Flemington Nov 2 Selections & Comments by Peter Ellis

Race 1:

1. Zoutori (4)
2. Viridine (3)
3. Malibu Style (2)
4. Renewal (7)

Zoutori, talented 4yo who has been more effective since being kept to sprints easily defeating in-form Parsifal in Gr. 2 this route before brave 3^rd Sunlight, Santa Ana Lane in Gilgai.
Viridine, group performer ready to fire following two starts from a break picking up late ground in 1000m Moir before eye-catching 4^th stablemate Trekking 1100m Schillaci Stakes.

Malibu Style, veteran who always runs well over the straight course and he does meet Zoutori 5.5kg for 2.4len  4^th in the Bobbie Lewis. Value runner.

Renewal has won three of his past starts nailing speedy Zoustyle on line Caulfield 1200m before peaking on run 3^rd 1400m same course. Better ridden quieter.

Order Of Command [6] reserves his best for Flemington and will have benefitted from his two outing this prep.

 

Race 2:

1. Vegas Jewel (5)
2. Flit (1)
3. Miami Bound (2)
4. Oriental Lily (4)

Vegas Girl has created a good impression in three starts winning at Echuca and Moonee Valley before  head 2^nd Caulfield 2000m Gr. 3 when battled hard after a tough run.

Flit, class filly desperately unlucky in Guineas Prelude then ridden more positively when successful, albeit narrowly, in Thousand Guineas.

Miami Bound is progressing through her grades scoring back-to-back wins at Bendigo before 3^rd in Manifold when ridden too close. Simply found the boys too strong in Norman Robinson.

Oriental Lily worked home powerfully over 1600m at this course then forced wide in Ethereal but did close off nicely. Value runner.

Magazine [10] defeated older mares first-up Bendigo 1400m then no luck fast finishing 3^rd Morphettville Listed 1800m.

 

Race 3:

1. Dalasan (1)
2. Groundswell (2)
3. Heirborn (5)
4. Brandenburg (6)

Dalasan, arguably should have won his first six then had excuses when 5^th in Caulfield Guineas – did too much early after drawing barrier 16.

Groundswell, on-pacer doing everything right placing behind classy Alligator Blood in Prelude before brave 3^rd stablemate Super Seth in Gr. 1 Caulfield Guineas. Ideally drawn.

Heirborn looked good winning twice over winter and did power to the line when resuming over 1400m at Caulfield, suggesting the Carbine Club and Sandown Guineas are target races.

Brandenburg hasn’t missed the place in six starts winning Kensington 1400m before stout-finishing 2^nd speedy Colada Randwick Gr. 2 1500m.

Conqueror [4] got clear too late 3^rd Stutt Stakes this trip but did have every opportunity when 6^th in Caulfield Guineas.

 

Race 4:

1. Hush Writer (4)
2. The Chosen One (8)
3. Patrick Erin (6)
4. Downdraft (1)

Hush Writer, bold going import didn’t handle the soft ground in Metropolitan but runs either side excellent – winning Newcastle Cup and Randwick St Leger [2600m]. Takes catching.

The Chosen One was set an impossible task after drawing out in Caulfield Cup but was very good when beating in-form Prince Of Arran in Herbert Power a week earlier.

Downdraft, tough Irish stayer closed from rear when 2^nd in quality Irish Leger Trial [2800m] Aug 16 then not suited by slow pace 3^rd Aidan O’Brien’s Hunting Horn in Valley Cup last Saturday.

Patrick Erin, last year’s Metropolitan winner going much better than recent efforts would suggest.

Drawn to race handier.

While Kiwi Sir Charles Road [7] is in top form placing in the Metropolitan and Randwick St. Leger.

 

Race 5:

1. Melody Belle (2)
2. Pohutukawa (9)
3. Nettoyer (10)
4. Spanish Reef (6)

Melody Belle boasts an outstanding record in NZ winning six Group 1’s this year. Will drift back from gate 13 but that is her style. Obvious choice.

Pohutukawa unleashed a barnstorming finish to win at the carnival last year and her three runs this prep suggest she’s crying out for the Flemington mile.

Nettoyer, versatile mare who has thrived this campaign. No luck in Cameron then closed against pattern in Epsom before last stride win Randwick 1600m. Value runner.

Spanish Reef is right back to her best scoring comfortably over this trip at Caulfield following an unlucky 4^th in Stocks Stakes. Always hard to get past especially at Flemington.

