To Win (2 stars)
Race 5:
4. Garner (5 stars)
16. Sizzlefly (3 stars)
15. Hearty Lass (3 stars)
14. Athiri (3 stars)
Race 6:
5. Kings Brook (3 stars)
10. Dunbrody Power (3 stars)
4. Sweet Scandal (3 stars)
8. La Tigeresa (3 stars)
Race 8:
11. Looks Like Elvis (3 stars)
8. So You Win (3 stars)
16. Dealmaker (3 stars)
17. Junipal (3 stars)
Race 9:
13. More Than Exceed (3 stars)
6. Parsifal (3 stars)
3. Haunted (3 stars)
1. Royal Symphony (3 stars)
Race 10:
4. Pretty Brazen (3 stars)
2. Akari (3 stars)
3. Done By Me (3 stars)
5. Xilong (3 stars)
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 1:
Plenty to learn out of this race with just 3 of the 16 having raced. DIVINE CAPRICE had the measure of CUT IT OUT here over 1000m when they filled the placings behind Mildred. HARD ROCK GIRL had a tough run at MV and ran well. She also finished behind Mildred in that race. There were plenty of impressive trials and jumpouts to line up and that isn’t easy. MUNTASEERA has been impressing at the Caulfield jumpouts. Like the way AMOROSITY came away from rivals in a Sandown jumpout. At Flemington, UNBLUSHING, LA GIRL and ARYAAF have shown speed. THALA looks like she’ll be a strong chaser. MARCHENA trialled well with WILD CHERRY ROAD.
Selections: 8. Muntaseera, 1. Amorosity, 13. Thala, 4. Divine Caprice
Race 2:
PHAISTOS has been trialling well to prepare for his return. So far, he’s unbeaten first up but those distances were 1200m and 1100m, so the 1400m is a new challenge. His effort here over 1600m with 60kg at the end of his last prep was very good. This looks a nice race for him. EAST INDIAMAN has some solid 1400m placings here. BRAVO TANGO ran on well behind Usain Bowler (who dominated on speed) last time. He maps a little better than last time. YELDARB ran well at MV with a quieter ride and some weight relief. He beat home WILLIAM THOMAS and meets him significantly better at the weights.
Selections: 7. Phaistos, 5. East Indiaman, 3. Bravo Tango, 8. Yeldarb
Race 3:
Strong race. Chris Waller has a strong hand with SURE KNEE and ROMANI GIRL. The betting favoured Sure Knee when they clashed last time but it was Romani Girl who had open air and she won well. Sure Knee should be fitter and she’s well weighted. Her Flemington form last prep was very good. MARACAIBO was good first up. In autumn she had the better of Romani Girl and ALIFEROUS and she meets those better at the weights. ONE MORE TRY won this last year with 3kg less. Her last run says she’s ready to win again. D Lane gets his turn to try to shake SHEEZDASHING’s non-winner tag. SEEWHATSHEBRINGS is airborne.
Selections: 7. Sure Knee, 11. Maracaibo, 2. One More Try, 6. Romani Girl
Race 4:
On his two starts to date in Australia it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to suggest that SHARED AMBITION could be running in the “other” stayers’ race on this day. He looked good in his two Irish starts through June and July and he’s gone right on with it since joining Chris Waller. That was a very soft win last time. SIN TO WIN split Steel Prince and Surprise Baby here in May over 2600m. Like the back-up from Bendigo Cup. KENTUCKY DIVA is bred to want the 2800m, being out of a half-sister to the champion Makybe Diva. She looks a progressive stayer. GAYATRI and EXEMPLAR look next best.
Selections: 3. Shared Ambition, 2. Sin To Win, 13. Kentucky Diva, 7. Gayatri
Race 5:
There’s loads of speed (1,2,6,9,12,13,15 and 17) in the huge field and can see them using plenty of the track. By race 14 of this carnival, we might have some idea of where the best ground is. Last year, barriers 2, 3 and 4 trifectaed the race and came middle to outside. GARNER’s 1000m form is very good. Suspect a smart one beat him at 1200m last time. The win prior at Caulfield was a beauty. CAN’T BE DONE and SANTORINI SUMMER have jumped out well to prepare. DIRTY WORK has been competing in the strong Sydney 3YO sprints. Like ATHIRI coming back to the straight with blinkers on. 2 and 7 next.
