Horse Racing » Flemington Nov 9 Selections & Comments by Peter Ellis (Updated)

Flemington Nov 9 Selections & Comments by Peter Ellis (Updated)

Santa Ana Lane. Image: Grant Guy grantdguy@yahoo.com.au

Race 1

  1. Mandela Effect [1]
  2. Rainier [2]
  3. Reserve Street [4]
  4. Mr Exclusive [11]

Mandela Effect, classy Tasmanian no luck in three starts this prep – should have won at the Valley then again in traffic at Caulfield before solid 2nd 1600m Sale Cup when pattern favoured winner.
Ranier has mixed his form winning here last spring but he did battle on strongly after a wide run 4th Randwick 1600m. Cascadian has since franked that form placing in Gr. 1 Kennedy Mile.

Reserve Street is at the top of his game winning back-to-back country cups before solid 2nd Cuba Valley 1500m when settled further back than customary.

Mr Exclusive usually pulls out a big run a Flemington while Sunday Prey [8] goes in wider exotics.

 

Race 2

  1. Grinzinger Star [7]
  2. Wetakemanhattan [2]
  3. Starcaster [8]
  4. Ridgewood Drive [12]

Grinzinger Star is looking for this trip following two starts from a break and showed his class last season beating smart gallopers Mr Quickle and Star Missile.
Wetakemanhattan, carefully placed 5yo quickly back on song this prep scoring comfortably over 1600m at this course before getting home in tight photo in Horsham Cup [1800m]. Ideally drawn.

Starcaster, English import who simply found 1700m too short on his local debut but worth noting second-up last prep he towelled 16 opponents over 2400m at York.

Ridgewood Drive looked group class when sprinting away from a handy field over this route in May but has been disappointing this prep while the enigmatic Lucky For All [3] is ready to improve.

 

Race 3

  1. Regimental Band [11]
  2. Knickpoint [3]
  3. Banquo [6]
  4. Hilo [1]

Regimental Band, lightly raced filly spelled following a fast finishing 2nd classy Libertini in listed event at Scone in May. Improved since and is looking for 1400m.

Knickpoint, Godolphin colt created a good impression in two starts ploughing through the mud at Hawkesbury before dominant first-up victory Newcastle 1200m. Drawn wide.

Banquo appreciated drier surface when narrowly defeated Bendigo 1300m then never in doubt scoring over this distance at Sale.
Hilo didn’t get 1600m on soft ground here last Saturday but previous efforts were solid including fighting head 2nd Caulfield listed 1400m while longshot Triton Rising [4] has claims luckless 3rd Soul Patch this route two starts ago.

 

Race 4

  1. True Self [5]
  2. Top Of The Range [7]
  3. Carif [8]
  4. Sir Charles Road [3]

True Self has built a solid record since reverting to flat winning four of six before close 6th [of 22] in Ebor – England’s premier staying hcp – and was very good in Geelong Cup.
Top Of The Range, Adelaide Cup runner-up who has improved with each start this campaign just missing behind Wolfe Caulfield 2000m before winning a competitive Bendigo Cup.

Carif is threatening to win one of these. Posted wide in Hill Stakes and Randwick St Leger before stout finishing 2nd 2500m Hotham here last Saturday.
Sir Charles Road hasn’t won in over 12 months [16 starts] but is consistent. Placed in Gr. 1 Metro and St Leger then 4th in Hotham when posted very wide. Over the odds.

Red Cardinal [1] worked home nicely in Geelong Cup and is lengths better on soft ground.

 

Race 5

  1. Santa Ana Lane [1]
  2. Nature Strip [2]]
  3. Alizee [8]
  4. Zoutori [6]

Santa Ana Lane stormed past In Her Time last year and arguably should be unbeaten this prep. Thwarted by inside bias 2nd Sunlight this route then drew unfavourably in Everest, powering late.

Nature Strip is at his best when allowed to stride freely as evidenced in Everest when collared late. Unbeaten in three straight runs and will get an easy lead.
Alizee is almost unbeatable on her day but must have the breaks fall her way. Posted outstanding sectionals in Gr. 1 Memsie then ridden too close in Everest.

