Deane Lester’s Flemington Best Bets

Posted on January 18, 2019 | Posted by Deane Lester

Deane Lester’s Best Bets

RACE 2 NO.2 LYCURGUS

LYCURGUS is a reliable stayer in this grade that looks ideally placed to return to the winners list when he runs in the Open Handicap (2500m). The five year old does his best racing at Flemington having had six starts at the track for a win and four placings. He comes off a solid last start second behind ETYMOLOGY over 2500 metres at Flemington on December 22 and that form has been enhanced with ETYMOLOGY winning the Bagot Handicap on New Year’s Day. Trainer Danny O’Brien has his team going very well at present and LYCURGUS can provide him with another win.

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RACE 4 NO.2 YULONG SEPTEMBER

The 3YO Benchmark 70 Handicap (2000m) looks an interesting race with several progressive types, however the lightly raced YULONG SEPTEMBER represents good each way value. The son of Camelot produced a sharp finishing burst to win on debut over 1400 metres at Sandown on December 12 before two luckless runs including his last start 5^th behind MAHIS ANGEL over 1600 metres at Caulfield on January 9. The Darren Weir trained gelding was thwarted by a slowly run race but still reeled off the 2^nd best final 400m and the 3^rd best 200m of the day, suggesting that he will relish the extra distance of this race and the spacious Flemington track will be to his liking. He looks a handy stayer in the making and should run well at nice odds.

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RACE 8 NO.13 LAURE ME IN

LAURE ME IN has been one of the genuine hard luck runners of the summer period and gets his chance to atone for those runs when he tackles the Benchmark 84 Handicap (1800m). The four year old was badly held up for a run when finishing 4^th behind SILENTZ over 1600 metres at Caulfield on December 26 before a fast finishing 2^nd from a wide draw behind DIPLOMAC JACK over 1600 metres at Flemington on January 1. The significant factors in his favour this time are that he has drawn a much better barrier which should allow him to race closer to the pace, drops 4kg on his last run and gets the services of an elite senior rider in Luke Currie. He’s a fit, in-form horse that represents the best bet of the day.

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