There is group quality racing aplenty this Saturday, with a lot of star horses either resuming or continuing their campaigns, with pushes towards some big targets this Autumn. At Flemington, Nature Strip resumes as the hot favourite in the G1 Black Caviar Lightning. It is worth noting that the wonder mare BC herself will be coming out of retirement to lead the field on to the track. Before that though, is the clash of Alligator Blood and boom NZ 3YO Catalyst in the G3 CS Hayes Stakes. North of the border, Randwick hosts a 10 race card, which includes the G2 Light Fingers and Aquis Apollo Stakes’. Along with 11 other TAB meetings around the country, it should be a great day of racing. PlayUp form analyst Lewis Willoughby has found five bets to have today, check them out below.
Flemington R3 #1 Mildred (BEST) $4.40 at PlayUp – This 2YO filly is as good as they come, winning the G3 Chairman’s Stakes last start in great fashion. Comes here second up and fitter, has drawn excellently again in barrier three so she will be able to boot and lead with no qualms. She was strongest over the final stages last start, so now coming up to the 1100m is even more suitable. Last prep second up she was a dominant winner, I expect a repeat performance of that, and can’t believe she isn’t shorter in the market.
Flemington R9 #2 Admiral’s Joker $5.50 at PlayUp – The first up run of this horse was so much better than it reads on paper. In a G2 over 1100m at Caulfield he settled last, and sprinted very well up to the 200m point. He had the quickest 400m split of the entire meeting, and his last 600m was only bettered by Bold Star. He peaked the last bit but was entitled to do so. Comes here second up on a quick back up straight to the 1400m, where he has a record of 3:1-2. He did the exact same last prep and beat Rox The Castle and Waging War with absolute ease. He struggles to run a bad race, definitely worth a bet.
Randwick R4 #7 Dame Giselle $1.90 at PlayUp – This Snowden 2YO returns from a spell here over the 1000m. Showed some serious talent in her debut campaign, especially the win second up. Over 1100m in the Golden Gift, she showed an unbelievable turn of foot to win comfortably after settling on speed. Worth noting that she beat Cellsabeel in that race by 5L, and she is our current Slipper favourite. Won a recent trial on a Soft6 under a big hold, is drawn wide but should look to push across with not a whole lot of speed happening in the race. The heavy surface is the only unknown, if she handles it she will win.
Randwick R10 #5 Roheryn $4.60 at PlayUp – This Godolphin galloper has resumed this prep in very good order, with a good win first up over 1200m. Sticks in grade, and only rising 100m in distance should suit as he isn’t a horse that gets out over any further of a trip. He has a great first up record 2:1-0, and was very unlucky second up last prep when rocketed home against a big on pace bias. Drawn in barrier 12 here, should get back and find cover, and this will help him find the better ground out wide when it counts. This is a competitive BM88, but he should be right around the mark.
Morphettville R8 #5 Hasta La War $2.70 at PlayUp – This Sue Murphy trained 4YO is surely amongst the best stayer’s in Adelaide, if not the best one. In his first prep he won 5 races, three of which were in a row at the end of the prep over 2000m+. He resumed last month over 1600m off no trials and absolutely brained them, just picking up where he left off. Out to the 2000m is a big positive second up, and is surely on track for much larger targets working towards the Autumn months. Good loyalty shown by the owners to keep an apprentice on in a non-claiming race, just needs a good steer from barrier 10 to be winning.
