The biggest week in Australian thoroughbred racing launches at Flemington on Derby Day!
Three talent-packed Group 1 features headline the program, but all nine races are outstanding, and you can find my complete 2022 Derby Day Tips below!
The Carbine Club Stakes is the perfect race for Tijuana.
Tijuana has been a great horse this time in and boasts some terrific form lines for something like this.
Having run third behind Jacquinot and Aft Cabin in the McNeil Stakes when resuming, the American Pharaoh colt was excellent when winning the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, and he performed admirably for fifth in the Neds Caulfield Guineas last time out.
He’s rock-hard fit and will love getting back to Flemington.
A few gallopers are chasing the final Melbourne Cup berth that goes on the line in the Lexus Archer, including Alegron.
Alegron has proven to be a great horse for Godolphin throughout the last couple of seasons, and he managed to strike in the Group 3 Kingston Town at Randwick two starts back.
He finished down the order in the Caulfield Cup last time, but fitter third-up and back to Flemington, I think that he’ll be right in the finish again.
This is an excellent edition of the Rising Fast Stakes and I think that a horse like General Beau can have an impact at a lovely price ($10 at publish).
I’ve been a fan of this horse since his two-year-old season, and while he hasn’t quite managed to realise his early Group 1 potential, he has still returned some excellent performances.
Having filled the minors in the William Reid and the Tobin Bronze most notably in autumn, the Brazen Beau entire returned to finish a credible fourth in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes earlier this month.
His second-up record is excellent, and we can have an each way play at the price.
It has been an excellent Oaks form reference in the last few years and As Time Goes By is the one for me in the Wakeful Stakes this year.
As Time Goes By returned to the races to finish second, beaten a head at Sandown in September and was last seen finishing fifth behind the talented She’s Licketysplit in the Group 2 Edward Manifold.
She has always given the indication she’d be better at something over this trip and Ben Melham has options from the rails draw.
Turaath was outstanding second-up in the Black Pearl Stakes and she can continue her rise through the grades in the Linlithgow Stakes.
The Oasis Dream mare has been a great horse for the Maddie Raymond yard since arriving in Australia, and she is now a multiple Stakes winner.
She loves Flemington, she loves 1400m and she’s drawn to receive a dream run under British hoop William Buick.
I’m also going to have a small each way play on Sinawann.
He hasn’t quite been back to his brilliant best this time in, but Sinawann has stripped fitter for a few decent efforts, and he was last seen finishing fourth in the Neds Moonga Stakes.
He steps out this week in peak order and could prove to be a touch of overs at his current price ($12 at publish).
A typically smart and open field will contest this year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes, the first of three Group 1 features on Derby Day!
I’ve put Jacquinot on top, but check out my full race preview and complete 2022 Coolmore Stud Stakes Tips RIGHT HERE.
$2 million goes on the line when a quality field of three-year-old stayers steps out in the Derby!
I’ve put Kiwi raider Mr Maestro on top of my selections, but you can find my full race preview and 2022 Victoria Derby Tips RIGHT HERE.
Wednesday’s botched barrier draw is thankfully behind us, and it’s all system go for the Empire Rose!
I’ve put Nimalee on top, but you can find my complete 2022 Empire Rose Stakes Tips RIGHT HERE.
Asfoora was nothing short of outstanding in the Caulfield Sprint, and she can record another win in the last on Derby Day.
The Henry Dwyer-trained mare has recorded two wins from her three starts back this time, but her most recent performance was amongst the best of her career to date.
She steps out this week in peak order and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.