Ten sprinters will line up at the top of the famous Flemington straight on Saturday for another open edition of the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) and there is plenty of value to be taken in betting. Voodoo Lad has returned to scintillating form since arriving back in Victoria and he has opened the $4.75 favourite in Neds’ market for the Aurie’s Star Handicap. A multiple black type winner and consistent performer throughout his entire racing career to date, Voodoo Lad returned a couple of flat performances at Group 1 level upon resuming this time, but responded with a dominant win in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) on July 14th. He produced another excellent performance to run on for second behind outstanding sprinter Vega Magic in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) a fortnight ago and there is no horse of that quality in this field. Damien Oliver will should be able to find a position off the pace with Voodoo Lad and he will look to finish over the tops of his rivals. Home Of The Brave will make his Australian racing debut in the Aurie’s Star Handicap and if he brings any of what he showed in Britain, he’ll be extremely difficult to beat. The son of prolific Australian sprinter Starspangledbanner is a multiple black type winner and returned to racing in particularly slick form last year; taking out both the Listed King Richard III Stakes (1408m) and Group 3 Criterion Stakes (1408m) most notably. Godolphin are generally fantastic when picking out horses to send to Australia and Home Of The Brave has trialled particularly well in the lead-up to his debut. Damian Lane will be able to find a position close to the rail from an inside draw and he could prove over the odds at $5. Poetic Dream has continued to receive the lion’s share of interest in early Aurie’s Star Handicap betting and has firmed $6.50 into $5 at the time of publish. The four-year-old showed plenty of ability through his debut preparation in Germany last year and was fair to the line in the Group 3 Autumn Handicap (1400m) in what was his only Australian start to date in autumn. Cult hero Rich Charm is undoubtedly at his best down the Flemington straight he’s good enough to fight into the finish of Aurie’s Star Handicap first-up. Winner of a Group 2 race at this track and distance last spring, the Danerich gelding resumed in autumn for a credible fourth in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1200m) before making up ground late for sixth in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m). He returned to winning form in the Vobis Gold Sprint (1200m) in April and was last seen finishing fourth in the Listed Straight Six (1200m) after missing the start. Group 1 winner I Am A Star ($13) has not been seen at the races in 2018, but she is a horse with immense talent and on that alone, can fight her way into the finish of the Aurie’s Star Handicap. At their best, there’s a case to be made for Chamois Road ($26), Ability ($51) and Camdus ($15).
