A quality nine-race card has been assembled on Saturday to celebrate Flemington’s final race meeting of the year.
We’ve cast our eyes across the entire program and offer our best bets ahead of VRC Christmas Race Day below.
Preview brought to you by Neds. Learn more about Neds HERE.
Race 1: Benchmark 70 Handicap (1100m) – 11:40am
Tip: No. 2 Lavish Girl
Lavish Girl has been racing at stakes level recently and should find this a touch easier dropping back in grade.
The Maher and Eustace-trained filly resumed from a freshen-up to finish well down the straight in the Listed Springtime Stakes here at Flemington over the distance, but she was much-improved at Caulfield a few weeks ago when third in the Twilight Glow.
Luna Cat is shooting for her hat-trick and is coming off a brilliant three-length win at The Valley.
She should appreciate getting out to a wider track and has drawn to get the gun run under Luke Nolen.
Seonee won her maiden well at Kyneton last start and can only improve on that effort.
Race 2: Lexus Holiday Plate (1200m) – 12:20pm
Tip: No. 7 Capo Strada
Capo Strada has made the journey down from Sydney and looks well-placed third-up.
The Street Boss colt won his maiden over this trip by nearly three lengths at Gosford when fresh and was last seen running fifth over the same journey at Rosehill.
The form out of that race reads okay with Snitzonfire lining up as the favourite in Wednesday’s Wyong Magic Millions, while the inside draw only makes the job easier for Damien Oliver.
The Godolphin three-year-old clearly has ability, and I’m happy to have him on top.
Race 3: Schweppervescence Handicap (2600m) – 12:55pm
Tip: No. 8 Skelm
Future Score has mixed his form of late, albeit it against tougher company.
He raced like a long-shot two back in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup and failed to make up ground last time out in the Pakenham Cup when seventh. That said, this is a step back in grade, and he does warrant some respect with a win on the board over the track and distance.
Selma was good late in the Zipping Classic and goes on top for mine.
He flashed home late out wide to finish 1.5L fifth off Sound, an effort that suggested he’ll handle the extra journey on Saturday. The son of Animal Kingdom has run well at Flemington in the past and he won’t know himself with 6kg’s off under Michael Poy.
Race 4: Rubaroc Handicap (1200m) – 1:30pm
Tip: No. 6 Starden Lass
Wide-open race here with a case to be made for a handful.
Enigma has rattled off back-to-back wins at Hamilton, and while this is a big step up in grade, she does look ready for it with the class of Jamie Kah in the saddle.
Starden Lass loves racing over 1200m and was strong to the line at Geelong in her latest where she flashed home out wide for second.
Gloves Are Off got the job done at Moonee Valley a few weeks ago and should be rock-hard fit for three runs back. Iknewshewasmine is another one that loves the distance and will appreciate any rain about.
Race 5: Myer Giftorium Handicap (1400m) – 2:05pm
Tip: No. 5 Savannah Cloud
Savannah Cloud really hasn’t run a bad race over the last 12 months and his best might be yet to come.
The Savabeel gelding won with plenty in hand at The Valley two weeks ago where Zac Spain stalked the speed before unleashing him at the top of the straight. Up to 1400m for the first time and from a soft gate, he should be in it for a long way.
Nordic flies fresh and warrants plenty of respect despite the weight.
He won well at Caulfield first-up back in January and probably deserved to win by an eveb bigger margin if not for being held up down the straight. He hasn’t been seen since, but given the right run from Jamie Mott, he’l be tough to beat.
Race 6: Kennedy Handicap (1400m) – 2:40pm
Tip: No. 1 Blazejowski
Blazejowski has been thereabouts in two runs this prep and he does appear set to peak now out to his preferred distance.
His latest effort for fourth at Pakenham was full of merit behind Defiant Dancer, and the late ground he made up suggested he’s looking for further.
The seven=year-old is a three-time winner over 1400m, with two of those coming at Flemington.
Drawn well and fitter, he should be fighting out the finish.
Race 7: Furphy Festive Season Spirit (1200m) – 3:20pm
Tip: No. 7 The Gauch
Exeter loves 1200m, as we saw a couple of weeks ago when he punched clear to win at The Valley after setting the tempo.
He’s 0-4 in his career at Flemington, but he’s racing well and looks likely to push forward again and give his rivals something to catch.
The Gauch hasn’t missed a place in five starts over the trip and is looking to break a recent run of placings. He’s missed out only narrow in his last two starts and should go close with luck from out wide.
Undefeated Sixbysixtythree is facing his toughest assignment to date, but this does look the next logical step for him following a comfortable win at Pakenham. Barrier 2 helps his cause and he must be considered.
Race 8: #LoveTheHorse Trophy (1600m) – 4:00pm
Tip: No. 9 High ’n’ Dry
Quite like the look of High ‘n’ Dry here.
The High Chaparral gelding finished a clear second to Lyrical Lad in his latest at Pakenham, but he make up plenty go ground in the finish with a gap to third.
He’s proven over the mile with three wins on the board, one of which came here at Flemington last time in, while he’s also done some of his best racing at this stage of his prep.
Race 9: G.H. Mumm Christmas Plate (1000m) – 4:40pm
Tip: No. 2 Yulong Command
Yulong Command has been racing consistently of late and is tough to fault in the last.
He resumed at The Valley back in September a narrow second over a touch shorter, before turning the tables nearly a month later when he gapped his rivals by a length.
His effort a few weeks ago for third in the Listed Doveton Stakes at Caulfield really caught the eye, and providing the track is dry at this stage of the day, he should prove tough to beat.