A bumper all Group race program is all set for 2013 Victoria Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse this Saturday, November 2, with insider tips on all nine events on the card found below.
Polanski is the Races.com.au tip for the 2013 Victoria Derby this weekend at Flemington. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.
The action at Flemington this weekend is headlined by a quartet of Group 1 races:
- 2013 Coolmore Stud Stakes (Race 4) – three-year-olds race features a field of 11 where Chris Waller’s flying Northern Meteor colt Zoustar, winner of the Golden Rose two back, is hot favourite
- 2013 Mackinnon Stakes (Race 5) – weight-for-age feature serving as a final chance for the winner to make the Melbourne Cup field, best fancied is the David Hayes-import Jet Away (30th on Melbourne Cup ballot) last seen running a fast finishing fourth in the Caulfield Cup
- 2013 Victoria Derby (Race 6) – the day’s marquee race, 2500m distance test for the three-year-olds with a full field engaged this year, favourite being Savvy Nature who is being challenged now for top spot in the markets by the fast firming Norman Robinson Stakes winner Polanski
- 2013 Myer Classic (Race 7) – mares-only WFA clash to round out the day’s Group 1 races, Chris Waller-trained Red Tracer is short favourite but there’s plenty of value in those markets as was the case last year when Appearance ($40) scored an upset
Along with these there’s plenty of other Flemington races to enjoy a punt on earlier, and later, in the day so make sure you follow all the action right here at Races.com.au.
To help you separate the genuine contenders from the Derby Day pretenders are our Flemington Saturday racing tips that we recommend you lock in online at Ladbrokes.com.au for the hottest prices including DOUBLE the odds on the Victoria Derby!
Race 1 (11:20am) – $200,000 Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m)
#2 Hucklebuck ($2.15) from #1 Paximadia ($9) and #4 Equator ($4.20)
Phillip Stokes-trained Adelaide raider Hucklebuck short for a reason, beat many of these in the Gothic Stakes at Caulfield last start which was their third win from four starts. Commands colt Paximadia prepared by Snowden was eighth in the Gothic Stakes but before that impressed from wide gate at Flemington beating I Am Titanium over 1400m, back to the track here. Waterhouse-trained Equator also with form around good horses, drops back in distance (from 2000m) and class (from Group 1) after sixth in Spring Champion Stakes.
Race 2 (12:00pm) – $300,000 Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m)
#1 Gypsy Diamond ($13) from #2 Arabian Gold ($8) and #3 May’s Dream
Gypsy Diamond at a really nice price and can overcome top weight (56.5kg) and wide draw (10) to score again after a Group 2 win over the Moonee Valley mile last Start. Arabian Gold was fourth at Group 1 level in the Flight Stakes in Sydney over the 1600m two back before a last start victory in a Caulfield black type over 2000m last start. May’s Dream is favourite, a bit short for us for the win, but will appreciate drop in class after her second to Guelph in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) – still needs to prove herself over the distance though.
Race 3 (12:45pm) – $300,000 Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m)
#6 Araldo ($4.20) from #2 Kelinni ($7) and #10 Kingdoms ($10)
Michael Moroney-trained six-year-old scored a protest win over Melbourne Cup fancy Sea Moon in the Listed The Bart Cummings over this track and distance at the start of the month. Kellini isn’t in top form for Waller but this distance should suit the dour stayer who was fourth in the Melbourne Cup 12 months ago. Kingdoms on the up and up, roughie shot at the Cup, but last start Randwick win over 2400m on Caulfield Cup Day was eye-catching.
Race 4 (1:30pm) – $500,000 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m)
#1 Zoustar ($2) from #9 Missy Longstocking ($8.50) and #11 Thump ($15)
Read our full 2013 Coolmore Stud Stakes Tips for more on why the short-priced favourite can get the job done.
Race 5 (2:15pm) – $1,000,000 Group 1 Longines Mackinnon Stakes (2000m)
#9 Dear Demi ($10) from #6 Jet Away ($2.80) and #7 Pakal ($5.25)
Check out our full 2013 Mackinnon Stakes Tips for more on why we’re backing an upset result.
Race 6 (3:00pm) – $1,500,000 Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m)
#1 Polanski ($5.50 or $11 DTO) from #1 Criterion ($10) and #10 Tupac Amaru ($21)
Read our comprehensive 2013 Victoria Derby Tifecta Selection post for all the best betting tips on the big one.
Race 7 (3:45pm) – $500,000 Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m)
#3 Catkins ($12) from #9 Ava’s Delight ($21) and #4 Sharnee Rose ($9)
Check out our 2013 Myer Classic Tips for more on why Catkins (not Red Tracer) is the Waller mare you should be on in this race.
Race 8 (4:30pm) – $300,000 Group 2 Yellowglen Stakes (1200m)
#4 Fontelina ($10) from #1 Sprit Of Boom ($14) and #11 Shamal Wind ($7)
Fotnelina is early market firmer and there’s sense to that. They get in on 57.5kg, meeting our second selection Spirit Of Boom (59kg topweight) 1.5kg better in the weights. Back in distance and class after a nice second to Rebel Dane in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) on September 29. If they go well fresh could be hard to beat. Brisbane galloper Spirit Of Boom not out of it either, their form has been very, very good this spring. Most recent effort was a win in the Caulfield Sprint (1100m) carrying 58kg to defeat Shamal Wind. At home last winter they produced two Group 1 fourths so form and ability is certainly there. Caulfield Sprint runner-up Shamal Wind to run top three again, she’s a nice mare and 53kg is a good weight.
Race 9 (5:10pm) – $200,000 Group 3 TAB.com.au Stakes (1400m)
#3 Galah ($5.50) from #1 Riva De Lago ($4.40) and #6 Centennial Park ($11)
Snowden’s Redoute’s Choice stallion, winner of the QTC Cup in Brisbane during the winter, improved form a first-up seventh to run third in the Moonga Stakes behind Boban over this distance on Caulfield Cup Day, can improve again. Riva De Lago carries 58kg topweight but is deserving of it, Theo Marks winner three back beating subsequent Toorak Handicap champ Solzhenitsyn. Centennial Park was 15th in the Toorak but better than that, back to 1400m at Flemington with the straight will suit the veteran better.
*All odds quoted are Fixed Win from Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change
*Times quoted are local (AEST) and also subject to change
