2024 VRC Country Race Day Tips & Preview
Group 3 John Hawkes Stakes winner Extremely Lucky rates one of the key chances in Race 5 on Saturday. Photo: Jenny Barnes.

2024 VRC Country Race Day Tips & Preview

A fine day is expected at Flemington on Saturday with nine races on offer.

The track is rated a Good 4 with the rail out 11 metres.

To help you find a few winners, we’ve provided a selection in each race across the meeting at Headquarters below.

Race 1 - 11:50AM Ken Cox Handicap (1420 METRES)
No. 3 Henlein

Open race to start with a few of these two-year-olds presenting a compelling case.

Henlein was an impressive winner on debut at Bendigo two weeks ago over 1300m, angling into the clear approaching the final furlong where he went on to win by more than a length.

Barrier 12 is the main query in this tougher assignment but he does get in carrying 55.5kg under Jye McNeil.

Maps to get a nice cart into the race from midfield and looks to have enough late speed to give this a shake.

Race 2 - 12:25PM Boys to the Bush Community Trophy (2540 METRES)
No. 11 Mirzann

Irish import Mirzann has tested punters’ patience in three starts on Australian soil but does strike a winnable assignment here in his fourth run back.

The four-year-old son of Camelot was twice placed at Caulfield and here at HQ before finishing down the order out to 2000m three weeks ago where he only warmed to the task late.

The form around his first-up run has stacked up with Cadmus going on to win at Sandown last week rather well, and he should be afforded another quality sit up on the speed under Beau Mertens from the inside gate.

Proven over further and capable of handling a wet track, this looks the right race for him to finally break through.

Race 3 - 1:00PM Rod Johnson Handicap (1620 METRES)
No. 5 Craig

Craig is the easy on-top selection here after winning his maiden so well two back at Bendigo on debut.

His overall time that day over 1400m was super impressive, and he certainly lost no admirers running a narrow second to Rise At Dawn two weeks later out to the mile where the slow start likely cost him.

Luke Currie sticking in the saddle is an enormous plus and he draws to get right back in the run again from barrier five.

Third-up, improvement still to come, and likely eying bigger races, confident he just wins.

each way
Race 4 - 1:35PM Bruce Gadsden Handicap (1420 METRES)
No. 8 Jenny Jerome

Jenny Jerome ran on nicely two weeks ago over this track and distance to finish a distant second to the in-form Fancify.

The mare by Churchill was competing off a four-week break that day, so she is open to natural improvement having also drawn a much kinder gate with Billy Egan retaining the ride.

This is slightly tougher, but with a proven track record over the track and distance and a place to her name at both Listed and Group 3 level, she might be over the odds.

Race 5 - 2:10PM 2024 Country Achiever Shane Fliedner (1100 METRES)
No. 3 Extremely Lucky

Extremely Lucky gets his first look at Flemington after finding excuses three weeks ago at Caulfield over the same distance.

Still lightly-raced for a five-year-old, the son of Extreme Choice was too far back to score under Declan Bates, but he did make up enormous ground off a slow start to finish a length third.

A first-up win at Group 3 level at Morphettville really stands out on his resume before he found the rise in class in The Goodwood a little too much.

Draws a handy gate with Blake Shinn taking over and his usual turn of foot should be on full display.

Race 6 - 2:45PM The David Bourke (1620 METRES)
No. 6 King Of The Castle

King Of The Castle gets out to the mile third-up after finding genuine excuses a few weeks ago at Randwick on a bottomless track.

Joe Pride’s gelding is having his first look at Flemington and does appear suited back on a dryer track after being held up badly in the run home.

Four wins from nine attempts over 1600m makes for easy reading and he should be able to save something for the finish under Blake Shinn.

each way
Race 7 - 3:25PM VRC-CRV Trophy (1420 METRES)
No. 4 Tijuana

Interesting set up for Tijuana coming back to 1400m after two starts over the mile.

The track conditions tested him last start in the Swan Hill Cup, but happy to go off his previous effort when a distant third to the smart Hard To Cross at Sandown.

Likes a bit of sting out of the track and has ran well on a number of occasions over this track and distance.

Just needs luck from out wide to play a factor with good fitness on his side.

Race 8 - 4:00PM Brian Beattie Handicap (2000 METRES)
No. 1 Lady In Pink

Lady In Pink is the in-form three-year-old in search of her hat-trick.

The Corstens-trained filly had a huge task ahead of her last start over the track and distance, settling in the back half of the field before exploding with a run at the 200m mark to draw clear.

Has another wide gate to contend with but does get in well with the claim, carrying just one extra kilo.

Looks likely to appreciate 2000m again and is more than capable of going on with the job on a soft track.

each way
Race 9 - 4:35PM VRC Country Race Day Sprint (1100 METRES)
No. 4 Links

Links has had her runs spaced but continues to race well, finding the money in four of her last five starts.

Ciaron Maher’s filly ran on late to just miss out on a place last start over the track and distance, tactics Celine Gaudray will have to adopt from barrier 14 on Saturday.

She loves to get back and stalk the pace, so the wide gate might help her save something for the finish.

Likes a wet track, has fitness on her side and can run well in a very open race to wrap up the day.