Spring racing / Editor / 31 October 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

A day for racing purists - The only all-group racing day on our shores provides the single best day of thoroughbred racing in Australia, if not the world. Here is an in-depth look at the nine race card.

Race 1
Inglis Carbine Club Stakes (G3 - 1600m)
Lee Freedman-trained The Comedian and Kidnapped for Peter Snowden dominate the market in the opening race on Derby Day, opening the door for healthy value outside of the top two elects. The favoured pair look hard to separate with The Comedian relishing the leader-biased track in his decisive win at Geelong, and Kidnapped overcoming a muddling pace to score impressively at Caulfield.
Sydney galloper Euphemism also under the guidance of Peter Snowden looks to be the value runner. The Lonhro gelding acclimatised to Melbourne racing with a fifth behind Shamoline Warrior at Flemington and has form behind promising types such as Onemorenomore, Viking Legend and Encosta Fortune. Bawaardi for David Hayes has ability, but it's hard to see him turning the tables on Kidnapped.

1. Euphemism (Each-Way)
2. The Comedian
3. Kidnapped
4. Bawaardi

Race 2
The Lexus Stakes (G3 - 2500m)
A cracking race over the Derby distance with a myriad of legitimate hopes. Light Vision's impressive love-affair with Flemington and the 2500m is difficult to overlook. From five starts at this track and distance he has compiled two wins and three placings, if you forgive his uncharacteristic run in the Caulfield Cup the near double-figure odds looks very appealing.

Shocking has been racing well behind potential star Alcopop, and Hume found the line with authority in the Coongy behind honest galloper Baughurst. The Bart Cummings factor features with Dandaad who was gallant when just reeled in by Leica Ding in the Geelong Cup. Irazu and Sterling Prince have produced recent runs indicative of a coming win and can't be ignored.

1. Light Vision (Each-Way)
2. Dandaad
3. Shocking
4. Hume

Race 3
Longines Wakeful Stakes (G2 - 2000m)
Run for Naara couldn't have been more impressive lugging the big weight to victory last start at Caulfield and drops 5kg here. Topweight Melito, although poorly drawn here kept finding the line in the Thousand Guineas, narrowly edged out by Irish Lights. That form line has proved by far the superior out of the 3yo fillies brigade with Avenue continuing to conquer every task set before him after being beaten by Irish Lights.
Faint Perfume has been set for the Crown Oaks by master trainer Bart Cummings and rattled home in the thousand Guineas. The extra 400m will suit. Jolie Brise drops in weight and fought on bravely last start. Tough race to sort out, but the top 4 seem a cut above.
1. Faint Perfume
2. Melito (Each-Way)
3. Run for Naara
4. Jolie Brise

Race 4
Coolmore Stud Stakes (G1 - 1200m)
Highly promising colt Demerit is yet another of Lonhro's progeny absolutely flying. Sat wide in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude and still found enough to hold off Trusting, Manhattan Rain and Starspangledbanner with his only defeat at the hands of superstar in the making Black Caviar. What a form line! Should be enough to proclaim him an absolute certainty, but this is a hot field comprising of the most gifted 3yo's in the country.
Paprika stuck on well against the likes of Apache Cat and Lucky Secret in the Schillaci and should derive much benefit from her maiden Melbourne run. David Hayes-trained Irish Lights hasn't put a foot wrong winning her last three starts. Consistent galloper Wanted has been racing in fine fashion behind smart types and Headway generates serious thought. Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready's chances would rocket with some rain, but still looms as a threat with the expected hot pace down the Flemington straight.

1. Demerit
2. Wanted
3. Headway
4. Phelan Ready

Race 5
Mackinnon Stakes (G1 - 2000m)
Sydney visitor Rangirandoo gets his deserved chance at WFA level in the Mackinnon. The Chris Waller-trained son of Pentire lines up against seasoned WFA performers, for most of which this is their Melbourne Cup barrier trial. One of the most impressive transformations of the spring has been Caulfield Cup placegetter Vigor. Trainer Danny O'Brien has expressed his displeasure at running in this race simply to gain a Cup start, but if forced to run rest assured he is there with one thing in mind, and that is to win.
Overseas raider Cima De Triomphe was held in high regard before his inexplicable Caulfield Cup flop, and is worthy of another chance based on the hope he has settled into his surrounds more favourably. Zipping, Viewed and Master O'Reilly cannot be dismissed despite running primarily for fitness leading into Tuesday's big race.

