Another wet day at Flemington awaits on Saturday with some serious black-type racing on offer.
Finals Day features four Listed races, including the $200,000 Winter Championship Final contested over the mile and the Creswick Stakes between the sprinters.
The track is rated a Soft 7 at time of writing, and you can find our race-by-race tips at Headquarters here!
STARS OF DOM (4) gets a crack at Saturday grade still in search of her first win.
The daughter to Exceedance was the beaten favourite a few weeks ago Sandown, passed to fit post-race where she was also squeezed badly between a pair at the top of the straight.
Once clear, she ran on well to grab second and looked to have a bit left to give through the line. Back on another wet deck, she looks set to run a handy race third-up.
| 4. Stars Of Dom (4) J: Craig Williams 55kg 22T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Lining up for just third start. At debut, 2nd of 13 at Sandown-Hillside 2yo F Hcp on May 23 over 1000m, on a slow track; neck behind Divine Dot with 55.5kg at $16. Last start ran on from midfield; 2nd of 7 at Sandown-Hillside 2yo Hcp on June 13 over 1000m, slow going 1.5 len behind Mbube carrying 55.5kg at $2.90. Gets to 1200m now and will be very hard to hold out. | |||
STAR OF MACEDON (3) ticks most of the boxes here third-up in the Taj Rossi Final.
The Zoustar colt has found the cash in all three races he’s contested since debuting in late May and looks close to a win for John Symons and Sheila Laxon.
The form around Obambulate and Vivid Storm two back at Caulfield reads well, while he also made up a stack of ground here at Headquarters last time out in his first go over 1400m.
He has a tendency to blow the start, but if he’s away cleanly and settles in the first half of the field, he looks up to handling the mile with a stack of fitness now on his side.
| 3. Star Of Macedon (7) J: Dylan Dunn 55kg 233T: J G Symons & S Laxon | |||
| Form hard to fault. Last start 3rd of 14 at this track 2yo Hcp on June 20 over 1420m, on a wet track; 1.0 len behind Fontein Jewel carrying 57.5kg at $5. Before that 3rd of 8 at Caulfield 2yo Hcp on May 30 over 1200m, on a wet track; 2.5 len behind Obambulate carrying 58kg at $4. Close to a win. Knocking on the door and up in trip should suit. | |||
FANCIFY (1) might find this a tad easier after contesting the Listed Straight Six and the Gold Topaz at Swan Hill so far this prep.
Ciaron Maher’s mare bolted in late for second just over a month ago in the latter, overcoming a very wide barrier in the run home to finish within half a length of Cripps.
She’s had some awkward barriers to contend with so far but has drawn the rail this time with Harry Coffey hopping back in the saddle. Out to her pet trip now with good form to her name here at Flemington, she should run a nice race if she handles the extra weight.
| 1. Fancify (1) J: Harry Coffey 60kg 38×62T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. Resuming 6th of 14 at this track in the LR Straight Six on May 16 over 1200m, 4 len behind Losesomewinmore carrying 57kg at $17. Second-up made ground from midfield; 2nd of 11 at Swan Hill Gold Topaz on June 5 over 1200m, on a slow track; long-neck behind Cripps with 56kg at $10. Fitter now and making headway. Peaks now and will take catching from the inside gate. | |||
DECALOGUE (1) can win again for Ciaron Maher and connections.
This three-year-old son to Extreme Choice was enormous winning here over 2000m a couple of weeks ago, biding his time nicely mid-race along the rail, before switching up a gear over the final furlong to draw 2.25 lengths clear.
He’s shown an exceptional turn of foot during this recent three-race winning streak and only needs luck to go his way this time from a horror gate to go on with the job. If he can land closer to the speed this time, good luck running him down.
| 1. Decalogue (17) J: Craig Williams 60kg 42111T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| On a three run winning streak. Most recently favourite; raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 2.25 len at this track 3yo Qlty June 20 over 2000m in the wet defeating Our Chief carrying 56kg at $3.40. Before that favourite; ran on from midfield and won by 1.4 len at Randwick 3yo Bm72 June 6 over 2000m in soft going defeating Simply Gold with 56kg at $3.20. Well ridden but too good last time, sets the benchmark again. | |||
DE BERGERAC (2) loves a wet track, as we were all reminded of a couple of weeks ago when he punched clear down the middle to go half a length clear ahead of Recommendation.
