2018 Flemington Finals Day Preview & Tips
Man From Uncle will step out in the Aurie's Star Handicap. Photo: Steve Hart

2018 Flemington Finals Day Preview & Tips

Focus shifts south following the completion of the Brisbane Winter Carnival and Flemington will host the nation’s strongest card of racing on Saturday.

Flemington Finals Day boasts nine talent-rich races, four of which will be contested under black type conditions. The lucrative purses on offer have drawn some of the country’s best horses and there is outstanding value to be taken in betting, as a result.

Its been a fine week in the greater Melbourne metropolitan area the Flemington track has maintained a ‘Good’ rating, while the rail will remain in the true position around the entire course.

Rivette Series Final (1600m)
No. 7 Pageantry

The Rivette Series Final has drawn a decent field of three-year-old fillies and the Tony McEvoy-trained Mintha remains the clear $2.30 favourite at the time of publish. Mintha stepped back from back type company to register a smart win over 1400m at Balaklava on May 30th and has since placed in a pair of metro races in Melbourne over 1400m and a mile respectively. This is a step up in class and I cannot have her as short as she is in betting. Pageantry looks to be a filly with good ability and is primed for a big run here. The daughter of I Am Invincible worked home well to finish third on heavy going at Geelong last time and is drawn and weighted ideally today. I like that she has been trialled in the lead-up to this race and with the Darren Weir polish, should find herself right in the finish.

VRC-CRV Cup Tour Trophy (2000m)
No Bet

Darren Weir will saddle half the field in Race 2 but it really does look like Sixties Groove’s to lose. Sixties Groove took a couple of runs to find peak condition this time but savaged the line for second at Caulfield last time out and will only improve at 2000m. This is only a small field and he looks like he’ll have conditions to suit. Bondeiger ($13) has gone somewhat miss recently, but he has the ability to win a race like this one his day and represents value at his current price. The War Pass entire won the Group 3 Launceston Cup most notably in February but has since finished off the pace in both the Mornington Cup and Swan Hill Cup. There is no value left for Sixties Groove, but he probably wins and I am therefore happy to watch this field go around.

Leilani Series Final (1400m)
No. 5 Sharing

Only nine mares have accepted into the Leilani Series Final field but there is a case to be made for nearly every runner, and it looks like a pretty open betting race. Miles Of Krishan ($3.50) returned to winning form at this track and distance last time out and is subsequently race favourite here. The Snitzel mare is beginning to become a bit of a track specialist at HQ and flew home to finish second behind Barthelona first-up. She looks ready to peak third-up and will be given every chance from a good draw. Topweight Miss Gunpowder ($7) has been typically competitive this time in and could prove over the odds at her current price. Sharing has not been seen at the races since February, but she is a horse that doesn’t take a lot to get going and has the ability to win this race. Enver Jusofovic’s have been racing well recently and Sharing is another mare that has a great record at Flemington.

Silver Bowl Series Final (1600m)
No. 3 Remember The Name

The Silver Bowl Final tends to attract an open field of three-year-olds and that is certainly the case again this year. Gaulous is the $4.20 favourite at the time of publish, but five horses remain at odds of less-than $5 and all remain live chances. Gaulois has returned to racing in smart form this time and should find his way into the finish, despite being charged with lugging 60kgs. A trip to Perth in summer seems to have really switched the horse on and he won a Vobis race at Moonee Valley on June 2nd, before finishing third here last time out. Remember The Name is seeking a third-consecutive race win and looks to be extremely well placed again. He was given little hope amongst a similar field to this two weeks ago, but mustered a smart turn of foot to finish over the top of his rivals. There’s nothing to say he can’t repeat that performance again on Saturday.

Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m)
No. 1 Good 'N' Fast

The first black type race on the card will see twelve two-year-olds line up at the mile start for the Taj Rossi Final; a race won by the talented Royal Symphony last year. Good ‘N’ Fast ($3.20) has only made two appearances at the races so far, but looks a horse with above-average ability and can post a maiden black type win here. The Sebring colt hit the line well to win over 1400m at Flemington last time out and a rise in trip looks ideal. He can sit just behind the pace from barrier 3 and will be hard to hold out. Stable mate Pedicel has also been good through her short racing career and looks like good value at $6.50. The Redoute’s Choice filly was a smart winner on debut in late May, before placing fourth on soft-going at Rosehill last time out.

Banjo Paterson Series Final (2600m)
No. 4 Lycurgus

The major staying race has drawn an open field of distance horses and more than half the group would not look out of place in the winner’s stall. Lycurgus ($4) has returned to racing in career-best form this time and is the justifiable favourite to win again on Saturday. The Star Witness gelding has won three of his last four races, including an impressive effort to beat most of this field over 25250 here two weeks ago. He won the VRC St Leger over this track and distance last year and will be hard to beat with champion hoop Damien Oliver once more. Swacadelic ($6.50) is a horse that doesn’t know how to run a bad race and he should be right in the finish again on Saturday. The Adlerflug gelding finished second in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes over two miles two starts back before finishing fifth over 2500m last time out. He’s been freshened for this race and will be ready to fire.

Listed AR Creswick Series Final (1200m)
No Bet

Twelve three-year-olds will step out for the AR Creswick Final but outstanding gelding Nature Strip ($1.42) looks an absolute moral. The Nicconi gelding has posted five wins and two minors through only eight career starts and absolutely spanked a field down the Flemington straight in his first appearance for Darren Weir. With improvement, it’s tough seeing anything beating him. Bel Sonic is a horse with good ability, but he is yet to show his best this time and will need to find something special to topple Nature Strip. The son of Bel Esprit finished second at his first two starts amongst minor company upon resuming, but was plain from the turn at Moonee Valley last time out. He’s yet to be tested down the straight, but could prove over the odds. Nature Strip likely wins but I can’t have him that short and I’m happy to stay out from a betting perspective.

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Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m)
No. 8 Cool Chap

A great field has been taken for the Winter Championship Final and it is another particularly open betting race, with plenty of value. Ozi Choice ($5.50) just failed to make up the ground at Flemington a fortnight ago and will relish a rise in trip. The five-year-old savaged the line for a strong win over 1400m here two starts back before just finishing behind Chamois Road last time out. He’s drawn fairly, but has the speed to find a position on-pace. Cool Chap ($10) will find ideal conditions at Flemington on Saturday and has plenty of appeal at his current price. The High Chaparral gelding posted a number of outstanding results in autumn including second in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes and sixth in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile, and has continued to impress leading into this race.

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Listed Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200m)
No. 7 Just Hifalutin

The All Victorian Sprint has drawn an outstanding field and it looms as a great opportunity to take advantage of late value. Man From Uncle will take plenty of benefit into his second-up run on Saturday and has the ability to be right in the finish of this race. The Uncle Mo gelding is a multiple black type winner and ran on for a credible fourth over 1100m here two weeks ago, in what was his first start for Darren Weir. Tasmanian raider Hellova Street has been a strong and consistent performer throughout his entire racing career and has the ability to win a race of this calibre. The Helike gelding resumed in autumn for consecutive wins in the Listed Thomas Lyons WFA and Listed Mowbray Stakes, before finishing third behind Humidor in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes. He’s trialled well in the lead-up to this and will give them something to chase. Just Hifalutin ($7) will also resume in the race but doesn’t take many to get going and has an excellent record at Flemington. The daughter of Reset ended her most-recent campaign with a smart win down the straight and if the rails are the right place to be on Saturday, she’ll be hard to beat.