Flemington full racing tips & quaddie | Saturday, November 5

Race 1: BM90 Handicap (1600m)

We kick off Champions Stakes Day with a competitive BM90 over the infamous Flemington mile and we are hoping that Unannimous can bounce back into the winner’s stall. The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained five-year-old managed to get the better of subsequent Coongy Cup winner Gunstock two starts back, but then was found out in tougher company at Randwick last time out. From barrier one under Ben Melham, he is sure to gain the suck run in transit and with even luck in the home straight, we expect Unanimous to bound clear and prove too hard to gun down in the opener.

• 6
  

  UNANIMOUS

  Odds at Unibet

• 14
  

  FRENCH EMPEROR

  Odds at Palmerbet

• 11
  

  ELUDING

  Odds at Betfair

• 10
  

  CHICAGO BEAR

  Odds at Neds

Race 2: Grand Handicap (2000m)

We do not need to wait too long for our best bet of the day, as the Phillip Stokes-trained Aesop steps out in the second event of the day. The five-year-old gelding was a complete forgive run at Caulfield last time out where he simply did not handle the Heavy 8 and is sure to appreciate the firmer ground on Saturday. From barrier 11, look for Jamie Kah to have this bloke settled midfield with cover and if he is anywhere near his performance in his dominant victory at Sandown two starts back over 1800m, he looks the one to beat. He should be rock hard fit and under a well-rated steer from Kah, Aesop should have a bit too much class about him in a field like this.

• 8
  

  AESOP

  Odds at Unibet

• 11
  

  COOLTH

  Odds at Palmerbet

• 15
  

  TYCOON BEC

  Odds at Betfair

• 3
  

  POUNDING

  Odds at Neds

Race 3: The Amanda Elliott (1400m)

The Amanda Elliott at Listed level looks to be one of the more open contests of the day on Saturday and we are looking to strike some value with the Grahame Begg-trained Magic Time. The three-year-old filly was breathtaking on debut on the Pakenham synthetic and despite this undoubtedly being a big step up in grade, she strikes a winnable stakes race second-up. From barrier 15, look for Magic Time under Jordan Childs to charge across and find the rail and take up an uncontested lead. If Childs can gain a cheap sectional or two, the Hellbent filly looks to have a fair bit of class about her and should give a sight out in front at a nice each-way price.

• 14
  

  MAGIC TIME

  Odds at Unibet

• 3
  

  ANGRY SKIES

  Odds at Palmerbet

• 16
  

  SWEETENED

  Odds at Betfair

• 11
  

  RUNNING BY

  Odds at Neds

Race 4: Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m)

It paid to be with the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace and Mark Zahra combination in the Melbourne Cup and we hope the same partnership can lift Persan to an overdue victory. The six-year-old gelding has been racing in decent enough form on rain-affected ground this campaign but comes back to a firmer deck on Saturday and it should suit him perfectly. He is a dour stayer these stays and with four wins and two minor placings to his name at Flemington, we anticipate he will relish getting back to his favourite track. In a race where there does not look to be too much early speed, we anticipate Zahra will take up the running from the low draw of barrier four. If he can get away with a cheap run out in front, there is no reason why Persan cannot outstays his rivals in an all the way victory.

• 2
  

  PERSAN

  Odds at Unibet

• 11
  

  SOULCOMBE

  Odds at Palmerbet

• 5
  

  LUNAR FLARE

  Odds at Betfair

• 4
  

  GREAT HOUSE

  Odds at Neds

Race 5: Matriarch Stakes (2000m)

The ever-prominent combination of Chris Waller and James McDonald look the one to side with when they partner up with Atishu in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes. The five-year-old mare was entitled to finish closer than what she did in the Empire Rose Stakes last time out where she was held up for a run at just the wrong time. She looks to be screaming out for 2000m which she gets on the weekend and considering she has already won at the trip, with a few of her rivals questionable at the distance, she’s the one we are happy to side with. Look for JMac to have her parked towards the rear of the field, but armed with a blistering turn of foot we expect to see Atishu flash home over the top of her rivals and bring up an overdue victory.

• 4
  

  ATISHU

  Odds at Unibet

• 7
  

  FOXY FRIDA

  Odds at Palmerbet

• 8
  

  DYNASTIES

  Odds at Betfair

• 3
  

  SIRILEO MISS

  Odds at Neds

Race 6: Champions Sprint (1200m)

The Group 1 Champions Sprint is the first of three Group 1 events on Saturday’s card and is also the first leg of the quaddie. Nature Strip ($2.20) and Giga Kick ($6) are set to duke it out down the Flemington straight in what online bookmakers deemed to be a two-horse affair. Last start Manikato Stakes winner Bella Nipotina ($7.50) is the only other runner under a $20 quote.

Can Nature Strip bring up a third win in this race? Or can Giga Kick spoil the party once more?

Click here for our full preview of the Group 1 Champions Sprint

Race 7: Champions Mile (1600m)

The Champions Mile has attracted a strong field of 11 milers where seven of the combatants have already saluted at Group 1 level. The surprise packet of the spring Private Eye ($3.50) has opened as favourite, whilst My Oberon ($5), Cascadian ($6) and Alligator Blood ($6.50) are all expected to feature in the finish of the Champions Mile.

Click here for our full betting preview & $100 betting strategy for the Group 1 Champions Mile

Race 8: VRC Champions Stakes (2000m)

The VRC Champions Stakes has assembled a star-studded field that has the race feeling like Cox Plate 2.0. Anamoe ($2.10) headlines the field and is a deserving favourite in the event, but can the likes of I’m Thunderstruck ($4.40) and Zaaki ($9.00) cause an upset in the feature event of the day on Saturday?

Click here for our full preview of the Group 1 Champions Stakes

Race 9: Grand Handicap (1100m)

We will be looking to round out the Melbourne Cup Carnival with Hypothetical at a nice each-way price over the 1100m. The four-year-old mare from the Anthony & Sam Freedman barn managed to overcome a tough run when wide and on speed at Geelong on October 19 and won in pretty dominant fashion. She has won three of her four starts so far in her short career and as long as she handles the straight, there is no reason why she cannot build on that record on Saturday. With an abundance of early speed in the race, we expect Ben Melham to take a sit just off the hot tempo and when asked for an effort, Hypothetical looks to have the turn of foot to put a field like this away in a couple of strides.

• 14
  

  HYPOTHETICAL

  Odds at Unibet

• 6
  

  TAUNTING

  Odds at Palmerbet

• 9
  

  NAJEM SUHAIL

  Odds at Betfair

• 1
  

  DIRECT

  Odds at Neds