Horse Racing » Flemington Nov 3 Selections by Peter Ellis (Updated)

Flemington Nov 3 Selections by Peter Ellis (Updated)

Thinkin’ Big winning the Ladbrokes Classic at Caulfield. Image: Racing Photos

Race 1:

  1. Ranier (5)
  2. Vassilator (2)
  3. Good ‘N’ Fast (3)

Ranier, Lonhro colt shaping as though this trip will suit charging late unlucky 2nd this course before nailing Yulong January in last stride Caulfield 1400m. Perfectly drawn.

Vassilator looked good scoring back-to-back wins over this course last prep and is back on song chasing home star 3yo The Autumn Sun in Gr. 1 Caulfield Guineas.

Good ‘n’ Fast was thwarted by racing pattern in Guineas Prelude before again doing his best work late when 4th in Guineas. Loves Flemington

Wild Planet [6] hasn’t put a foot wrong this prep and is drawn to get the gun run while Sydneysider Adana [14] goes in wider exptics.

Race 2:

  1. Verry Elleegant (2)
  2. El Dorado Dreaming (1)
  3. Aristia (4)

Verry Elleegant, ex Kiwi impressed in two local starts running home powerfully behind stable mate Amphitrite in Manifold before overpowering  Aristia over this journey at Caulfield.

El Dorado Dreaming beat the boys in the Randwick Sires before desperately unlucky 3rd in Gr. 1 Champagne. Hit the line hard behind emerging Mystic Journey at the Valley last Saturday.

Aristia never sighted daylight when travelling well in Manifold but did have every chance 2nd  Verry Elleegant in Ethereal.

Sizzleme [5] improved with each step up in distance working home stylishly behind Greysful Glamour over 1800m here before solid 3rd over this trip at Caulfield.

Qafila [3] wasn’t disgraced behind older mares at the Valley and is better placed against her own age.

Race 3:

  1. Osborne Bulls (1)
  2. Bons Away (7)
  3. Lanciato (3)

Osborne Bulls is delivering on the promise he showed last season placing behind Redzel in the Everest after a good 5th in Gr. 1 Rupert Clarke when allowed to settle too far back.

Bons Away is knocking on the door with solid efforts in three starts this campaign. Battled on strongly when placed over this route and over 1000m at Caulfield when conceding Eduardo 4kg. Drops 3kg.

Lanciato can be forgiven his past two unplaced efforts – met interference in Tramway then not beaten far in record time in Epsom. Good fresh.

Missrock [4] plotted the wrong course when 2nd [of 14] in this race last year. Subsequently placed at the elite level and did catch the eye when returning behind speedy Ball Of Muscle at Caulfield.

Winter Bride [8] Queensland mare at the top of her game winning five of the past six including latest going left-handed while veteran South Australian Casino Wizard [2] is always hard to get past.

Race 4:

  1. A Prince Of Arran (2)
  2. Jaameh (10)
  3. Brimham Rocks (6)

A Prince Of Arran is better known over further placing over 3200m in the United States and Northumberland Plate in England but he did show sufficient dash on Australian debut in Herbert Power.

Jaameh has won three of six since relocating from England including two of this course and distance. Gave classy Avilius a fright in Bart Cummings.

Brimham Rocks, imported 5yo yet to win in seven starts since joining Chris Waller but has been close-up on each occasion going down narrowly in Metropolitan before 2nd to Cup favourite Yucatan.

Sixties Groove [4] showed staying promise when trained in England and has improved at each local start winning three [x2000m] of his past four.
Northwest Passage [11] had 18 months off after winning five of his first seven starts but is back on song with a luckless 4th this route before a brave 2nd stable mate Runaway in Geelong Cup while Yogi [12] will improve back at Flemington.

Race 5:

  1. Written By (1)
  2. Zousain (2)
  3. Lean Mean Machine (4)

Written By is the benchmark winning six of seven and wasn’t suited by soft ground when 4th in Slipper. Presented a tad soft in two wins this prep but will be at his absolute top for this.

Zousain has solid form around his stable mates Lean Mean Machine and The Autumn Sun leading till last few strides when 2nd behind the latter in Golden Rose.

Lean Mean Machine was one-paced when 5th in Golden Rose but did unleash a powerful finish when beating smart Graff on resumption over 1200m previous. Kept fresh.

