Start your weekend with our Saturday best bets, highlighting the key runners across the nine-race Flemington card!
TRUE REBEL (2) should be one of the hardest to beat for Danny O’Brien.
An impressive winner second-up at Geelong, the son to Rebel Dane ate into the margin at Caulfield a couple of weeks ago for second in behind Mister Whiskers, who went like a bat out of hell in front and led all the way for a narrow win.
True Rebel ate in the margin massively over the final 100m, so the extra trip plus the 1.5kg relief in the saddle is a big plus with Shinn taking over for the Moonee Valley Vase.
| 2. True Rebel (3) J: Blake Shinn 57kg 312 T: Danny O’brien |
ANGELS FURY (3) looks ready to return in a big way for Ciaron Maher.
The filly to Harry Angel is two-from-three to start her career, winning a 2YO race at Caulfield back in July where she was up close to the speed early and simply too good in the run home.
She was caught in a pocket in a recent jump out at Cranbourne but quickly rounded up the field, letting down with a serious turn of foot to go clear along the outside.
Drawn a low gate with only 57kg on her back, she should be doing her best work late again under Ethan Brown.
| 3. Angels Fury (1) J: Ethan Brown 57kg 9x11x T: Ciaron Maher |
EXTRAGALACTIC (8) has been given a solid four-week gap since her runner-up effort in the Manikato Stakes in behind Jimmysstar.
The Deep Field mare was midfield early before clicking into gear around the 800m mark, patiently waiting for a gap to open along the rail, only for the winner to get the better of her wider out.
Her first-up run in the Moir Stakes at Sandown was equally likable, overcoming some early traffic to run fourth in a race that has produced some good form lines with the runner-up Cavalry Girl going on to win last week’s Caulfield Sprint.
With fresher legs and James McDonald sticking in the irons, this girl ticks some important boxes third-up in the McEwen Stakes 2026.
| 8. Extragalactic (7) J: James McDonald 56.5kg 22×42 T: Trent Edmonds |
AELIANA (10) in the big one.
This is the race she’s always been aimed at coming off two solid place efforts behind Autumn Glow and Cosmic Crusader respectively, the latter coming in the Turnbull Stakes where she faced a very wet deck and was only seen doing her best work over the final 50m or so.
With a run under her belt now over 2000m and the barrier likely forcing James McDonald into more of a forward position, she should be prominent early and tough to run down when it counts.
| 10. Aeliana (10) J: James McDonald 57kg 1×023 T: Chris Waller |