Flemington racing tips & quaddie picks | Lightning Stakes Day

Race 1: BM84 Handicap (2000m)

In the opening event of the day, the Chris Waller-trained Crystal Pegasus can build on his last-start win and help get our day started on the right note. The five-year-old chestnut gelding defied the leader bias at Rosehill and managed to beat home the smart Casino Kid over 2000m. He stays at the distance and despite this being a tougher assignment in BM84 grade, we anticipate the son of Australia can bring up consecutive wins for the first time in his career. All four of his wins have come at the 2000m, with three of those coming on firmer decks. With James McDonald on board, we anticipate this horse’s turn of foot at the end of 2000m will be the difference.

Selections: 5-7-6-3

Race 2: BM84 Handicap (1600m)

Our best bet of the day comes from the Lindsay Smith stable when Tuvalu steps out over the mile. We were with him at Caulfield when he was ultimately scratched and saved for another day, which came at Flemington last Saturday. He took subsequent Toorak Handicap winner I’m Thunderstruck to within a half-length at Moonee Valley in July and on that form alone should be winning this on his ear. He returned with a dominant 3.5-length win at Warrnambool on January 20, and although he is a month between runs, he is low-flying according to the stable. From barrier six, Jarrod Fry looks set to gain an uncontested lead over 1600m, and under a well-rated ride Tuvalu can lead them a merry dance.

Selections: 5-7-1-2

Race 3: Fillies & Mares BM78 Handicap (1600m)

The market has this Fillies & Mares BM78 down to a race in two between the undefeated Yonce and the ever-consistent Americain Angel. We have sided with the Danny O’Brien-trained Americain Angel, who has managed to string together consecutive wins for the first time in her career and looks to be racing with plenty of confidence on her side. She is yet to miss the top three in five runs at the mile and looks like she will appreciate every metre of the Flemington straight as she builds through the gears. Jamie Kah has notably been the difference in getting the four-year-old into the winner’s stall, with the leading hoop undefeated in her two rides aboard the bay mare. In the field of 11, we expect there to be a genuine tempo throughout, which should set the race up perfectly for our girl to finish right over the top of some vulnerable front-runners.

Selections: 2-5-1-7

Race 4: Talindert Stakes (1100m)

The Listed Talindert Stakes is the first of the Stakes-level races on Saturday, and we are expecting the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Miss Hellfire to bounce back from a poor showing in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. The two-year-old filly raced up on speed on that day but simply couldn’t go on with the job. She was scratched from the Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill and sent to Flemington for this, signalling the stable’s intentions. She draws out wide for this and looks to be one of the leaders in the race. Under a well-rated ride from Michael Dee, we anticipate Miss Hellfire will prove too hard to run down.

Selections: 10-1-12-14

Race 5: The Vanity (1400m)

The Group 3 Vanity over 1400m is for the three-year-old fillies, and we are hoping Godolphin’s Minouche can salute at a double-figure price. The chestnut filly was ridden like the best horse in the race at Caulfield on February 5 and won like a good horse does when put under pressure. Having led the field up, she was passed on the home turn but under riding drove hard late and kept her rivals at bay, despite doing plenty wrong. She draws barrier five under Damien Oliver, and with most of her rivals wanting further and looking to take a sit off the speed, Ollie can have her settled in a prominent position throughout. With a nice tow into the race, we expect Minouche to quicken nicely inside the final 400m and ultimately prove too hard to hold out.

Selections: 5-3-2-1

Race 6: CS Hayes Stakes (1400m)

The opening leg of the quaddie is the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes, where the Enver Jusufovic-trained Pinstriped will be looking to remain undefeated. The three-year-old chestnut gelding made up nice ground from the rear of the field when first-up off a three-month spell at Moonee Valley and looked like a promising type in doing so. He looks like a horse who will appreciate the long straight at Flemington as he works through the gears and build towards a top speed at the right time. Michael Dee will look to have him in clear air approaching the home turn, and from there, his turn of foot can do the rest.

Selections: 7-3-1-11

Race 7: Lightning Stakes (1000m)

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Race 8: The Elms Handicap (1400m)

Despite the class that Mr Brightside and the red-hot Corner Pocket bring into the race, Elephant looks like the one to beat in The Elms. The Emma-Lee & David Browne-trained five-year-old is bombproof when resuming from a spell, putting together three wins from as many starts when first-up. He was not beaten too far in the Toorak Handicap off a tough run during the spring, and prior to that he was beaten a nose in the Feehan Stakes by subsequent Cantala Stakes winner Superstorm. From barrier nine, Damian Lane will need a touch of luck in gaining a spot in the moving line with cover, but if he does, we’re confident Elephant will take him a long way into the race. He has two wins over 1400m when first-up and can make it three here.

Selections: 1-8-12-6

Race 9: BM84 Handicap (1200m)

We will be hoping to round out the day with a nicely priced winner when the Grahame Begg-trained Rose Quartz looks to make amends for an unlucky run at Caulfield on February 5. Having been held up for a run throughout the home straight, the five-year-old mare did well to be beaten just on 1.5 lengths. She meets The Garden, who finished second on that day, 1kg lighter in the weights this time and will look to follow her rival having drawn inside her. Rose Quartz has one win from one start at the Flemington 1200m, and with that experience and a strong turn of foot on her side, she looks the one to be with in the final race of the day. The $5.50 on offer from Bet365 is more than good enough for us.

Selections: 11-10-3-12