Sunlight [10] class filly never sighted daylight after drawing barrier 3 in Manikato at the Valley but will get her chance on this spacious circuit.

Encryption [3] overcame a negative barrier when successful in Danehill this route then never stopped trying when runner-up to Written By at Caulfield while Queensland’s Sesar [6] was impressive on resumption at Randwick.

Oliver aboard Elvstroem in the 2003 Derby. Image: Quentin Lang

 

Race 6:

  1. Shillelagh (3)
  2. Invincibella (2)
  3. Eckstein (4)

Shillelagh beat all-comers in the Gr.1 Kennedy Mile on this day last year and is going better. Posted outstanding sectionals when 4th in Epsom then again set an impossible task in Toorak.

Invincibella, reliable mare right at the top of her game. Always had them covered in Gr. 2 Blazer this course before finding Shumookh too nippy around Caulfield.

Eckstein just missed in this race last year and is doing everything right this time around. Beat the boys over 1400m here before hitting out nicely when dropping back to 1200m at Randwick. Over the odds.

Shumookh [9] placed at the elite level in first preparation and has come back well winning two of past three. Went too keenly when 4th over this trip two starts ago.

Amphitrite [15] has come a long way since winning Sale maiden in September sprouting wings over final furlong to take the 1000 Guineas while Aloisia [5] and Oohood [13] have claims in an extremely tough

Race 7:

  1. Thinkin’ Big (1)
  2. Aramayo (2)
  3. Stars Of Carrum (4)

Thinkin’ Big has already established himself a colt of the highest calibre winning four from six. Wasn’t suited by heavy in Spring Champion before blitzing his rivals in the Caulfield Classic [2000m].

Aramayo didn’t get around the tight Valley circuit when 3rd in the Vase [2040m] last Saturday but previous efforts on spacious tracks were excellent including narrow defeat in Spring Champion.

Stars Of Carrum has had a thorough grounding for this closing from last unlucky 2nd Morphettville Listed 1800m before last stride victory Valley Gr. 2 2040m.

Mickey Blue Eyes [6] has found the line after giving away impossible starts in his past two suggesting he’ll run the 2500m right out.

Extra Brut [3] was disappointing when a short-priced favourite at Caulfield but can improve back at Flemington while stable mate Savoie [8] was given a torrid ride when beaten in final stride at the Valley last Saturday.

Race 8:

  1. Le Romain (2)
  2. Land Of Plenty (4)
  3. Hartnell (1)

Le Romain won this race two years ago and has either won or placed at the top level seven times since. Didn’t appear comfortable on heavy in Everest after a sound 2nd behind Winx in 1600m George Main.
Land Of Plenty has always promised a lot but has really got it together this prep just missing in Rupert Clarke before running away with Toorak. Up 2.5kg.
Hartnell has been kept to his right distance this spring after contesting three Melbourne Cups. Eclipsed track record on Epsom before 2nd in Toorak conceding Land Of Plenty 6kg.

Noire [8] has matured this campaign closing from last when successful in Gr. 2 Shannon after a desperately unlucky 2nd on resumption. Stuck to rails in “swoopers race’ last time.

Cliff’s Edge [11] had excuses in Toorak when he chased a suicidal pace but quickly bounced back with a fighting victory in the Crystal Mile last Saturday while Peaceful State [16] and Iconoclasm [18] has claims in a very difficult race.

Race 9:

  1. She Knows (9)
  2. I Am Excited (4)
  3. Resin (6)

She Knows raced slower inside when seen down the straight here in March but has been an absolute professional since. Suited back against mares following a determined 2nd Eduardo Caulfield 1000m.

I Am Excited will need luck from her inside draw but is at the top of her game overpowering in-form Eduardo over 1200m here last month. Well weighted.

Resin, Sydneysider progressing through her grades running away from Almanzora in Gr. 3 Nivison at Randwick.

Booker [1] didn’t get the 1400m on soft track last time but previous effort behind Winter Bride would see her in the finish. Wide draw may prove advantageous.

From Within [7] showing more stamina this season winning four on the trot while Snitty Kitty [2] has been competitive in group sprints and is suited back in mares grade.

 

BEST BET: THINKIN’ BIG

EACH-WAY: RANIER

VALUE BET: SHE KNOWS