Races

Deane Lester’s Flemington Best Bets

RACE 2 NO.8 AESOP

AESOP gets his preferred drier track and can return to winning form when he contests the Grand Handicap (2000m). The six year old commenced this campaign with a fast finishing 2nd over 1800 metres at Sandown Hillside on September 7 before a dominant win over 1800 metres at Sandown Hillside on September 25. At his last start, he struggled through deteriorating conditions when finishing a distant 6th behind WHITE MARLIN over 2000 metres at Caulfield on October 12. This is a very suitable race for him to return to his best form and he makes appeal as one of the better bets of the day.


RACE 7 NO.2 PRIVATE EYE

The Champions Mile (1600m) has brought together a stellar field, however there isn’t a more in-form horse in the land than PRIVATE EYE and he looks poised to continue on his winning way. The five year old made a stunning return to racing by winning the Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 1. He was then gallant in defeat when finishing 2nd behind GIGA KICK in The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 15 before a barnstorming win in the Nature Strip Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill last Saturday. He now steps up to 1600 metres, a distance that he has won two of his 3 attempts to date. He is drawn for a sweet run and represents the best bet of the day.


RACE 9 NO.17 ALONG THE RIVER

The Grand Handicap (1100m) promises to be a big field charging down the Flemington straight to complete the Melbourne Cup carnival and there looks a good value chance in ALONG THE RIVER. The four year old hasn’t raced since a desperately unlucky 4th behind DIRECT over 1000 metres at Mornington on September 24. He has been freshened up since that run and looked very sharp winning an 800 metres jumpout at Flemington on October 28. Champion rider Craig Williams takes the ride which is significant and ALONG RIVER looks a good each way chance in a very competitive race.

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