ANZAC Day form, odds and free tips for Flemington, April 25
THE VRC St Leger is the feature race this ANZAC Day and we have form, odds and free tips for all eight races on the card at Flemington.
12 up-and-coming distance horses will line up for the $200,000 prize in what should be a competitive feature on a great day of racing at Flemington.
Included on the undercard is the ANZAC Day Stakes, the William Newton Handicap and the LT Peter Armytage Handicap which features some talented stayers including Assign, Hans Holbein and New Zealand stayer Rock On.
The day starts with the Long Tan Handicap at 1pm where an even betting field has been presented and punters can get triple rewards points with CrownBet for racing at Flemington on Tuesday.
Race 1 – Long Tan Handicap (1800m)
Tom Melbourne has been one of the most disappointing runners this campaign, but it has attracted plenty of support in the betting. The Freedman-trained gelding finished 10th in the Australian Cup behind Humidor and it never got into the race. Flemington has been a happy hunting ground for Tom Melbourne in the past with four starts for one win and two placings, so punters prepared to take the $3.40 on offer will enjoy that statistic.
Real Love is a quality stayer which has won 10 from 30 starts. The Darren Weir-trained mare didn’t fire in the Queen of the Turf behind Foxplay, but its form prior was solid with a fourth in the Blamey Stakes. The six-year-old gets in well on the weights at 57kg after the apprentice claim from Mitchell Aitken and it’s also a past winner at Flemington. Bookies have it safe in the market at $4.80 and it should go close.
Race 1 tip: Real Love to win ($4.80) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 2 – LT Peter Armytage Handicap (2500m)
Rock On is a talented New Zealand-trained runner which ran well last start in the Chairman’s at Randwick. The John Sargent-trained gelding finished only 2.8 lengths behind Sydney Cup placegetter Big Duke and that should be the best form to follow. It won the NZ St Leger over this distance only two starts back and dropping down in weight to 54kg is ideal for this. It opened at $3 and has drifted to $3.30, but consider as a strong winning hope.
The easing favourite is Hans Holbein which couldn’t muster behind Boom Time last start at Caulfield. The Robert Hickmott-trained gelding has had three starts at Caulfield for no wins or placings, but it won its only start at this distance and its 3.5-length win over subsequent winner Richard Of Yorke was full of class. It’s currently $2.60 with bookmakers.
Race 2 tip: Rock On to win ($3.30) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 3 – William Newton Handicap (1400m)
That Rings A Bell has been well-supported into $6 after showing some promise in its first campaign. The Danny O’Brien-trained three-year-old was a 4.25-length winner at Sandown three starts back and it finished off strongly for fifth last start. The daughter of So You Think drops right down in weight to 54kg with Damian Lane in the saddle and the $6 could be worth taking.
Petition is a talented filly which was well backed when winning at Geelong last start. The Freedman-trained daughter of Foxwedge scored by 3.25 lengths against an inferior field to what it faces here, but its third in the Twilight Glow Stakes will be a strong form guide for this. Craig Williams is a good jockey to have in the saddle and there has been plenty of money on the $2.30.
Race 3 tip: Petition to win ($2.30) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 4 – ANZAC Day Stakes (1400m)
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Merchant Navy looks to have a bright future ahead of it after scoring back-to-back wins to start its career. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt scored a 1.75-length win at Pakenham to being proceedings before scoring a tough win from in front at Sandown last start. Punters should expect similar tactics from the two-year-old in the ANZAC Day Stakes and the majority of the field has yet to win a race. $2.25 with bookmakers.
Speed Street will be tough to beat after its win at Bendigo. The Waterhouse/Bott-trained colt didn’t have an easy run after being caught wide throughout, but it was strong late and the form out of that race has stood up nicely. Bookmakers have it steady in the betting at $5 and we expect that price to stay steady.
Race 4 tip: Merchant Navy to win ($2.25) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 5 – Kokada Track Handicap (1600m)
It’s tough to go against the form of Single Note after it has rattled off four consecutive wins. The Robbie Griffiths-trained mare started its winning streak at Pakenham with a win over Jocasta and it set the pace last start to kick strongly in the straight at Sandown. It’s a four-year-old in the form of its life and punters should consider the $5.50 on offer.
Miles Of Krishan flashed home late when second at Mornington last time out and it usually improves with the run under its belt. The Greg Eurell-trained mare has won and placed in two starts second up and its form last campaign is good for this. It finished fifth in the Summoned Stakes behind Silent Sedition and that form has been franked at the highest level. The weight is good and the odds on offer are value.
Race 5 tip: Miles Of Krishan to win ($5) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 6 – VRC St Leger (2800m)
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Lycurgus produced a big finish to score in the Galilee Final last start at Caulfield and it looks primed for this. The O’Brien-trained gelding scored a one-length win after settling well back throughout the run and the rise in distance worked wonders. It goes up another 400m for this which shouldn’t be a problem and it’s only the poor weather forecast which would stop it. $4.20 with bookmakers.
Rock And Swing comes over from Sydney after running fifth in the Packer Plate behind Mongolian Wolf. The James Cummings-trained three-year-old was putting in its best work late which suggests this distance shouldn’t be of concern and this looks easier than its recent starts. It has come up against the likes of Foxplay and Jon Snow, so facing a field of only moderate types will help. Value runner at $7.50 and it will handle any track.
Race 6 tip: Rock And Swing to win ($7.50) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 7 – Auckland Racing Club Trophy (1600m)
Milwaukee was a strong winner in the Bendigo Guineas and that form has since been franked. It managed to beat Sword Of Light by over two lengths and it has subsequently scored an easy win at Caulfield on Saturday. The Michael Moroney-trained gelding is untried at this distance, but it should set them up in front and provide a good kick in the straight. It opened at $3.80 and has drifted slightly to $4.
Egg Tart has attracted support at $4.60 after scoring three straight wins coming into this. The Chris Waller-trained filly was impressive when scoring by three lengths at Warwick Farm on a heavy track and conditions won’t be too dissimilar for this. Waller has it ticking over nicely and it turned down an easier race to line up in this. $4.60 on offer for punters.
Race 7 tip: Milwaukee to win ($4) at Bet365.com
Race 8 – RSL Handicap (1200m)
Boomwaa is a consistent sprinter which looked to have the race parceled up last start. The Henry Dwyer-trained gelding was run down by Miss Gunpowder over the concluding stages at Caulfield, but it runs best at this track and it’s due a winning turn. Look for Boomwaa to set the pace and kick strongly at odds of $6.50 after opening earlier in the week at $5.50.
Camdus has won and placed in two starts fresh up and it should be considered here. The Weir-trained gelding is a four-time winner at this distance and it has form around some nice types over the 1200m. It defeated Badajoz at Flemington last year and it gets in well on the weights after Ben Allen’s apprentice claim. Each way chance at $6.
Race 8 tip: Camdus to place ($2.20) at Sportsbet.com.au