Blamey Stakes form, odds and free tips, Flemington March 18
ALL of the attention might be on Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill, but Flemington hosts a quality support card which includes the Blamey Stakes.
Darren Weir lines up four in the seven-horse field, which includes Black Heart Bart. The six-year-old has looked impressive winning its last two starts and it will be one of the most popular runners for punters this Saturday.
The March Stakes is also on the cards and it provides punters with a wide open betting affair. The big field of 16 line up and it promises to be one of the most exciting races at Flemington.
The day starts with the Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour Trophy which could give punters an early boost for the card ahead.
Race 1 – Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour Trophy (1200m)
Shakespearean Lass is a capable type which mixes its form. The Pat Carey-trained five-year-old didn’t have much luck in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate last start and it should find this much more to its liking. Good draw for the straight and it will likely use the front-running bias to its advantage.
Catch A Fire finished fourth last start, but it finished under a length from the winner. The Lindsay Park-trained mare has been costly for punters this season, but there’s no denying its talent and it could notch its first top three finish at Flemington from five starts. Consider off the inside draw at odds of $4.60.
Tykiato has rattled off three consecutive victories this preparation and it must be included. The John Price-trained mare defeated the talented Lyuba last start which should be good form for this. This is another rise in class, but consider at an each way price.
Race 1 tip: Catch A Fire to win ($4.60) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 2 – VRC Thanks Greg Miles Trophy (1400m)
Bastille hasn’t looked tested in two runs to date and it looks ready for this grade. The Lindsay Park-trained colt scored by over five lengths on debut before winning by 2.75 lengths last start. It faces some nice types here, but consider at odds of $3.50 after opening at $3.60.
Theanswerismyfriend was heavily supported last start, but it had no peace in front and finished second. The Robert Smerdon-trained gelding was only narrowly caught on the line by Mr Sneaky and it should appreciate another chance in this. $2.15 is a short price, but it looks a good early bet.
Flying Jess was a last start winner of the Magic Millions Guineas and punters are getting $7. The John Moloney-trained filly caused the upset at odds of $101 at the Gold Coast and it should be considered for this. It opened at a higher quote so punters are confident.
Race 2 tip: Theanswerismyfriend to win (+110) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 3 – Baden Racing Trophy (1100m)
Leotie is the drifting favourite after opening at $4.20. The Henry Dwyer-trained filly is now paying $4.50 which is a good price considering its top form last campaign. Dwyer stated that this run will be akin to a trial, but it has the class to overcome its issues.
Sword Of Light produced a big late finish to run third at Flemington last start and it looks a nice chance in this. The Ellerton/Zahra-trained filly finished third in the Tranquil Star Stakes at Caulfield and that form should take it a long way. The $7 is a good price from bookmakers.
Kentucky Miss didn’t fire fresh up when eighth, but its form at the end of its last campaign was good enough to be considered. It won on this track in September and it’s twice a winner at this distance. It could make good use of the inside barrier.
Race 3 tip: Leotie to win ($4.50) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 4 – TBV Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m)
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Arctic Angel is a classy type which was only gathered in late last start. The locally-trained filly finished second in the Sweet Embrace on a heavy track and it will be better suited back on the dry for this. It has a nice draw and the bookmakers support at $3.50.
Ploverset caused an upset when beating stablemate Madeenaty in the Festival Stakes on debut and there’s no reason why it can’t repeat that effort. The Lindsay Park-trained filly settled back and sprinted impressively to score, which will likely be the tactics adopted again. $6 with bookmakers.
Garrard scored a maiden win last start and its form prior came behind some nice types. The Busuttin/Young-trained filly finished second behind Catchy on debut before running second behind Houtzen at Doomben. That’s credible form for this and $4.20 is worth taking.