The form out of that race has been franked with the third placegetter Winnasedge going on to win at Caulfield last week, and he should be afforded another well-timed run under Daniel Stackhouse despite carrying an extra 4kg in the Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final.
A previously runner-up at Stakes level, this race looks well within his reach considering he was five weeks between runs last time out.
| 2. De Bergerac (7) J: Daniel Stackhouse 58.5kg 96221T: Grahame Begg | |||
| Recent form sound. Most recently won by a long-neck at this track Hcp June 20 over 1100m in soft going defeating Recommendation with 54.5kg at $4.60. Before that 2nd of 14 at this track in the LR Straight Six on May 16 over 1200m, 2 len behind Losesomewinmore carrying 56kg at $2.90. Won key lead up latest and should go close again. | |||
THE WESTERN FRONT (2) is a bit of a straight bat play in a tricky race to try and assess.
The Hayes-trained gelding was well-supported dropping right back to a similar distance here a few weeks ago, overcoming a very wide gate to stick on well for second after racing up on the speed.
He’d probably benefit from a more patient ride this time back closer to midfield, and from a softer gate this time, those tactics should see Daniel Stackhouse go close in the saddle.
| 2. The Western Front (6) J: Daniel Stackhouse 59kg 11612T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Form hard to fault. Last start 2nd of 13 at this track Qlty Hcp on June 20 over 2540m, on rain affected going; 1.3 len behind Vegas Jack carrying 57.5kg at $5.50. The run before that favourite; tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by a nose at Sandown-Lakeside LR Sandown Cup May 31 over 3200m on a rain affected track defeating Zibulon carrying 55kg at $3. Racing well and gets every hope here. | |||
AL DUCA (3) should be hard to beat here with a bit more conditioning on his side.
He crossed and led under Craig Williams over the track and distance a couple of weeks ago off a two-month break, finding the front into the straight before going down narrowly in a blanket finish behind Seafall.
Willo will have less work to do this time having drawn barrier two and his ride is at no disadvantage on another wet track.
| 3. Al Duca (2) J: Craig Williams 57.5kg 21102T: Clayton Douglas | |||
| Most recently held ground to the line 2nd of 11 at this track Davidbourke on June 20 over 1620m, slow going nose behind Seafall with 58.5kg at $4.80. The start before that ran second last of 12 at Bendigo in the LR Golden Mile on May 2 over 1600m, 7 len behind Von Hauke with 57kg at $4.40. Fitter off that and sets up beautifully on speed. | |||
CHAINS OF LOVE (13) looks to have turned a corner now after winning a Highway race quite well at Randwick last time out.
The I Am Invincible filly was fast into stride, finding a stalking position early on before letting down with a big run to go a length clear.
She loved the wet track that day for the first time and was far from disgraced the start prior when 1.6 lengths off Earn To Burn in the Listed QLD Day Stakes.
This is tougher again up in grade, but if she’s around midfield early on and saved for the finish, Jamie Melham should have plenty to work with.
| 13. Chains Of Love (5) J: Jamie Melham 56kg 1×161T: Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich | |||
| At the latest run favourite; won by 1.2 len at Randwick Highway-C3 June 20 over 1200m on a rain affected track defeating Exit Fee with 59kg at $3. The start before that sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 6th of 17 at Eagle Farm in the LR Qld Day on June 6 over 1200m, 1.5 len behind Earn To Burn with 55kg at $8. Comes down here with good form which might just be too strong. | |||
CLEVOR TREVER (1) gets a shot in town now after a pretty decisive win at Sandown two weeks ago where he got the job done right on the line.
Extending his unbeaten streak to four, Patrick Payne’s colt dashed home strongly down the outside after settling midfield, showcasing another dominant turn of foot in his third run back.
He’ll carry top weight on Saturday for his trouble, but he appears incredibly well-placed to go on with it now in a race that doesn’t hold a great amount of depth.
| 1. Clevor Trever (12) J: Billy Egan 60kg 1×111T: Patrick Payne | |||
| Recent form sound. Last start favourite; came from midfield and won by a nose at Sandown-Hillside 3yo Hcp June 13 over 1400m on a soft track defeating Cardamom carrying 58kg at $1.80. Before that favourite; won by 0.8 len at Caulfield 3yo Hcp May 30 over 1400m in the wet defeating Obvious with 55.5kg at $4.80. Very nice colt who will relish a mile, the one to beat. | |||