Princess Jenni [7] Schweppes Oaks winner quickly on song this prep beating a quality line-up in Valley  Gr. 2. Never sighted daylight when travelling well in Toorak while Aristia [3] will appreciate the step up to 1600m.

 

 

Race 6:

1. Exceedance (6)
2. Libertini (12)
3. Bivouac (2)
4. Cosmic Force (5)

Exceedance, big striding colt who should relish Flemington after finding Bivouac too sharp in past two starts at Rosehill. Outstanding closing sectionals in Golden Rose.

Libertini, highly regarded filly looking to extend her unbeaten record at 1200m. Freshened since fighting head 3^rd Funstar 1400m Tea Rose.

Bivouac appreciated getting back on good ground in Run To The Rose then again too strong for Everest winner Yes Yes Yes in Golden Rose. Never sighted daylight when odds-on in Manikato.

Cosmic Force was competitive against the best juveniles  last season and is going equally as well withstanding all challenges in Gr. 2 Roman Consul.

Brooklyn Hustle [14] needs the breaks to fall her way but is a massive talent. Stiff not to win first-up 1100m this course before solid 3^rd in-form Anaheed Caulfield 1200m.

 

 

Race 7:

1. Shadow Hero (1)
2. Soul Patch (2)
3. Thought Of That (3)
4. Warning (4)

Shadow Hero gives every indication he’ll run the 2500m right out and he does have the best credentials. Won the Gloaming with plenty in hand before outstaying Cox Plate runner-up Castelvecchio in Spring Champion  [2000m] .

Soul Patch, lightly raced colt worked home stylishly from an impossible position in Caulfield Guineas then much too good for smart filly Moonlight Maid in 2040m Vase last Saturday.

Thought Of That has turned form around since stepping up in distance with blinkers – won lowly Donald maiden but then dominated his rivals in Gr. 3 Norman Robinson [2000m].

Warning was no match for Thought Of That at Caulfield but will appreciate the roomier Flemington circuit.

Long Jack [8] looked a likely type in his two starts in NZ earlier this year but has built up to this with four starts in Victoria culminating in career best in Geelong Classic [2200m] .

Southern Moon [10] was unlucky in Derby Trial here three starts ago then drew 14 of 16 when 2^nd in Geelong Classic. Will run the journey better than most.

 

 

Race 8:

1. Night’s Watch (8)
2. Royal Meeting (5)
3. Fierce Impact (6)
4. Cascadian (12)

Night’s Watch wasn’t suited by muddling pace in WFA Makybe Diva then in trouble at a critical stage when 2^nd in Toorak. Drawn to get a nice run around midfield, poised to find space in straight.

Royal Meeting won both his starts last year including a Gr. 1 in France and is sure derive immense benefit from his first-up 3^rd [60kg] Caulfield 1400m.

Fierce Impact, English import who is finally putting it all together. Collared late by subsequent Epsom winner Kolding at Randwick before outsprinting his rivals in Toorak.

Cascadian showed his class when trained in France – winning three of six  – and has improved with each local start lumping 59.5kg to victory Randwick 1600m.
Sikandarabad [11] has had nothing go his way this campaign. Got clear too late in Toorak then again lacked galloping room at the Valley last Saturday. Flemington suits.

Land Of Plenty [2] settled too far back when 4^th last year on back of Toorak victory. Expected to improve sharply on his first-up 5^th Caulfield 1400m.

 

 

Race 9:

1. Humma Humma (5)
2. Manicure (1)
3. Prophet’s Thumb (8)
4. Pippie (4)

Humma Humma has a dynamic finish when ridden patiently and is at the top of her game running away from God Of Thunder Valley 955m and Demerara Caulfield 1100m.

Manicure, ultra-consistent 5yo impressive beating Angelic Ruler on resumption Caulfield then peaked after a tough run 2nd Tofane 2^nd Gr. 3 same route.

Prophet’s Thumb, Sydneysider who has acquitted herself well in three Victorian starts this season scoring easily Caulfield 1100m before luckless 3^rd Humma Humma. Value runner.

Pippie won three on the trot after returning from 47 week layoff but was a major disappointment  when an odds-on favourite at Caulfield  Sept 21. Check betting.

Tofane [2] obviously appreciated being ridden cold when a surprise 20/1 winner at Caulfield last time while Gift Of Power [7] goes in exotics.

 

 

BEST:               SHADOW HERO

EACH-WAY:     EXCEEDANCE

LONGSHOT:    NETTOYER