Saturday Racing Tips Flemington 02/03/24

It’s Australian Guineas Day at Flemington with the Group 1 race standing proud on the card. Despite a fairly short-priced favourite in Riff Rocket, it is a deep contest with 16 runners who all have better days ahead of them. A lot of it will come down to who deals best with the lead-up to the race and we think that a $20.00 roughie on the betting sites is a good way to go in what looks like an outstanding contest, race 8 on the card.

Whatever the result ends up being, it looks certain to be a race to keep in mind for the rest of the year as it is full of some very smart types for the future. 

(Note: Odds provided by PlayUp)

Best of the Day	Flemington Race 4 #1 Bold Bastille	Win: $2.20 Bet Now	Place: $1.30 Bet Now
Next Best	Flemington Race 2 #7 Aramco	Win: $2.45 Bet Now	Place: $1.30 Bet Now
Roughie of the Day	Flemington Race 8 #5 Zipaway	Win: $20.00 Bet Now	Place: $5.50 Bet Now

Flemington Race 2 - The Flemington 2000 BM84 (2000m)

Selections:
#7 Aramco (NEXT BEST) - $2.45
#1 Kettle Hill - $5.50
#5 Up And Under - $8.00
#4 Strawberry Rock - $4.80

BEST BET - #7 Aramco
Has taken his form to a new level since stepping up in distance to 2000m at this track. He saluted in his first run over this far before just being run down by one who was completing a hat-trick of wins and has not been beaten far in a Group 2 subsequently. This field has a lack of pace in it which is perfect for the selection as he should be able to set easy fractions on the front end which will have him perfectly placed to hold off the closers. 

THE DANGER - #1 Kettle Hill
In complete contrast to our top pick in this race, Kettle Hill needs to be ridden stone-cold out the back and delivered right on the line. He has been given a great ride in two of his last three starts to win but he is yet to salute in three prior starts at this track nor in two times that he has had Mark Zahra in the saddle. His form here is not bad by any means, second and third in a pair of them and he does have a couple of wins over this trip of 2000m.

VALUE BET - #5 Up And Under
Took a long time to get himself off the mark with a win when he was trained in Ireland by Joseph O’Brien. He was 5th in the Irish Derby last July so he has plenty of ability but the pick of his form has come when the ground has been on the softer side. He was never in the race on his Australian race debut over 1600m at this track two weeks back but should be better suited by the return to a longer distance for all that he would be suited by some rain.

Flemington Race 4 - Furphy Trophy Listed (1000m)

Selections:
#1 Bold Bastille (BEST BET) - $2.20
#5 Drifting - $4.40
#6 Always Enuff - $6.50
#11 Lovers Forever - $10.00

BEST BET - #1 Bold Bastille
Very impressive when winning on her debut at The Valley in October, coming clear by three lengths to beat Hayasugi who went on to win the Blue Diamond last weekend. She was sent off favourite in the Prelude for that series but she finished lame in sixth so that can be excused easily. A return to the form that she showed on her debut is going to set a very strong standard for the others to aim at here. 

THE DANGER - #5 Drifting
Showed a little bit of promise in trials but she was much improved when making her race debut at Hawkesbury. That was on a softer surface than she is going to race on here but it was visually a smart run and is entitled to improve on that debut form. She was a little keen in the early stages that day and looked as if a longer distance than this would suit her sooner rather than later but there should be plenty of progression to come from her even at 1000m.

VALUE BET - #6 Always Enuff
Has won a couple of jump outs which makes her look like she is going to be above average. She is from a nice family with some decent winners so there is plenty to like about her pedigree as well as the visual evidence from her trials. It will be interesting to see how she moves in the market compared to those who have experience but the fact that her connections feel that they can put her in at this level on her debut should be taken note of.

Flemington Race 8 - Australian Guineas Group 1 (1600m)

Selections:
#1 Riff Rocket - $2.50
#2 Veight - $7.50
#5 Zipaway (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY) - $20.00
#3 King Colorado - $7.00

BEST BET - #1 Riff Rocket
Made an impressive return to action over 1400m in the C.S Hayes. It was a remarkable run given that he had closed out his spring prep with a win in the Victoria Derby over 2500m. Trainer Chris Waller has said that he likes him better over this sort of distance than further and confidence seems high that this is going to be a suitable test for him. The pace rather fell apart in the Hayes so perhaps it is form to treat with a touch of caution but he looks a star in the making.

THE DANGER - #2 Veight
Runner-up to Griff in the Caulfield Guineas on his only previous race over this distance, he was in front of King Colorado on that occasion. He dropped back to 1200m in the Coolmore Stud Stakes on the final start of his spring prep before kicking off this one over the same distance in the Australia Stakes. He was given a stiff task taking on Mr Brightside in the C.F. Orr Stakes on his most recent start which is a strong form line to take into this, beaten just 1.3 lengths.

VALUE BET - #5 Zipaway
Another who has taken on older rivals already, beaten a tiny amount by Dom To Shoot and Zaaki in the Northerly at Ascot. Dom To Shoot was not far behind Mr Brightside on his most recent start and has an entry in the All-Star Mile. That at least gives Zipaway a line to Veight which suggests that he is a little big in the market compared to some of his rivals. That is perhaps because he was a touch below par in his first run of this prep in the Autumn Stakes at Caulfield over 1400m. He put in some good late work that day and will appreciate the rise in trip here.

Playup is our top bookmaker for our horse racing tips this week. They regularly provide some of the top fixed odds prices on the open market across all meetings. Odds are provided for almost all Australian horse racing, with many racing promotions for you to enjoy when you have signed up for them. Although they are one of the newer Australian bookmakers, they have quickly gained a great reputation by offering an excellent betting experience. Their slick and well-designed website makes them a great place to bet on our Australian horse racing tips.

Join us each Saturday for the best expert bets on Australian horse racing. Every week we will preview one of the big Saturday cards to provide you with the best tips, including a best bet, a next bet and a roughie of the day for those who enjoy a long shot.

We will also have news articles each week with need-to-know info. We will tell you about any bonuses and promotions you can take advantage of with your betting and get our multi-tips and jockeys to follow.

If you need more help or explanations on anything horse racing related, check out our horse racing betting sites page, where you can find bet types, strategies and FAQs, amongst other helpful information.

Jockey Of The Day – Craig Williams

Not only does the veteran have the favourite in the Australian Guineas with the horse racing bookmakers, but he also has a couple of other fascinating rides on the afternoon. Panfield makes his Australian debut in race 9, the winner of four Group 1 races, three in Chile and one in Hong Kong, he will be worth watching for the future. Race 10 sees him on Unlimited, who was a decent handicapper in England for William Haggas and he too will be interesting to view with the long term in mind.

R1 - #3 - Tintookie - $3.40
R2 - #5 - Up And Under - $8.00
R3 - #11 - Southern Fire- $17.00
R4 - #7 - Grinzinger Love - $14.00
R5 - #9 - She’s Bulletproof - $11.00
R7 - #6 - Lazzago - $18.00
R8 - #1 - Riff Rocket - $2.50
R9 - #10 - Panfield - $15.00
R10 - #13 - Unlimited - $21.00