Belle in super form
Flemington, G1 Seppelt Mackinnon S., $2,000,000, 2000m
Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) was a dominant winner of the G1 Empire Rose S. off the back of her Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown clean sweep.
She has unfortunately drawn poorly, but is a versatile mare able to run off the pace or settle back with cover as she did last Saturday.
Kings Will Dream (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) was a brilliant winner of the G1 Turnbull S. and he made up ground for sixth in the G1 Cox Plate. He loves Flemington and expect him to be right there at the business end.
Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) has been thereabouts in all his races prior to finishing a close seventh in the G1 Caulfield Cup, in which he didn’t have a lot of luck. He may be a 9-year-old, but he’s capable of giving this a shake.
Kings Will Dream (Ire) after taking out the G1 Turnbull S.
Cape Of Good Hope (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Kluger (Jpn) (King Kamehamea {Jpn}) both failed miserably in the Cox Plate, but on their best form can turn it around. Fifty Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was a strong second in the G1 Cantala S. and looks capable of mastering a longer trip.
So Si Bon (So You Think {NZ}) is talented, but tends to mix his form and a better chance may prove to be Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo {Ire}), who has been around the mark in his last two appearances and he goes well at Flemington.
One for a longer price may be Night’s Watch (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), who finished off well in the Cantala last time out and moving up in trip enhances his prospects.
Class act to deliver
Flemington, G1 Darley Sprint Classic, $2,000,000, 1200m
Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is an outstanding short course specialist and in top form for this assignment.
He was runner-up over this course and trip when resuming in the G2 Gilgai S. and then powered home in The Everest to beat all but Yes Yes Yes (Rubick), who was in receipt of 5.5kg.
Santa Ana Lane
Another 3-year-old in Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) may be the hardest to roll following her last-start defeat of the older horses in the G1 Manikato S.
Nature Strip (Nicconi) was a gallant fourth in The Everest, although there remains a question mark over him at 1200 metres in the strongest of company.
The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) has been racing well without major reward and he can’t be discounted while Alizee (Sepoy) is a quality mare. The distance may be short of her best now, but they’ll likely go along quickly and that brings her more into contention.
In Her Time (Time Thief) petered out of The Everest after racing on the pace and she’d need to find a few lengths, as would Malibu Style (Magnus) who has been going well, but this is a major step up in class for him to handle.
Kiwi mare fancied
Flemington, G2 TAB Matriarch S., $300,000, 2000m
Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) is a quality mare who has placed at the top level and she’s now up to a more suitable distance.
She has been in the money at her last two runs over a mile in the G3 Stocks S. and the G3 Vase and the extra 400 metres will be right up her alley.
Rondinella (NZ)
Amangiri (All Too Hard) won the G3 Tesio S. at her last appearance and was previously third in the G3 Angst S. Nettoyer (Sebring) won that race and if she brings her A game here she’ll prove a handful.
Aliferous (Hinchinbrook) will be a threat if she handles a very quick back-up while Spanish Reef (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is holding her form well and should prove competitive again.
Greysful Glamour (Stratum) has won here before and finished runner-up in the G1 VRC Oaks so off the back of a Moonee Valley success she deserves respect and the roomy track will suit Oceanex (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) who hasn’t had a lot of luck this campaign.
Iconoclasm ideally suited
Flemington, G3 Network 10 Chatham S., $200,000, 1400m
Iconoclasm (Toorak Toff) looks well placed under the conditions of this race. He won at Moonee Valley last time out under 60kg and meets the runner-up Widgee Turf (Turffontein) even better off at the weights.
Haunted (Lonhro) won well in Listed grade last time out, but won’t have it easy from a wide gate and Streets Of Avalon (Magnus) is another accomplished sprinter who will also need luck from a poor gate.
Admiral’s Joker (Bel Esprit) is in a rich vein of form with three wins on the bounce and was successful in his only previous visit to Flemington.
Tom Melbourne (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) finds it hard to win, but again a place hope while Manolo Blahniq (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) wasn’t far away when fourth in the G3 Moonga S. and should get an economical run from the draw.
Strong form line
Flemington, G3 Queen Elizabeth S., $300,000, 2600m
True Self (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) was runner-up in the G3 Geelong Cup behind subsequent G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) so that is a leading form line to follow here.
Red Cardinal (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) was fourth in that race so that puts him in the mix as well and Sir Charles Road (Myboycharlie {Ire}) has been racing soundly and the extra distance will be in his favour.
Top Of The Range (NZ) (Savabeel) is in excellent touch and hard to see him not being a player off his G3 Bendigo Cup success.
Carif (So You Think {NZ}) was good when second in the G3 Hotham H. and is a young stayer of promise while Maurus (GB) (Medicean {GB}) has placed in stakes company in his last two runs and a chance at a share of this.
Black type test
Flemington, Listed World Horse Racing Springtime S., $175,000, 1400m
Godolphin’s Knickpoint (Carlton House {USA}) won his only start last season and kicked off his spring campaign with further success so he’s more than ready for an early black type challenge.
Stablemate Hilo (Lonhro) has acquitted himself in stronger races so he’s another top chance and Banquo (Written Tycoon) broke his maiden in fine style and, while this is a step up, he can give a sight.
Banquo as a yearling
Truffle House (Smart Missile) is another who has looked good in a short career and his fifth placing in the G3 Red Anchor S. is a solid form reference. Sophia’s Choice (Fastnet Rock) has won her last two and looks capable of holding her win in a higher grade.
Love her work
Rosehill, G2 Hyland Race Colours Hot Danish S., $500,000, 1400m
Luvaluva (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) was eye-catching when resuming at Randwick where she hit the line hard for second. She’s sure to have derived benefit from that and is a second-up winner.
Pretty In Pink (Sebring) hasn’t had a lot of luck in two runs this preparation and she has won a trial since last racing while Madam Rouge (Zoustar) was a strong winner of the G3 Nivison, although she has yet to win at 1400 metres.
Pretty In Pink
Reelem In Ruby (Pierro) and Ready To Prophet (Smart Missile) are both 1400 metre winners and Moss Trip (Mossman) has improved with each run this campaign and there’s a sense of timing about her.
Vinucunca (I Am Invincible) is most likely to have improved with her first-up effort and has a handy pull in the weights. El Dorado Dreaming (Ilovethiscity) didn’t flatter when resuming in the G2 Theo Mark, but has since trialled well and looks one for each way value.
