The first G1 of the Melbourne Spring Carnival is upon us today, with the running of the Memsie Stakes with a cracking field assembled. Our PlayUp form analyst has identified five winners from around the grounds, check them below.
Caulfield:
R3 #11 El Rocko: $5.50 on PlayUp – Taken by the price of this horse today, who has two wins and a close second placing at this track so far this prep. He was run down by a handy galloper here last time out at this track and trip, but held the rest comfortably in a good run. Back on to a heavy ground here this afternoon falls right into his liking, as he is a proven heavy track winner at Sandown two starts ago. Maps well, and comes down in grade as well.
R5 #12 Aft Cabin: $2.20 on PlayUp – Very keen to stick with this super impressive last start winner, who blew away a handy field at Sandown by 6L on the line. He was hardly touched to get this margin, seemingly having a lot left in the locker if needed. He comes here third up and ready to peak, and should be easily able to mix it with some promising 3yo’s returning here off good 2yo preparations. His sectionals in that win were very strong, running 7L quicker than class average in his last 400m split, and he is a proven heavy track performer after running 2nd on debut at Warwick Farm on a bottomless heavy 10.
R9 #7 Lunar Flare: $9 on PlayUp – Thought this mare was very unlucky first up at Flemington over 1600m in the Listed Winter Championship. She got back to last in running, and gave some proven winners a big start. After hunting for runs up the inside of horses she copped a crucial check at the 400m mark, which really halted her chances of winning. Once clear, she still ran the meeting fastest last 400m and 200m’s through the line, and therefore the 4L beaten margin is unfair. Second up here, and has trialled super at Cranbourne in the interim on a heavy 9 which keeps her up to the mark and proves she handles wet going.
Rosehill:
R2 #2 Frumos: $1.60 on PlayUp – This Waller horse looks near on a certainty today, after being a moral beaten last start here over 1400m. He was back last on the fence, on a day where the rail was hot and no horses out wide were making ground. So, Hugh Bowman correctly tried to hunt runs on the fence from last but unfortunately was met with nothing but backsides. From a better draw today with a different track set up, he can come wide on the turn and fly past these like they’re stuck to the ground.
R5 #10 Grace And Harmony: $3.10 on PlayUp – Really impressed with the first up run of this horse, finishing second at Randwick over 1300m behind Yukon. She was forced to sit midfield off a disgracefully slow lead tempo, and when they straightened up she was just too far off the lead to win. Second up here, drawn perfectly in barrier two and I think looks expertly placed up in class with no weight on her back. She is clearly a talented horse, and this grade should not be too far for her especially with only 53kg. Proven second up winner, and she ran 2nd in a trial behind Hilal on heavy going at Rosehill before this prep, so the wet track looks no issue.
