Saturday Racing Tips - Flemington 08/03/25

There is plenty of strength in depth on Saturday afternoon at Flemington with lots of quality on show. The All-Star Mile with see the return clash between Mr Brightside and Another Wil and is going to take most of the interest. The Newmarket Handicap is a typically competitive renewal and it looks like a good spot to find a roughie in the big field. That is exactly what we have done with the horse racing bookmakers currently pricing our selection up at odds of $15.00.

(Note: Odds provided by bet365)

Selections:
#1 Mr Brightside (NEXT BEST) - $2.50
#4 Another Wil - $2.80
#2 Tom Kitten - $5.00
#6 Rise At Dawn - $17.00

BEST BET - #1 Mr Brightside - (BEST BET)
Found that Another Wil had a better turn of foot than him late on over 1400m in the Orr Stakes at Caulfield. There was no disgrace in that, beating Tom Kitten over the same track and distance last time out in the Futurity Stakes. This smaller field means he has fewer runners to cross to sit close to the speed than he had to in either of those races which is going to be a plus for him. The winner of this race two years back and second last year, he can take out another running on Saturday.

THE DANGER - #4 Another Wil
Got a first Group 1 win on his resume in style when running down Mr Brightside at Caulfield. That will give his fans plenty of hope that he is the one that they have to beat again. He won the only prior time that he has run over this track and distance but that was only a Bm84. He has made two starts in Group 1 company over 1600m in the Doncaster last season and the Toorak in the spring. On both occasions, he could only finish seventh which gives him a little bit to prove over the suitability of this distance at the top level for now.

VALUE BET - #2 Tom Kitten
Put in a remarkable run in the Futurity to almost nail Mr Brightside on the line. He has a slightly better record on his first start of a prep than his second so he does need to back that run up. Two runs at Flemington have seen him fail to finish in the first three. They came in January and March of 2023 so connections would appear to have been avoiding the track with him. Interesting that they bring him back now given his most recent run but that makes him more of a frame choice.

Selections:
#1 Tresurethe Moment (BEST BET) - $1.65
#6 Cilacap - $7.50
#2 Another Prophet - $17.00
#8 Too Darn Lizzie - $10.00

BEST BET - #1 Treasurethe Moment - (BEST BET)
One of the top and most versatile three-year-old fillies in the country. She arrives off the back of five straight wins, ending her spring prep in the 2500m VRC Oaks at this track and resuming in the 1400m Armanasco at Caulfield. Six wins in eight career starts so far is a figure that is only going to rise given her talent. Good ground is perfect for her, she is 2/2 when running at Flemington and the rise in distance out to 1600m can only be a good thing! Very hard to beat if she runs to the same level again.

THE DANGER - #6 Cilacap
Finished third on her race debut but has won all three subsequent starts. The most recent of those was a Listed contest over 1400m at this track. That was on a much softer surface than she is going to get here but her best work was hitting the line so she is going to enjoy the extra 200m on offer. She has a win on good ground so conditions are not expected to be a negative for her. Limited miles on the clock and she has made a good jump forward with each run. She can do the same again.

VALUE BET - #2 Another Prophet
Was well beaten in the Listed race that Cilacap won here last time out. That is now four starts on soft ground without making it into the first three across the line. The move back onto a sound surface is a big plus for her. A return to 1600m would also look to be a positive, winning the 1000 Guineas at Caulfield when she last ran over this distance. She finished second in a Group 3 the only time that she has run over this track and distance together. A step up on that is required to win but she holds fair place claims at a roughie price.

Selections:
#5 Joliestar - $5.50
#7 Growing Empire - $7.50
#12 Headwall (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY) - $15.00
#6 Rey Magnerio - $9.00

BEST BET - #5 Joliestar - (BEST BET)
Won the 1000 Guineas at Caulfield in November 2023 but her best form since has come when dropped back to sprint trips. She was only beaten a length and a half in the Everest last October and there is nothing of that sort of quality to race against here. Beaten just over half a length in the Expressway on her first start of this prep was actually a touch disappointing given she was 3/4 when first-up going into the race. It was still a solid run and she is more than capable of taking out a second Group 1.

THE DANGER - #7 Growing Empire
Was well below par on his first start of this prep in the Lightning. The blinkers that he wore that day are swiftly removed and he is a perfect 2/2 when second-up so far in his career. The return to 1200m should be a big plus for him, finishing in front of Joliestar in the Everest. He has not quite hit that level of form in three starts at Flemington so he can only be the danger here rather than the top pick. Despite that, it would not be a surprise to anyone if he saluted.

VALUE BET - #12 Headwall
Was fairly unconsidered by punters in the Oakleigh Plate last time out at $26. Despite that, he ran a huge race to finish fourth, especially given that he got stopped in his run at a crucial time in the straight. That is not to say that he would have beaten the winner but he was only 2.35l behind at the line so certainly would have finished at least third which was the spot occupied by Rey Magnerio. This five-year-old looks to be a late bloomer so could have a little better still to come.

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It is only a partial book of rides for Zahra but the prices on the betting sites suggest that he should be in the mix at the business end on a number of them. Rise At Dawn probably lacks the class for an All-Star Mile at this stage of his career but he is one of the most interesting that Zahra will be on. He is also the biggest odds that Zahra has on Saturday.

R2 - #1 - Gin Spirit - $4.60
R3 - #10 - Wolfy - $5.00
R5 - #3 - Vinrock - $4.20
R6 - #3 - Middle Earth - $5.00
R7 - #6 - Rise At Dawn - $17.00
R9 - #7 - Growing Empire - $7.50

It is an outstanding card at Flemington on Saturday afternoon. It is almost impossible to see the first two picks not at least getting placed. Then it will all be down to the roughie getting the gaps from the back when he needs them in the final 200m to try and round things off.

R7 - #1 - Mr Brightside - PLC $1.54
R8 - #1 - Treasurethe Moment - PLC $1.15
R9 - #12 - Headwall - PLC $4.25

Total Odds = $7.53
$50 Stake = $376.34 Return!

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1st: 1, 2, 4, 6

2nd: 1, 2, 4, 6

3rd: 1, 2, 4, 6

$50 stake = 208% flexi