Zoutori has really found his niche this campaign – Flemington 1200m. Impressive in Bobbie Lewis before 3/4len 3rd [59kg] Sunlight and Santa Ana Lane in Gilgai.
In Her Time [7] had to tire after a torrid run first-up in Everest and does have an excellent record over the straight course beating Osborne Bulls in Lightning

 

Race 6:

  1. Girl Tuesday (13)
  2. Rondinella (7)
  3. Amangiri (3)
  4. Aliferous (5)

Girl Tuesday was thwarted by on-pace bias Randwick 2000m then simply gave away too much start at the Valley. Best assessed on barnstorming 3rd Samadount, Avilius Gr. 2 Chelmsford before that..

Rondinella has been placed behind Melody Belle at the elite level in NZ and this is obviously her target following two hit-outs at 1600m. Drawn to get a cosy run.

Amangiri showed staying potential in first preparation and has done well since leading until final 50m 3rd Randwick 1600m before fighting victory Valley Gr. 3 mares.

Aliferous [5] worked home nicely when 2nd over 1700m here on Tuesday and was luckless when 3rd Mr Quickie and Vow And Declare in Qld Derby.

Nettoyer [4] wasn’t suited by rain-softened surface last Sat and could easily bounce back while Spanish Reef [1] is always hard to get past.

 

Race 7

  1. Admiral’s Joker [3]
  2. Iconoclasm [6]
  3. Noble Boy [12]
  4. Reykjavik [10]

Admiral’s Joker, carefully placed 7yo continues to progress through his grades overpowering in-form Rox The Castle Caulfield 1400m before solid victory 1600m Seymour Cup.

Iconoclasm went too hard when down the course in Toorak but ridden with much more patience when successful under 60kg Valley 1500m.

Noble Boy won seven of nine last season – including Randwick and Eagle Farm – and is ready to fire following solid efforts in Kosciuszko and Goulburn Cup.

Reykjavik and Manolo Blahniq [8] have claims in a race of many chances.

Lohnro winning the 2002 Mackinnon Stakes. Image: Quentin Lang quentinjlang.com

Race 8:

  1. Melody Belle (15)
  2. Magic Wand (14)
  3. Hartnell (1)
  4. Life Less Ordinary (9)

Melody Belle, outstanding Kiwi 5yo made it seven Group 1’s victories this year when absolutely toying with her rivals in 1600m Empire Rose last Saturday. Wide draw a concern.

Magic Wand boasts an outstanding record against some of the world’s best in Europe and the US and is much better than two locals effort would suggest. Attacked in lead Cox Plate then in trouble in Cup.

Hartnell, remarkable 9yo not disgraced under topweight in Caulfield Cup following a close 3rd in Turnbull Stakes this course/distance.
Life Less Ordinary has a good record at 2000m – placing in Doomben Cup, Hill Stakes and Craven Plate – and did hit the line strongly when dropping back to 1600m last Saturday. Huge overs

Aristia [16] was no match for Melody Belle when 2nd in Empire Rose but will appreciate the extra distance and is drawn to get a cosy run while Night’s Watch [12] has place claims.

 

Race 9:

  1. Morrissy (7)
  2. Esperance (1)
  3. Poised To Strike (2)
  4. Halvorsen (4)

Morrissy is yet to realise his full potential but did hit the line with intent when resuming over unsuitable 955m at Moonee Valley. Drawn to find preferred ground.

Esperance carried 62kg when a fast finishing 3rd in this race last year and did catch the eye at only start since, closing from last 2nd Valley 955m.

Poised To Strike has been luckless in his past two starts in Sydney and invariably produces his best over the Flemington straight.

Halvorsen was spelled after failing behind Malibu Style in listed 1200m but is right up to this on his best form while Akkadian [3] and Tahitian Dancer [12] have claims in a difficult race.

 

BEST:              SANTA ANA LANE

EACH-WAY:      GIRL TUESDAY

LONGSHOT      POISED TO STRIKE

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