Winter racing in full swing here, as we cling on to a few black type races at Flemington for Finals Race Day, and at the Sunshine Coast for G3 Winx Stakes day. A few wet tracks to deal with at Rosehill and Murray Bridge, and there are two Listed features on the Belmont program from the West. Take a look at the PlayUp form expert’s selections below.
Flemington:
R1 #1 Mennea $1.85 at PlayUp – Very keen on the opening favourite here at Flemington, who recorded a very good win rating figure on debut. He easily accounted for the field at Donald as a short odds favourite, and the time backed up what we saw to the eye. Second, up now, drawn perfectly in barrier one and sticking to the 1200m now with race fitness & experience will suit. Holds weight, Zahra takes over from Meech which is no negative, and would only need to repeat the debut performance to be winning this.
R5 #4 Electric Belle $20.00 at PlayUp – Going to give this roughie another chance here, as I have her marked at about the $15 mark, and odds on offer are currently upwards of $20. She was an electric winner three back at Sandown (pun intended), before being ridden upside down at Flemington, and then being no match on a heavy track at Sandown last start. Even then, she still had very good sectionals through the line when finishing 11th, so although it didn’t look great to the eye, on the clock it was actually a solid run. Back on to a dry surface here, expect them to ride quietly as she prefers, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see her really attack the line hard now fourth up.
R6 #2 Dice Roll $1.85 at PlayUp – No idea how this field could possibly beat Dice Roll here, who is coming into this off three consecutive wins. He has shown all the signs of being a group class horse when accounting for these fields, even beating a proven black-type horse in Rubisaki the last start here over the 1420m. He ran the fastest last 200m split of the entire day, and therefore the step up to a mile now should be a huge positive. Maps to land right outside the lead, and simply he is just better than this field. He rates as a $1.60 chance in my books, and anything over that is value.
Rosehill:
R7 #4 La Chevalee $3.90 at PlayUp – Keen to launch here at the horse who looks clearly the most progressive and in-form wet tracker of the race. Three runs this prep have been very strong, including two minor placings back in Victoria behind Kurabui and Witchfulthinking. These two horses are clear Saturday class and represent good VIC form lines. She then came to Sydney last start and finished 1L off Seentoomany at Randwick over the mile. Fourth up now ready to peak, and she has proven that she handles the Sydney way of going as well. The wide draw is suitable today on this very heavy track, and speaking of wet tracks, she absolutely flies in them with a record of 3:2-1-0. The claim helps her hold weight now in easier grades, and I think she wins.
R10 #9 Steel Diamond $4.80 at PlayUp – Comes here second up, after a promising return at Randwick over 1200m in equal grade. She has beaten a lip there after closing strongly, and it should take great improvement from that run into this second up assignment. Loves a wet track, having won twice and placed twice from five starts on heavy going, even beating the very talented Frosty Rocks over this track and trip last prep. Rawiller replaced Avdulla, which is a huge push, and the wide draw looks positive to find the better going.