Selections: 4. Garner, 3. Can’t Be Done, 8. Dirty Work, 14. Athiri
Race 6:
This is very tough and only a couple will surprise. LA TIGERESA is at the top of her game, which can’t be said for a few of these. She has a fourth here back in March behind Oregon’s Day, which might be good enough to win a race like this. Blinkers come off VICTORY KINGDOM and wondered if that might help her begin better. Get the impression a 1400m tempo would help her now. She has a Group 2 second here over 1400m behind Spanish Whisper back in March. SWEET SCANDAL has returned well and she might appreciate a 1400m tempo now. BELLA MARTINI is capable of a lot better. Could go on ?
Selections: 8. La Tigeresa, 9. Victory Kingdom, 4. Sweet Scandal, 3. Bella Martini
Race 8:
If CASCADIAN skips the Cantala from the outside barrier to run here, he’ll be hard to beat. He was terrific winning that race last time with 59.5kg conceding DEALMAKER and JUNIPAL plenty of weight. Doubt an extra 200m will worry him. The pair that finished behind him are in the game as well. Doubt we’ve seen the best of YULONG PRINCE as yet. Keen to see him at Flemington. He had no luck in the Coongy. His effort prior in the Underwood was fine and that form should be good for here. PLEIN CIEL and SO YOU WIN ran on well in the Cranbourne Cup. Plein Ciel is open to more improvement. KIWIA, A SHIN ROOK next.
Selections: 3. Cascadian (scratched), 2. Yulong Prince, 17. Junipal, 16. Dealmaker
Race 9:
Fascinating race with the return of star 3YO from the 2017 season, ROYAL SYMPHONY. As you’d expect for a horse with his talent, his jumpouts have looked good. There’s three natural forward runners here so the speed should be genuine. Defaulting to the race-fit and flying PARSIFAL. The speed was there for him at MV and he won very well. His last straight run is a 2nd to Zoutori, which is hot form. Gate 1? SMART COUPE looked good winning at Geelong 1st up. Not many back-markers won that day. She’s a proven straight performer. Gate 13? If TACTICAL ADVANTAGE handles the straight, his best is good enough. HAUNTED and MILWAUKEE next.
Selections: 6. Parsifal, 10. Smart Coupe, 1. Royal Symphony, 2. Tactical Advantage
Race 10:
Terrific race. Almost half are last-start winners. I’d suggest almost all have made it into black books in the early stages of their careers. At the risk of missing the winner, from the top PRETTY BRAZEN (has great turn of speed), XILONG (super impressive last time defeating a good horse), BETCHA FLYING (good last time, ready to win), MAYAASEH (solid last time with plenty of weight), CALIFORNIA SALTO (impressive filly who can go on after a good 1st up win), FLANDERSRAIN (just off a maiden win but she is smart), IT’S KIND OF MAGIC (untapped, looks very smart) and AFFAIR TO REMEMBER might be the main chances.
Selections: 11. California Salto, 6. Betcha Flying, 5. Xilong, 4. Pretty Brazen
Race 1:
Marchena (4 stars)
Muntaseera (3 stars)
Write The Score (2 stars)
Race 2:
Phaistos (4 stars)
William Thomas (5 stars)
Bravo Tango (5 stars)
Race 3:
Romani Girl (4 stars)
Sure Knee (5 stars)
Seewhatshebrings (4 stars)
Race 4:
Shared Ambition (5 stars)
Exemplar (5 stars)
Gayatri (5 stars)
Race 5:
Dirty Work (5 stars)
Garner (5 stars)
Mclaren (4 stars)
Race 6:
Jamaican Rain (5 stars)
Sweet Scandal (5 stars)
Bella Martini (4 stars)
Race 8:
Cascadian (5 stars)
Super Titus (2 stars)
So You Win (3 stars)
Race 9:
Haunted (5 stars)
Parsifal (5 stars)
Royal Symphony (1 stars)
Race 10:
Pretty Brazen (5 stars)
Betcha Flying (4 stars)
Xilong (5 stars)
Race 1:
MUNTASEERA (8) 2yo first starter sired by I Am Invincible for trainer Ciaron Maher And David Eustace. Worth a ticket here. MARCHENA (7) Ciaron Maher And David Eustace trained 2yo by Deep Field on debut. Should be around the mark. DIVINE CAPRICE (4) Rocketed home into 2nd two runs back at the track. Each way hope. AMOROSITY (1) Henry Dwyer 2yo debutant by Spirit Of Boom. Has each way claims.
