2018 Aurie’s Star Handicap Day Preview & Tips

Saturday’s Flemington card will get underway with a decent stayers race that has drawn a classy field, but it really does look like Sixties Groove’s race to lose. Sixties Groove ($1.85) took a couple of runs and an increase in trip to return to devastating form this time, but he has absolutely dominated his two most-recent starts, both at HQ. Another step out to 2510m looks ideal at this point of his prep and he’ll be tough to beat. Exciting Macedon Lodge stablemates Kilimanjaro ($7) and Crocodile Rock ($5) will both step out for the second time this preparation here and on class alone, can fight into the finish. Sixties Groove probably just wins this race, but he’s too short at his current price and I am happy to stay out from a betting perspective.

Race 2 is a far-more open affair from a betting perspective and there is a case to be made for several horses finding their way into the finish. Prezado has received plenty of attention since markets opened and has firmed into $2.30 favouritism, from an opening quote of $4. The Denman gelding has not been seen at the races since March but is stepping back from black type company into this field and typically flies fresh. If he finds himself on the right part of the track from barrier 9, he’ll be right in the finish. Godolphin entire Bandipur ($3.30) will carry winning form into the race and looks capable of repeating that effort and result here. Bandipur has continued to improve with racing this time and hit the line well to beat Rebel Miss and Junglized at Randwick last time. He has form down the Flemington straight and is rock-hard fit for this race. Invincible Al ($4) is seeking a third-consecutive win and should also fight into the finish again. The I Am Invincible gelding returned to winning form with a dominant performance at Morphettville in late June, before savaging the line at this track and trip last time. I like that Patrick Payne has trialled the horse in the lead-up to this race and he looks a nice price at his current quote.

This Benchmark 70 race for three-year-olds also looks a pretty open affair and there’s value around a number of key runners. Ruban Bleu ($4.50) has been knocking on the door of a maiden race win through his short racing career and could have found his ideal race here on Saturday. The Artie Schiller colt flew home from the tail of the field to finish fourth on debut and has since finished second in a pair of Caulfield Saturday races over 1200m and 1400m respectively. He’ll enjoy the wide Flemington track and has plenty of options from the rails draw on Saturday. Muswellbrook ($7) showed decent ability through his debut preparation and is up to the class of a race like this one, first-up. The Denman gelding was returned to the paddock after finishing second to Futooh in the Listed China Horse Club Mile (1600m). He’ll need some luck from a wide draw, but should be given every chance to make an impression. Sergeant ($5.50) will take winning form into the race and still has plenty of improvement to come. The Helmet colt took up the running at Sale on debut and was just pipped on the line but responded with a dominant three-length win at Echuca last time out. This is obviously a step up in class, but he’s drawn ideally on the inside of this field and will give them something to chase. I’m happy to give Ruban Bleu another go here, particularly at his current price.

It could be a big day for Godolphin at Flemington on Aurie’s Star Handicap Day and Harmattan ($4) should prove extremely difficult to beat in Race 4. The Street Cry mare has not been seen at the races since April, but she has outstanding first-up form and is a proven performer amongst black type company. She’s drawn awkwardly, but I like that her campaign is being launched at 1400m and on class, she’ll be fighting out the finish. Spanner Head ($6.50) is on a seven-day back-up and will appreciate a return to Flemington. She is stepping back in trip, but is rock-hard fit and would not look out of place in the winner’s stall. One horse that does look over the odds at her current price is Sharing ($10), who is sure to take plenty of benefit into her second-up run. The lightly-raced mare clearly needed the run when she failed to kick on in the straight at this track and distance first-up, but will have plenty of options from the rails draw and at her best, can fight out the finish.

Race 5 has drawn the first capacity field on Aurie’s Star Handicap Day and it is subsequently an open race from a betting perspective, when leaving odds-on favourite Gold Mag ($1.90) out of consideration. Golg Mag is undefeated through two dominant career starts to date, but faces a big step up in class here and is drawn awkwardly. The Mick Price-trained Dancing Tycoon ($9) has not been seen at the races since April, but is yet to finish outside of the first three through five career starts. This looks to be her pet trip and with appropriate luck in running, can fight out the finish. Tahi ($11) also looks over the odds at his current price and is rock-hard fit for this race. The O’reilly gelding ran on well to finish third at this track and distance last time out and if the inside of the track is the place to be by this point of the day, will be tough to hold out. I am happy to take on the favourite at those odds and I am confident that Dancing Tycoon can fight out the finish.

There’s plenty of winning potential set to step out in Race 6 and it looks a pretty tough race to analyse from a betting perspective. I’m leaning towards the Darren Weir-trained The Statesman ($7) at an each-way price, but he will need luck in running from a central draw. The Zoffany gelding showed plenty of ability in the UK through 2017 and has been knocking on the door in three starts since arriving in Australia. He’ll have taken plenty of benefit from his most-recent effort at Sandown and is another horse that should enjoy the conditions at Flemington. I’ll be having a small each-way bet on The Statesman but wouldn’t want him a lot shorter than his current price.

The Aurie’s Star Handicap always draws a smart field of sprinters and this year’s edition is no exception. The early scratching of straight-track specialist Rich Charm has really opened the field and there is a case to be made for nearly all nine runners. Poetic Dream has continued to receive the lion’s share of attention in Aurie’s Star betting and is $7.50 into $5.50 second-favouritism in the lucrative Fat Odds market. The Poet’s Voice entire was outstanding in Europe through his debut preparation and showed promise when fifth in the Group 3 Autumn Handicap (1400m), in what was his first and only appearance in Australia to date. Godolphin import Home Of The Brave ($4.40) will be having his first start in Australia in the Aurie’s Star Handicap and will be in the finish on class alone. A multiple black type winner in the UK, the Starspangledbanner gelding has trialled exceedingly well since arriving down under and has an excellent first-up record. Godolphin are typically excellent at picking the right horses to bring to Australia and Home Of The Brave can continue that run by winning the Aurie’s Star. CLICK HERE FOR FULL 2018 AURIE’S STAR HANDICAP ODDS & BETTING UPDATE

The field for the penultimate is easily the most open of the day at Flemington on Saturday and there is a case to be made for more than half of the group. The Peter Gelagotis-trained Moss ‘N’ Dale has opened the $6 favourite and will surely lay a great account for himself once more. The Castledale gelding won at this track and distance second-up this time before heading north for a credible sixth in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) and returning home to finish second in the Listed Winter Championship Final (1600m) here at the beginning of July. He has continued ticking over with a trial earlier this week and can fight out the finish. Husson Eagle ($15) won the Mildura Cup (1400m) two weeks ago and typically races well at Flemington. The seven-year-old has been a strong and consistent performer for Patrick Payne throughout his entire racing career and is worth consideration for an each-way bet here.

The final race on Aurie’s Star Handicap Day has drawn a decent field and it looms as a great opportunity to take advantage of some late value. The Darren Weir-trained Mantastic ($2.80) finally broke through for a well-earned first Australian win last time out, and there is no reason why he cannot go on with the job here. The Fastnet Rock gelding flew home to finish second at each of his first three starts this time, but settled closer to the pace over a mile at Caulfield a fortnight ago and won by a length. He’ll need some luck early from a wide draw, but has a class edge over his rivals.