It’s Finals Series Race Day down at Flemington this Saturday, and it always is the standout meeting of the winter program in Victoria. Nine finals races will be set down for decision, after all the heats have been run and won across the state in the past few months. The rail goes back into the true position and it should prove to be a cracking day of action. Racing returns to Randwick on a heavy track, and even with the lack of rain that has been around Sydney it shouldn’t progress into the soft range. Eagle Farm, Murray Bridge and Belmont are the other metropolitan meetings, while there are a stack of other provincial and country races taking place as well throughout the day. Clear your schedules because it’s going to be a big one! PlayUp form analyst Lewis Willoughby has identifies his five best bets of the day, see them below.
Flemington R1 #6 Sense Of Honour $2.45 at PlayUp – Comes here from the Price and Kent Jnr stable off the back of a very good first up run at The Valley behind Crosshaven. Got well back in running that day and absolutely savaged the line from towards the rear, running the fastest last 600/400/200m sectionals of the entire day. It was also against a serious on pace bias, making the run all the more impressive. Fitter now second up, and should be perfectly suited down the Flemington straight. Talented and hard to beat here. Selections: 6-3-5-1
Flemington R4 #1 Persan $1.85 at PlayUp – Has won his past two at Flemington over the 2000m in very nice style, and is progressing into a nice staying type of horse this season. Rock hard fit deep into the prep, and he strikes a very weak race here on finals day and should be winning again. The step to the 2500m looks fine, with the lack of tempo in the race he can be cuddled all the way until he needs to make an effort in the closing stages. Maps perfectly, well suited back against his own age group, and quite simply looks just better than all of these. Selections: 1-4-3-2
Flemington R6 #8 River Jewel $6.00 at PlayUp – Is running in outstanding form this prep, and comes here ready to peak third up on the quick back up. Her run last start at Caulfield on Saturday was full of merit, finishing second and just was unable to defy the leader bias. Out to 1400m now will definitely suit, maps nicely from the barrier to be leaders back in the run, and deserves to be going back in to the winners stall. Jamie Kah sticks aboard this runner over the stablemate, and the quick back up tells me the stable is confident she will run very well. Selections: 8-11-5-9
Randwick R5 #6 Longbottom $6.00 at PlayUp – A very consistent horse who is always around the mark no matter the race or conditions, and I want to be having something on her today at what I think is a touch of overs. She was very good last start behind the tear-away leader/winner in Witherspoon, finding the line strongly from off the speed in similar heavy conditions. Sticking to the 1000m should be suitable, in what looks to be a similarly run race. I’m hoping that Spaceboy will deploy similar tactics and go too hard in front, meanwhile I think the jury is out on Lashes who takes up a fair share of the market percentage. Holds weight, likes the wet, and should be a definite each way chance. Selections: 6-5-3-2
Eagle Farm R7 #5 Quantico $2.45 at PlayUp – It was seriously hard not to be impressed with the style in which this horse won its last start at Newcastle, letting down with a strong turn of foot over the 1200m journey to win very comfortably. Unsurprisingly, it appears here now in Saturday grade towards the end of the Brisbane carnival, where it looks perfectly placed to pick up some decent prize money. Perfectly drawn in barrier two, as long as it handles the wet conditions I think it can go on with the job here in the harder grade. Down 4.5kg from last start as well! Selections: 5-3-9-4