1. Rangirangdoo
2. Vigor
3. Cima De Triomphe
4. Zipping

Race 6
AAMI Victoria Derby (G1 - 2500m)
On paper, you could be forgiven for assuming this isn't a strong Derby field. Look closer.
Every runner creates their own element of intrigue, and as last year's Derby underlined with Rebel Raider saluting at near triple figure odds for some - None can be discounted.
Mark Kavanagh looks for redemption with Shamoline Warrior following a tumultuous spring with the retirement of stable star Maldivian and Whobegotyou's defeat in the Cox Plate when hot favourite. Ironically, it was Shamoline Warrior's half-brother Rebel Raider who denied Whobegotyou the Derby last year. If you weren't certain Shamoline Warrior was capable of staying the distance, then that pertinent piece of information should be all that is required.
Smart NSW galloper Onemorenomore looks way above the odds with champion jockey Damien Oliver in the saddle. Despite having trouble settling and pulling his head off in the run, he  is certainly worth an each-way gamble. Beaten just over a length after failing to settle behind Shamoline Warrior in the Norman Robinson Stakes, he is capable of turning the tables for leviathan owner Nathan Tinkler and his Patinack Farm operation. This could be the one they've been longing for, and what a coup it would be for newly appointed stable trainer John Thompson.
Rockferry was by far the run of the race in the Geelong classic, generally an ideal Derby form race. Jockey Hugh Bowman believed with a clear passage he would have won by 2-4 lengths, and he will more than likely get back again in the Derby. Consider.
Monaco Consul comes off an interesting lead-up to the big race, with almost a month since his last run - A resounding victory in the Spring Champion Stakes over fellow Derby hopefuls Gathering and Viking Legend. The Michael Moroney-trained colt is by High Chaparral, the same sire as Cox Plate winner So You Think.
Extra Zero, Gathering, Our Heir Apparent and Southern Skye are also bred to stay the journey and cannot be ruled out. Extra Zero was posted out wide in the AAMI Vase and never had a chance, while Our Heir Apparent is an interesting runner sure to stay the trip, by super staying sire Zabeel.
1. Onemorenomore (Each-Way)
2. Rockferry
3. Shamoline Warrior
4. Extra Zero

Race 7
Myer Classic (G1 - 1600m)
Most punters have latched on to the Typhoon Tracy bandwagon following her impressive victory in the Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield over 1400m, and with good reason. The win was authoritative and she held her main rival Hot Danish well over the concluding stages.
There is a case for Hot Danish to reverse the result on this occasion. The wide expanses of the Flemington straight will leave Typhoon Tracy's front running style more vulnerable after working from the wide barrier, and it also allows Hot Danish the luxury of racing in her favoured pattern of
settling back in the field and biding her time until unleashing her devastating turn of foot in the straight.
Neroli has been racing consistently and demands respect, although it's difficult to see her turning the tables here. Of the rest, the Sydney duo of Glowlamp and Messenger look capable of showing up at big odds.

1. Hot Danish
2. Typhoon Tracy
3. Glowlamp (Each-Way)
4. Messenger (Each-Way)

Race 8
Seppelt Salinger Stakes (G2 - 1200m)
Lee Freedman-trained First Command is the obvious elect for most in this quality sprint field, beaten only once this preparation by high class Sydney-sider All Silent in the Gilgai Stakes. Two-time winner down the straight Secret Flyer has been knocking on the door this preparation. The Colac flying machine only needs luck in running to get his chance to have the last say in this contest.
Kris Lees' exciting mare Absolutelyfabulous beat home Black Piranha and McClintock in August and has been kept fresh for this race. Two places from two attempts suggests she will enjoy the Flemington straight and is sure to be running on.
Ever-reliable Eagle Falls is sure to be around the mark yet again, but hard to see him turning the tables despite the 1kg weight difference on First Command from their last clash.
1. Secret Flyer (Each-Way)
2. Absolutelyfabulous
3. First Command
4. Eagle Falls

Race 9
AAMI Business Ins. Stakes (G3 - 1400m)
NSW raiders look to hold the key to this race with smart galloper McClintock looking for three on the trot. Ever-consistent and likely to push forward from a wide draw and give them a good sight. Fist Of Fury ran second to Northern Meteor on this day last year in the Coolmore Stakes, but hasn't lived up to his potential since. He remains a knockout chance.

Walking or Dancing has solid form around McClintock and meets him 2kg better off here. First attempt at Flemington but would have to presume it will suit his racing style. The Peter Moody-trained Excelltastic is racing well and looks the logical hope from the local contingent. The 4yo is back in distance here from a good gate and looks sure to be around the mark at odds.
1. Excelltastic (Each-Way)
2. Walking or Dancing
3. Fist Of Fury
4. McClintock