Race 4 tip: Garrard to win ($4.20) at Bet365.com
Race 5 – Incognitus Blamey Stakes (1600m)
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Black Heart Bart is the star runner of the field after taking out the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes and the Group 1 Futurity Stakes. The Weir-trained gelding has yet to win in two starts at Flemington, but it’s running in career best form and it will be at the top of many punters selections. It’s currently paying $2.20 for the win.
Tosen Stardom is a high class stablemate to Black Heart Bart which produced a great effort last start. The Japanese-bred six-year-old gets the weight advantage over the favourite and it is twice a winner second up. It will likely start as the second favourite and run accordingly.
Darren Weir dominates the lineup and Palentino could help him secure the trifecta. The four-year-old has only been fair this preparation, but Weir is expecting more and it returns to its favourite track where it has won three times. $5 is far too short, but consider for the place.
Race 5 tip: Black Heart Bart to win (+120) at Luxbet.com
Race 6 – New York Racing Grand Handicap (2000m)
Four-year-old gelding Hursley didn’t get the best of rides from Joao Moreira last week, but punters shouldn’t drop it just yet. The Waller-trained runner had no room along the inside of runners and only saw daylight late in the piece. The rise in weight and wide draw makes it tough here, but consider at $3.
Wheal Leisure is a winner of two from four starts and it wasn’t far away in the Tasmanian Oaks last start. The Archie Alexander-trained filly drops right down in weight to 53kg which is a massive bonus and it could be worth some thought at $7.
Gervais has been backed in from $7 to $6.50 following a last start placing. The Danny O’Brien-trained runner is a model of consistency which has yet to finish outside the top three at Flemington. Ben Allen takes a vital 1.5kg off its back and it shouldn’t be left out.
Race 6 tip: Hursley to win ($3) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 7 – York Racecourse Grand Handicap (1200m)
Chateau Cheval capped off some consistent form with a win last time out at Sandown. The Lindsay Park-trained mare was running at midweek level and this is a fair rise in class, but it goes well at this distance with three wins and it drops nicely in weight. It’s dropping in the market at $4 after opening at $4.20.
There’s plenty of hype around Verstappen and it will run at nice odds of $6 here. The O’Brien-trained gelding almost got the win at Moonee Valley last start and the bigger Flemington track will help it wind up. It’s a three-year-old with talent and looms as a top each way hope.
Boomwaa has won only two races from 30 starts, which is incredible given its talent. The Dwyer-trained gelding runs well on this track and at this distance, but it went close last time out and Beau Mertens takes weight off its back.
Race 7 tip: Verstappen to win ($6) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 8 – Goodwood Racecourse March Stakes (1400m)
Hellova Street is a quality Tasmanian gelding which has beaten two nice types recently. The six-year-old finished second behind Burning Front at Caulfield three starts back and it looks a top chance to notch its first Melbourne win at odds of $4.80.
Stellar Collision returned to form with back-to-back wins and another could be on the horizon. The Weir-trained gelding is a confidence runner and punters should be confident that it can produce another tidy effort. It drops in weight to 54kg and looks a winning chance.
Hazzabeel is an inconsistent type which could offer punters some value in this. The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding won four starts back, but has been disappointing at its last two starts. It could improve quickly and run well at odds of $10.
Race 8 tip: Hellova Street to win (+380) at Bet365.com
Race 9 – The Curragh Grand Handicap (1600m)
Portman was beaten on its merits last start, but take nothing away from its form this campaign. The O’Brien-trained gelding has yet to finish out of the money in four starts on this track and despite rising in weight, it could find this an easier target. The $3.60 suggests it could return to the winners circle.
War Legend was an easy winner at Sandown last start and it didn’t finish far away from them in two starts at Flemington prior to that. The four-year-old handles all track conditions and the apprentice claim of Jake Bayliss brings it into contention.
I Boogi is a midweek type which has enough talent to win with the light weight. The four-year-old is unbeaten in two starts at this distance and it defeated the highly-touted Ruthven last time out. It looks a good chance at $7 after opening at $7.50.
Race 9 tip: Portman to win ($3.60) at Ladbrokes.com.au