Races

Deane’s Flemington Saturday Selections

Deane Lester’s Preview

RACE 1 NO.9 GALAXY RAIDER

GALAXY RAIDER has been luckless in his past two runs but looks ideally placed to avenge those performances when he runs in the Silver Bowl Final (1600m). The Greg Eurell trained galloper was thwarted by a slow pace and badly held up over the concluding stages when finishing 9th over 1400 metres at Sale on June 8 before another hard story when running a fast-finishing 4th behind LADY SELKIRK over 1600 metres at Flemington on June 25. He hasn’t had tough runs this campaign so he is ready to peak at his fourth run for the preparation and GALAXY RAIDER appeals as one of the better bets of the day.


RACE 7 NO.3 CHANCE TO DANCE

Whilst it is VRC finals day with a host of good races, the feature race remains the VRC-CRV Winter Championship Final (1600m) and CHANCE TO DANCE looks a great winning chance in a very competitive race. The Robert Hickmott trained gelding has impressed in two runs this preparation, firstly running on strongly to finish 4th over 1400 metres at Flemington on May 21 before racing in the worst ground when a brave 5th behind ONPICALO over 1600 metres at Moonee Valley on June 18. He looks primed to peak in this feature race with the spacious Flemington circuit to his liking and he is comfortable on rain affected ground. It’s a race of good depth, however CHANCE TO DANCE looks safe each way option.


RACE 8 NO.1 ODYSSEY MOON

ODYSSEY MOON has struck a purple patch of form and looks the testing material again when he contests the A.R Creswick Final (1200m). The son of Snitzel has won his past two starts, firstly over 1300 metres at Sandown on June 4 before defeating the older horses over 1100 metres at Flemington on June 25. He drops back to his own age group, looks ideally placed under the set weight and penalties scale and has drawn ideally in barrier 12, which always seems advantageous down the Flemington straight. It seems an astute piece of placement by top trainer Robert Smerdon and he’s the one to beat again.

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