Races

Glenn Ingram’s Wednesday Flemington Preview

RACE 1

LEG DRIVE has built a good record through smart placement and again finds a race he can be very competitive in using the barrier to be on-speed and may get it soft enough to run out the mile. HIS FINEST HOUR was supported at odds and benefited from the hot speed at Wangaratta, unlikely to get similar here, barrier helps. MACEDON ROSE was nailed by a sub winner on the line at Mornington, she too would like this run at a strong tempo. Craig Weeding has two in the race, MAKE IT SWEET can sprint well fresh over this distance range and impressed winning her ony jumpout of the campaign, claiming apprentice suggests intent and can roll forward.

Selections: 5,9,8,6

Suggested Bet: None


RACE 2

Keen on VELLASMACHINE as the best roughie on the card to bounce back, a last start failure when ridden too close to the speed after being caught wide. He should relish the open spaces of Flemington and both wins have come when ridden cold to finish off, there’s a good chance he gets the tempo up front to bring him in. Last start winner BLUE COWBOY will take up the running, he’s hard and fit and just keeps whacking away, this is a much stronger race so they will come for him. FIORENOT is an improving galloper and gave the progressive Touchdown a scare at Caulfield Heath, drawn for a soft run. YES I KNOW gets blinkers first time and could make a case he should be unbeaten this prep, he like many of his key rivals will make their runs together.

Selections: 9,11,8,10

Suggested Bet: VELLASMACHINE 1 x 4


RACE 3

Good race, speed comes from ZOU SENSATION, deep into a prep and holding his form, Jamie Melham can own this race early if Mick Dee allows him to on GRID GIRL, she’s in career-best form and did it from a stalking position at Rosehill to remain unbeaten this prep. The coffin awaits if he doesn’t kick up to use the inside. PERSIAN SPIRIT is airborne and clear horse to beat with even luck, already a two-time winner at Flemington but the map is not friendly. Forget JIMMY THE BEAR went around at Pakenham, big market drifter, stayed to the inside (inferior ground) and doubt he was ready, can improve sharply returning to his favourite track.

Selections: 2,4,7,1

Suggested Bet: None


RACE 4

Ciaron Maher gang tackles the time-honoured Bagot Hcp. FUTURE HISTORY appears his best chance to win the race, coming through strong races, he switched states to lead throughout in the Christmas Cup at Randwick and a repeat effort would take beating here. SPEYCASTER looks the only danger, his fourth-up record is outstanding, maps to land outside the leader and has been improving with each run, now ready to peak. STAR VEGA is having a good prep, found the right spot at Pakenham but no match for the impressive winner. Inner draw could be problematic. COMMANDER HARRY is racing well and has minor money claims.

Selections: 1,6,3,8

Suggested Bet: Quinella 1 & 6


RACE 5

ONE HARD LADY is well-placed for an astute country stable, races best fresh and comes off a six week gap into this with a trial in between. A proper 1000m sprinter, she has straight line experience and hard to beat in this BM74 contest. The untapped MYSTIC REIGN is first-up and has drawn her outside, those two hold the key to the race. FARAWAY DREAM is a progressive filly taking on two classy sprinters, clearly her stiffest test, she proved she was more than a one-dimensional horse to win up in grade last time. VAIN CHAMPAGNE is a big watch first-up, has good closing speed and will get last crack. MISS OLE was scratched last week to be saved for this, hard to line up that weak 2YO form, betting?

Selections: 2,3,11,6

Suggested Bet: ONE HARD LADY win


RACE 6

SALSA FELLOW resumes for the flying Henry Dwyer stable, an impressive 1100m winner here in June, he possesses a short and sharp sprint and needs to be held together to wait for luck and the gaps to appear, genuine winning chance. Like the placement of HELLO ROMEO as the lone 3YO in this contest, jumpouts suggest he’s forward enough with a favourable map drawn wide at his first attempt at straight line racing, he can trail the lead pair and give a big sight. Same with RHIA, good win first-up at Mornington peeling off the back of a sub winner, drawn to repeat. REIGNING KING is an interesting runner for the Nichols & Black stable, speedy and likely leader, jumpouts have been ok.

Selections: 3,12,13,5

Suggested Bet: SALSA FELLOW 1 x 3


RACE 7

Speed galore. ROSE DE VELLOR has always shown good talent and loves firm tracks, three jumpouts, drawn out and Craig Williams partners, leading chance. EGERTON should be ready to deliver this time in, an improved effort second-up after a poor first run to start the campaign, her best is good enough and she’s had a tick-over trial between runs, it’s D-day for her. FORMIDABLE FORCE is first-up for a shrewd first-up stable, the former Chris Waller import has been doing sharp work at the country jumpouts, a gap since his latest, kept to the sprint trips looks to be his lot in life. TAN TAT DELIGHT is progressive and still learning, solid in defeat in a strong BM64 at Sandown, expect that measures up here.

Selections: 12,14,9,19

Suggested Bet: ROSE DE VELLOR each way


RACE 8

This may end up a sit/sprint and therefore PALM OF JUMEIRAH is a big watch switching states for the Stokes stable, she’s well-placed here as an on-speed chance in a race lacking obvious pace. BEDTIME ANGEL is another key speed influence, drawn favourably and comes in with winning form against her own sex for this higher level. BARNAGE was friendless in betting at Yarra Valley, flopped out and looped the field on an unsuitable track, liked his jumpout work leading in and can improve further into this race. RUE DE ROYALE was smashed in betting and got too far back at Caulfield, still disappointing in the straight, has the class to win if he’s on the job.

Selections: 17,9,7,1

Suggested Bets: PALM OF JEUMEIRAH & BEDTIME ANGEL win


ROUGHIE: R2#9 VELLASMACHINE

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