Flemington hosts Saturday racing with a nine-race card set to get underway at 11:50am (AEST).
There are some showers forecast on Saturday but a Soft 5 seems the most likely starting point. The rail will be out 8m for the entire circuit.
Race-by-race preview, tips and best bets below …
They often stick to the inside in these 2YO races down the straight, so I don’t mind barrier two for Shoresy (3). He finished off well over 1100m here last start off a little freshen and his debut win was a cracker.
Steparty (4) led and won well at Ballarat on debut. He might have to be ridden differently here from barrier nine down the straight.
Sunsource (2) has jumped out well for his return. His debut victory was impressive, before a couple of plain efforts in Queensland.
The unbeaten Codigo (1) gets Shinn for his Australian debut. In both of his wins there has been a decent gap back to 3rd.
VERDICT: Shoresy (3) for the win.
This isn’t the most appealing event on the card but for the sake of a tip, The Good Fight (8) goes on top for Froggy. Now with the astute Reece Goodwin, the veteran stayer ran well over this route last start with 61.5kg and plummets to 53.5kg here third-up.
Never Again (9) was pretty plain here last start, finishing a distant 4th, but he won’t know himself with 50kg.
D’aguilar (3) looks the winner if the best version of D’aguilar shows up. He beat White Marlin over 2000m two-back, before just an even effort off a small break last Saturday.
Swords Drawn (2) was solid in the Warrnambool Cup (2350m) last start and there shouldn’t be any excuses here from barrier three.
VERDICT: Small bets on the Goodwin pair for some interest.
Rumbled Again (5) looks silly odds here at $21. She was luckless from barrier one at this track/distance last start and although Lloyd rides again, hopefully she can find a clearer path in the straight from gate three. She’s been ultra-consistent this year.
Party For One (3) got the breaks here last start and won nicely. She settled closer than usual there but will likely land towards the back of the field in this from barrier 13. Can she win two on the bounce? (19:2-2-3 career).
Mac ‘N’ Cheese (1) has the class if right. Her best form reads very well for this but it’s been a while since we’ve seen it. Her work at the trials has been encouraging.
Dazzling Lucy (7) is racing in great heart and should be ready for 1400m third-up.
VERDICT: Rumbled Again (5) worth a punt at decent odds.
There was nothing between Who Dares, Taut You Could (11) and Midtown Boss in a 1200m race here on May 13. Given he’s drawn nicely in the middle and is much bigger odds than the other two, I’m happy to be with Taut You Could for Bates and Brisbourne.
Midtown Boss (2) was first-up for 154 days when finishing 0.6L off the smart Airman here last start. His form, including a second-up victory last campaign, is hard to knock and Shinn obviously helps.
Legio Ten (9) had the race run to suit last time at Bendigo but he still showed an impressive turn-of-foot to win stylishly. He’s well-placed to bring up the hat-trick with only 52kg on his back.
Who Dares (5) keeps running well without winning. He’s definitely in the mix again.
VERDICT: Taut You Could (11) on top in an even affair.
Son Of Solly (6) went close over this route last start when 36 days between runs. He’ll strip fitter for this and Pinn’s 3kg claim certainly helps, bringing the Begg-trained gelding down to 54kg. He has a massive weight swing on his last-start conqueror First Immortal.
Reservoir Dog (8) ran okay as a 90-1 shot in the G1 SA Derby (2500m) last start. He’ll find this easier and should be able to settle a bit closer from barrier five (drew 11 last start).
First Immortal (1) won impressively here last start but did enjoy the perfect run from barrier four. Barrier 12 and an additional 4.5kg are obvious negatives.
King’s Crossing (7) should give a decent sight out in front, as he did here last start with Meech in the saddle. He was awful in SA two-back but his form in Victoria reads well enough for this.
VERDICT: Son Of Solly (6) for the win.
Grey River (4) deserves another win. She battled on gamely two-back when covering a stack of extra ground, before just finding the handy Snapped a little too good in the G3 Proud Miss (1200m) at Morphettville last start. She maps for an economical run from barrier two.
Private Jumbo (8) was a bit stiff not to beat the progressive Euphoric over this route last start. The Huglin-trained galloper is yet to finish worse than 2nd in five career starts.
Belthil (3) didn’t beat much at Stawell last time but he was first-up over 1300m off a 130-day spell, so he can certainly improve again here. He maps perfectly for the in-form Harry Coffey.
Brung King (7) is racing in very consistent fashion this preparation. His last three starts have been on tracks rated a Soft 7 or worse though, so a firmer track is a query (last good track run was in a maiden).
VERDICT: Grey River (4) for the win. BEST BET
Claim The Crown (9) could be a big improver at odds. He was never in the hunt from barrier one at Scone last start in a total forgive run. He’s a two-time winner when second-up (from three goes) and the rise to 2000m is no issue at all.
Shaiyhar (14) caught the eye at his Australian debut here last start, working home nicely from well back over 1600m. He might need even further to get into the placings but Shinn sticks and he won his only previous second-up outing.
SA mare Silent Surrente (15) brings winning form across for Clarken and O’Shea. This looks harder but she’s rock-hard fit, can make her own luck up on the speed, and handles all conditions.
Khoekhoe (6) either wins or misses a place these days. He’s a very hard horse to catch on the punt but he might be worth throwing in the quaddie at around $20.
VERDICT: Claim The Crown (9) each-way. BEST VALUE
Barrier 16 certainly isn’t ideal but Jimmy The Bear (7) will relish the rise to 1400m second-up. While he never really looked like winning when resuming over 1200m here, he held his ground well behind some in-form sprinters. He’s 2 from 2 when second-up and has beaten the talented Cardinal Gem over this route.
It’sourtime (6) won well over 1200m here last start, defeating D’jumbuck who has been racing in terrific form. He’s yet to win over 1400m but he did go very close at this track/distance 12 months ago and he’s drawn favourably.
King Magnus (1) has come back well from a lengthy break. He hit the line hard on resumption before winning well over this route last start when settling closer in the run.
Morvada (8) was swamped late to just miss a place here last start. He always runs well over the Flemington 1400m and will be thereabouts again.
VERDICT: Jimmy The Bear (7) to overcome the bad alley.
They’ll likely be heading to the stand-side by this time of the meeting, so the resuming Treporti (2) makes each-way appeal from barrier 18. He’s a handy straight-course galloper – handier than his record (6:1-1-0) suggests. He’s been unlucky to bump into Passive Aggressive and Star Patrol in 1100m races here.
Ranveer (4) is another who has drawn right out. A slow start was costly at Mornington on resumption but he ran well and this isn’t much harder. He placed behind the flying Profiteer over this route on debut.
Yulong Storm (1) ran well for 3rd behind a smart one in Sigh last start. He’s accustomed to carrying big weights, so the 60.5kg (even after the claim) isn’t a huge concern.
The Hass (9) is a consistent sprinter worth keeping safe.
VERDICT: Treporti (2) each-way.