Racing returns to Headquarters this week where the feature race of the program sees the winner gain automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup in November.
‘White Marlin’ is currently the short-priced favourite at $2.10 to punch his ticket to the Cup where the lightly-raced 5yo Gelding from the Waterhouse & Bott stable is currently a $11.00 favourite in.
18 runners will likely take place in the Listed Andrew Ramsden to be run over 2800min in what looks to be a clear race in two between ‘White Marlin’ and ‘Hezashocker’.
The other headline race on this nine-race program is the Listed Straight Six over the 1200m up the famous Flemington straight, a race where there looks to be a very good bet to be had.
The Brian McGrath-trained ‘D’jumbuck’ is currently the $2.80 favourite in the race to keep his top form this preparation going.
The track is currently rated as a Soft 5 but with dry and fine conditions forecasted leading up to, and including, race day, the track will be rated as a Good 4 with the running rail in the true position.
This will see the Flemington track play quite evenly with the only real disadvantages being up on-pace from inside barriers or settling at the rear of the field from a wide barrier.
Strong confidence in this week’s two best bets and both paying handy prices to ensure a profit if either or both gets up.
While he has not won since 2021 (8 runs since), he looks in as good of shape to chalk up that fourth career win here.
Solid run here at this track and distance first-up two starts back when running 2nd to ‘Sessions Road’ and the form out of that race has been quite solid since with multiple winners coming from it.
Huge run last start coming from the back against the track bias and running the fastest 200m home when running 4th in ‘The Discovery’ at Geelong last start.
Comes into this at peak fitness third-up, draws well in barrier 3, where he will get the gun run behind his main rivals in the race, comes back to Flemington (a win and 4 placings from 7 runs at the track) and gets the in-form Michael Dee aboard for the ride.
Rarely runs a bad race and gets a great chance to get another deserved win on his record.
Quite keen to see what this former French runner does here first-up.
Showed good ability last preparation with multiple solid runs behind the smart ‘Detonator Jack’ and also beating him in one of the three races they clashed.
Steps up in grade for this first-up assignment but as such, gets in very low at the weights with just 53kg on his back.
Gets the in-form Michael Dee aboard for the ride and while the barrier looks a concern, he will settle at the rear anyway and it looks as though they will run this at a very quick tempo, setting it up for a backmarker.
Has plenty of upside and can set himself up for a very good campaign with a win here.
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