Flemington best bets & quaddie tips | January 1, 2023
| What | Flemington Races |
| Where | Flemington Racecourse – 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington, VIC 3031 |
| When | Sunday, January 1, 2023 |
| First Race | 1:10pm AEDT |
The traditional New Year’s Day meeting at Flemington greets punters on the first day of 2023 on Sunday where an eight-race card is scheduled. A scorching summer’s day is forecast for Melbourne with a top of 35 expected, so it might be worth following runners with fitness on their side throughout the day. The track is rated a Good 4, whilst the rail comes out 4m the entire circuit for the program.
The day of racing gets underway at 1:10pm AEDT.
Chester Manifold Stakes Top Tip: Looks Like Elvis
The Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) is the first of two Stakes events on Sunday, and we are happy to side with Looks Like Elvis. The Jarrod Austin-trained eight-year-old has been placed seven times from 12 starts at Stakes level without being able to breakthrough, but we anticipate he will do so on Sunday. He gains the services of Brett Prebble and will be looking to bounce back from an unlucky run at Pakenham last time out. He is a horse that needs clear air to build through his gears which he should get on the weekend from barrier eight. With Pal D’oro, Corner Pocket, Holbein and Crosshaven all looking to set the tempo, Looks Like Elvis is sure to appreciate the genuine tempo over 1400m. Armed with a strong turn of foot under Prebble, Looks Like Elvis should prove too hard to hold out.
Chester Manifold Stakes
Race 6 – 
#4 Looks Like Elvis (8)
8yo Gelding | T: Jarrod Austin | J: Brett Prebble (58kg)
Bagot Handicap Top Tip: Regal Lion
Annabel Neasham is set to bring Regal Lion back down to Melbourne for the first time since his win at Sandown second-up this campaign where he looks a great bet in the Listed Bagot Handicap. The four-year-old gelding has been racing consistently without breaking through and we expect that to chance when he gets to Flemington. He is a runner who wants it as firm as possible, which he gets here and with the booking of Jamie Kah from barrier 12 is sure to be given every opportunity throughout. Armed with a blistering turn of foot for a stayer, he is sure to appreciate the tempo set by race favourite Persan. When asked for an effort, Regal Lion should ultimately outstay his rivals and bring up a first black-type win.
Bagot Handicap
Race 7 – 
#3 Regal Lion (12)
4yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Jamie Kah (56kg)
Best Bet at Flemington: Vermentino
Vermentino comes to the Flemington 1100m on the back of consecutive Sandown 1200m victories to begin this campaign and looks a clear best bet of the day. The four-year-old has a racing pattern which is hard to knock as he wants to find the front, dictate terms and kick clear when asked for an effort. That could be a huge advantage for him as he steps back to the 1100m, a trip he won at on debut over 12 months ago at Hamilton. He is third-up from a 50-week spell which should mean he is approaching peak fitness and with a repeat effort of what we have seen so far, Vermentino should be leading throughout and bringing up a fourth win in as many starts.
Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#6 Vermentino (3)
4yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Ben Melham (57.5kg)
Next Best at Flemington: Belle Et Riche
Mitchell Freedman brings his consistent four-year-old mare Belle Et Riche to Flemington for the first time where she looks poised to strike. Having not finished outside of the top three in any of her seven career starts, the Rich Enuff mare will be looking to bring up a third win. She brings exceptional form to this BM70 for the girls having been the best of the beaten brigade behind Hypothetical at Ballarat and the subsequently Stakes-placed Life Lessons. Jordan Childs sticks on board and considering he has been onboard for both her wins; she looks a clear top selection in the third event of the day. Look for her to be in the second half of the field and with a genuine tempo expected, we anticipate Belle Et Riche will sprint up the best and ultimately prove too hard to hold out.
Next Best
Race 3 – 
#1 Belle Et Riche (10)
4yo Mare | T: Mitchell Freedman | J: Jordan Childs (60kg)
Best Value at Flemington: Magnaspin
The Leon & Troy Corstens-trained Magnaspin could do no better than an eighth-place finish in a BM70 over 1200m here at Flemington last time out, but we expect him to improve dramatically back around the bend. The three-year-old colt returned with a narrow defeat at Bendigo on November 9, before coming out and just getting the bob in as a $1.30 favourite at Geelong on November 22 over 1543m. Getting back around the bend should only be beneficial and considering he was narrowly beaten by Quang Tri and Kings Consort at Stakes Level, he certainly has the class to take this out. From barrier one, we expect John Allen to have him trailing the leaders throughout and once a gap appears, we expect Magnapsin to sprint quickly and ultimately prove too hard to hold out. The $15 with online bookmakers looks a perfect price.
Best Value
Race 2 – 
#4 Magnaspin (1)
3yo Colt | T: Leon & Troy Corstens | J: John Allen (57.5kg)
Sunday quaddie tips for Flemington
Flemington quadrella selections
Sunday, January 1, 2023
- 3-8-9-13
- 2-3-4-8
- 1-2-3-6
- 5-8-11-12
Investment: $256 for 100%