The running of the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap marks the start of the new racing season at Flemington this Saturday, August 3rd.
The $200,000 feature often serves as a key lead up for several sprinters eying the Group 1 Memsie Stakes later in the month, and there is a genuine case to be made for a few this year with last-start winners Right To Party, Zarastro, and It’sourtime headlining the betting.
Nine races are set to be run and won at Headquarters, and we’ve provided a tip for each in our preview below!
Evaporate is having his second run back for Team Hayes after resuming on the synthetic at Ballarat a few weeks ago.
The three-year-old by Per Incanto ran on nicely along the rail for second behind Miss Toronado, and has drawn another low gate that should see him settle just off the speed in the early stages.
This is a sharp rise to 1400m, but he was far from disgraced over this journey when finishing midfield in the Group VRC Sires’ here at Headquarters back in March.
On a dry track with Michael Dee experienced in the saddle, the pair rate highly.
Berkshire Breeze has been given another good gap between runs as he steps out in search of a fourth straight win.
The talented grey barely moved a muscle in the Banjo Patterson Final over slightly further here last month, moving up down the outside at the top of the straight to draw clear and win by 4.8 lengths thanks to a perfect steer from Ethan Brown.
After starting odds-on that day, the pair look incredibly tough to beat yet again with the inside gate to their favour and the track on the improved side.
In Her Stride is open to improvement second-up under Ethan Brown.
The daughter of Stratum Star hit the line hard among a wall of horses in the Leilani Final over the track and trip early last month, beaten only a length by Cindy Falls after being slightly held up around the 400m mark.
Her final splits read quite well on paper and she has been given a nice gap between runs in what shapes as a fairly similar race.
Luck hasn’t been on her side here at Headquarters, but drawn well and likely to find an extra gear off less of a turnaround this time, she should be in this for a long way.
Bit of value on offer for Fortunate Kiss on return.
This mare by Divine Prophet has mixed her form over shorter sprinting trips, but she did win quite nicely over 1100m at Bendigo last November before going on to tackle tougher races earlier in the autumn.
Her form around the likes of Revolutionary Miss back in February stacks up nicely for this, while she’s always been a mare that goes well on the fresh side.
Zac Spain gets the steer and based on this girl’s recent jump out, she should be fast into stride from the wide gate.
Le Zebra is one of the more intriguing runners in this race going around on the quick back up.
The lightly-raced four-year-old quickened smartly to win last week over a touch further by a whopping five lengths, Damian Lane pushing the button approaching the 200m mark where the pair raced away.
Back on a dry track and taking on the older horses are the two big question marks, but he did string together two solid victories as a three-year-old last year.
With his runs spaced this prep and fitness now on his side, there should be plenty left in the tank with Lane retaining the ride.
Crosshaven should have plenty of admirers coming off a likeable runner-up effort behind It’soutime in the Santa Ana Lane final early last month.
The seven-year-old by Smart Missile was taken a long way back from the wide gate in the early stages, stalking the winner’s back down the middle of the straight to rattle off a very impressive final 200m split in the end.
His previous win over 1100m was just as impressive after being held up in the run home, and there’s everything to suggest he’s back in career-best form based on those two efforts.
Drawn an inside gate this time with Daniel Stackhouse sticking in the irons, the pair could be just as strong late.
Lauding is a much better horse than his recent return effort at Caulfield over 1700m may suggest.
Ciaron Maher’s stayer had plenty go wrong in the run home when finishing down the order, beaten 7.4 lengths after being held up in traffic approaching the final 100m.
His form last time in work indicates a bounce back could be in order, his form highlighted by back to back wins at The Valley over similar distances, with both producing very likeable form lines since.
Back on a dry deck and over a more suitable trip this time, he should be a likely improver with Ben Melham engaged.
A few of these met a couple of weeks ago in a race that saw Astero give them all a spanking by well over five lengths in the end.
Blake Shinn deserves full marks for the front-running tactics as the pair went forward and made every post a winner on a wet day at Caulfield carrying only 0.5kg less.
This son of Zoustar won’t mind firmer ground on this occasion, and although this is a tougher race with more early speed expected, it’s hard to ignore that extra gear he found at the top of the straight last time out.
Bews has been given a nice six-week gap between runs after making up a stack of ground at Morphettville over the same distance back in June.
The son of I Am Invincible has found it tough to win over the last 12 or so months, but he has drawn a nice gate here under Tom Prebble, who gets in well with the claim carrying 3kg’s less.
Unlike a few others, he’s got a fitness edge and some experience here at Flemington, so if he can settle somewhere off midfield and save find clear air when it matters, he should be making his presence felt.