Nine races have been assembled this Saturday at Flemington.
Fine weather throughout the week sees the track rated a Good 4 with the rail currently out 8m across the circuit.
We’ve cast our eyes over the entire program and share our thoughts on all nine races in the hope of finding a few winners.
Markdel hasn’t put a foot wrong during his brief three-start career for Team Freedman.
The Snitzel colt resumed in terrific order at Sandown last month when beaten just over three lengths by Blue Renegade, chasing hard over the final 200m where he just lacked the fitness over the final stages.
He took big improvement into his next start at Bendigo over the 1100m trip, held up on a number of occasions before missing out narrowly to Grinzinger Pod.
Fitter now and likely to peak third-up, he should prove very strong in the run home from a nice low draw.
Hard to knock the resume Moor Mumm has put together of late.
Dan O’Sullivan was absolutely humming coming into her latest assignment here at Flemington where she was denied half a length after making up a stack of ground from the tail of the field.
The Astern mare made it a hat-trick of wins three weeks earlier when prevailing narrowly from a wide gate over much shorter, and now gets her chance to bounce back with the apprentice claim put to good use.
Drawn a much better gate and already proven over 1400m, she looks to hard to fault.
Big watch on the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr trained Batoka Chief second-up.
We saw this boy come out and win by more than two lengths on debut at Pakenham over the mile just over a month ago under Luke Currie, given a perfect 10/10 steer off the speed where he simply proved too good in the run home.
Armed with a big turn of foot and capable of winning better races, this son of Sacred Falls could be one of the main dangers in the late stages if Damian Lane has him in the right spot.
Happy to take the price on offer for the American import Quantum Cat.
Chris Waller has had this import improving with each start since arriving on Australian soil back in April, charging from the tail at Randwick a couple of weeks ago where he was denied just under a quarter-of-a-length by Casual Connection on a slightly wet track.
Draws to do no work from the low gate and did wrap up his prep last year with back to back wins over this journey. Probably wins if he’s saved for late under Damian Lane.
Zambezi Khan drops back a level with the inside gate at her disposal.
We last saw this filly out of the Patrick Payne yard go around in the Fillies Classic at Morphettville earlier last month where she was brave up on the speed finishing runner-up to Positivity.
Her previous effort saw her place over 2000m at Caulfield, form that has held up nicely since.
How she handles the step back in trip remains to be seen, but there’s a case to be made for her each-way with Billy Egan retaining the ride.
Open race between the stayers with a few of these looking a serious chance.
Virtuous Circle hasn’t won in some time but did show some improvement out wide over the mile last start to suggest he might be wanting further.
His previous effort first-up at Caulfield was equally impressive, charging the line late to finish down the order with plenty left to give.
The gate makes this tricky for Ethan Brown, but on class alone, I think he can run a big race here at each-way odds.
Right To Party has placed in tougher races than this over the last six or so months.
The Freedman-trained filly ran an eye-catching third in the Twilight Glow to wrap up her spring prep at Caulfield last December, returning off a lengthy spell a month ago at Morphettville where she got a long way back and charged late for second in the Proud Miss Stakes.
Strikes another dry track and needs luck from the gate, but does appeal at nice odds providing she handles the drop back in trip.
Rheinberg has had his runs spaced since returning to the races back in March at Ballarat.
The Hayes-trained Kiwi import has found the money in two of his four starts so far, weakening in his final few strides at Sandown a fortnight ago after fighting hard to find the front over the final furlong.
Daniel Stackhouse has a good feel for the five-year-old by Swiss Ace and will likely adopt similar tactics off the speed from another low gate.
Taking a flyer on William Thomas in a very tricky race to wrap up the day.
It’s been a long time in between drinks for the nine-year-old war horse – over 215 weeks to be exact – but he has shown plenty of late speed in recent runs at Sandown to be considered.
Joe Price is yet to see him win in 17 starts here at Flemington, but he does love the 1200m trip and carries just 55kg with a jockey yet to be named.
The wide gate might aid him to get back early and after charging late over 1000m last start, he looks primed and ready to run a big race.