Flemington betting tips & bookie bonuses for Saturday races
RACING returns to Flemington on Saturday and thoroughbred enthusiasts have a stacked nine-race card to pick apart.
There are plenty of group quality runners going around this weekend, so punters will have their work cut out for them to pick winners, but our readers know the team at Horsebetting.com.au put in the hard yards so they don’t have to.
The first race on the card is the Better Beyond benchmark 78 over the 1400m and it kicks off at 12.48 pm.
Race 1 – Better Beyond BM 78 (1400m)
Widgee Turf has been in sensational form over the last two runs.
The three-year-old won at Flemington back in mid-December across the same distance that it tackles on Saturday. The gelding is unlucky not to be chasing a third straight win after finishing second at Moonee Valley on New Years Eve.
In form colt Oak Door will present the biggest challenge to Widgee Turf but we are backing the Patrick Payne runner to salute in the first.
Race 1 tip: Widgee Turf to win ($2.90 at Crownbet.com.au)
Race 2 – Seasacy BM84 (2000m)
Honey Cara is a quality runner that is in career-best form. The mare should be aiming for a fourth straight win on Saturday but a wide run impacted its ability to close on the leader, but still managed to finish second.
Hell Or Highwater is a four-year-old mare that has registered five wins from its last seven races. The query on Saturday is the fact it will carry 60.5kg – a 6.5kg jump from its last start on Boxing Day.
We are backing Honey Cara to place itself back in the winner’s circle ahead of the Hayes and Daberning runner.
Race 2 tip: Honey Cara to win ($3.10 at Crownbet.com.au)
Race 3 – Meadows Mist BM84 (1400m)
Essence Of Terror is one of our favourite runners. The Simon Zahra mare has finished first three times and second once across its last four starts and looks poised to continue its great run of form.
Princess Arrow is on a three race win streak dating back to early December. The Mare steps up in trip and grade on Saturday but the four-year-old has answered every challenge to date.
Would not surprise us to see either runner salute but we are backing Princess Arrow to make it four in a row at Flemington.
Race 3 tip: Princess Arrow to win ($5.50 at Sportsbet.com.au)
Race 4 – Piping Lane Handicap (1100m)
Strictly Legit is looking to bounce back in the third race of its career after a disappointing third last time out. The Hayes and Daberning horse is a talented prospect and has the ability to win here.
If Not Now When resumes after a lengthy spell. Prior to taking a break from racing the filly had won three straight races before a disappointing ninth placed finish in a field of 11. At its best the three-year-old can win first up.
Invincible Al resumes after three weeks away from the track. The gelding has finished in the quinella placings in its last three starts. The I Am Invincible progeny can give this one a shake at its peak.
Race 4 tip: Stricty Legit to win ($5 at WilliamHill.com.au)
Race 5 – Arbroath Handicap (1000m)
Beau Rada gets a weight relief after its second placed finish at Moonee Valley on New Year’s Eve. The five-year-old has not won since March of last year but rates perfectly to get the victory here.
General Truce is a quality runner that has not won since June of 2016. The New Year’s Eve run at Moonee Valley was encouraging last time out and bodes well for a decent showing on Saturday.
Super Fun resumes after a four month layoff. The six-year-old did not finish outside of the placings for the entirety of 2016 and has three placings from five starts first up.
We are backing Super Fun to resume in style at Flemington in a very winnable race for the Super Kid product.
Race 5 tip: Super Fun to win ($6 at Crownbet.com.au)
Race 6 – Rain Lover BM90 (2500m)
Hardern resumes after a three week break from racing. The four-year-old has great recent form across a similar grade over 2000m. The 2500m looks to be its ideal distance and it will take a world of beating.
Oncidium Ruler won convincingly last time out at Sandown a week ago. The five-year-old gets a 5kg relief since that race and has the ability to salute here.
It would not surprise to see either elect win but Hardern looks the standout.
Race 6 tip: Hardern to win ($3.40 at Crownbet.com.au)
Race 7 – Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m)
Airalign is shooting for four wins in a row. The seven-year-old was dominant last time out at Sandown on Christmas Eve. The gelding has placed before third up and looks hard to beat.
Grande Rosso was unlucky to win on Boxing Day at Caulfield after being caught back in the field. The five-year-old charged through the field but could not run down Lucky Liberty. The gelding has won three times across seven starts at the distance and looks to be a top elect here.
Grande Rosso looks like it could get the job done but we are backing Airalign. Its run of form is hard to deny.
Race 7 tip: Airalign to win ($5.50 at Sportsbet.com.au)
Race 8 – Craftsman Handicap (2000m)
Flying Light is chasing a hat-trick after winning back-to-back at Flemington. The Exceed And Excel gelding has two wins and one placing from three starts across the track and distance and will be hard to beat.
Galaxy Raider is looking to maintain a stellar run of form which has seen it finish in the placings across its last five runs. The four-year-old has one placing from one start at the distance and at its best can cause an upset.
We cannot go past Flying Light. The form is great and it has dominant pedigree over course and distance.
Race 8 tip: Flying Light to win ($7 at WilliamHill.com.au)
Race 9 – Tauto BM78 (1100m)
Last race of the day looks to be one of the hardest races of the day to predict.
Rich Charm has never finished outside the first four in its career. The Danerich product has finished first and third over the distance and has previously placed before second up.
Little Indian is third up on Saturday and it has previously placed third up. Last time out it torched the field on New Year’s Day and there is no reason to think it cannot replicate that form here.
We love the look at Little Indian but we cannot look past Rich Charm. The four-year-old is in wonderful form and will be hard to topple.
Race 9 tip: Rich Charm to win ($5.50 at Crownbet.com.au)