Race 2:
PHAISTOS (7) Good win three runs back at Rosehill and possesses good finishing speed. One of the better chances. WILLIAM THOMAS (1) Won three runs back at Caulfield but has more weight to carry here. Has a great burst of speed late. Can get the job done. BRAVO TANGO (3) Won two runs back at Benalla and dropping weight today. Has good closing speed. No shock to see a win. EAST INDIAMAN (5) Third up from a spell. Got the upper hand late when winning last start at Cranbourne and ideal distance as proven previously. Likely threat.
Race 3:
SURE KNEE (7) Having third run back from a spell. Almost got a win when 2nd three runs back at this track and will appreciate the drop in weight. Key player. ROMANI GIRL (6) Got the prize when winning last start at Randwick. Must respect. SEEWHATSHEBRINGS (10) Displayed potential when winning two runs back at Bendigo and going down in grade. Worth a ticket here. ONE MORE TRY (2) Ran on strongly when 3rd two runs back at Caulfield and can go through the gears. Genuine threat.
Race 4:
SHARED AMBITION (3) Very tidy this preparation winning 2 from as many attempts and third up from a spell. Solid effort when winning last run at Caulfield. Looks the one here. GAYATRI (7) Nice effort when winning two runs back at Rosehill and dropping in class. Appears well in this. EXEMPLAR (5) Honest race when 3rd last run at Caulfield and gets a reduction in weight. One of the chances. SERENADE THE STARS (10) Winner last start at Moonee Valley but facing a stronger class here. Worth an each way investment.
Race 5:
DIRTY WORK (8) Likely to be well placed early. Ran 4th last start at Randwick but will find this grade easier. Among better hopes. ATHIRI (14) Made considerable ground when 3rd two runs back at this venue and looks well graded here. Expected to be flashing home. Could win with the right run. HAWKER HURRICANE (2) Has early speed and positions nicely. Set a strong tempo when 2nd last start at the track and dropping in grade. Can measure up to this company. MCLAREN (1) Second up from a spell. Was strong on the speed before fading to finish 3rd two runs back at Canberra and has been racing in stronger company. One in a race with many chances.
Race 6:
JAMAICAN RAIN (1) Shows good early pace. Was average finishing 8th last run at Caulfield but second up from a break. Forgive last start and has winning appeal here. SWEET SCANDAL (4) Having third run back from a break. Fought on gamely when winning two runs back at Randwick. Expected to fight out the finish. BELLA MARTINI (3) Was average finishing 12th last start at Caulfield but back in an easier grade. Can bounce back and has a hope here. INTO THE ABYSS (7) Did enough to win two runs back at Warwick Farm but up in class. Can fill a place in this field
Race 8:
JUNIPAL (17) Was fighting out the finish when winning three runs back at Randwick. Respect against this field. SO YOU WIN (8) Rocketed home into 2nd two runs back at Caulfield and solid performer at this distance in the past. Has run into the money 6 from 8 attempts this preparation. Could go well. YULONG PRINCE (2) Will be hitting the line strongly. Solid effort when 5th last run at Caulfield. Don’t dismiss. SUPER TITUS (9) Weakened to finish 10th last time at Caulfield and will be down in distance here. Forgive last start and is worth another chance.
Race 9:
HAUNTED (3) Got the upper hand late when winning last time at Caulfield. Has run into the money 6 from 8 attempts this campaign. One of the top hopes. PARSIFAL (6) Landed the spoils when winning last start at Moonee Valley and drawn well. Racing well this campaign. No surprise to see a forward showing and one of the main hopes in this race. ROYAL SYMPHONY (1) First up after a break of more than 2 years. Made up ground when 4th last start at Moonee Valley and will be hitting the line strongly. Key player. MILWAUKEE (4) Had a break from racing and returns to competition here. Really dug deep when winning three runs back at this track and will be well suited at the distance. Market watch advised and can run into the money.
Race 10:
XILONG (5) Made no mistakes when winning last run at Morphettville and likely to be well placed early. Very tidy this campaign winning 2 from as many starts. Is in good order and can run well here. PRETTY BRAZEN (4) Got the cash when winning last time at Caulfield but facing a stronger grade today. Might take a while to wind up but should be hitting top gear in the straight. Definite winning chance. BETCHA FLYING (6) Having third run back from a break. Did well to run into 2nd last start at Randwick and will benefit with the weight drop. Not the worst in this field. CALIFORNIA SALTO (11) Second up from a break. Fought on gamely when winning last start at Newcastle but racing in stronger company here. In the mix.