Flemington will host the feature race meeting in Victoria with the Chester Manifold Stakes headlining the quality card of racing for a mid January meeting. We take a look at each of the nine races and give our tips and bets.
Race One: 2 Oak Door
Race Two: 3 Vandancer
Race Three: 2 Deja Blue
Race Four: 2 Invicible Al
Race Five: 2 Divine Ten
Race Six: 6 Oncidium Ruler
Race Seven: 2 Lord Aspen
Race Eight: 5 Flying Light
Race Nine: 8 Rich Charm
Best Bet: Race Nine Number 8 Rich Charm
Next Best: Race Five Number 2 Divine Ten
Best Value: Race Seven Number 2 Lord Aspen
Racing News:
The omens are good for a case of third time lucky for Madotti on a Magic Millions day.
Trainer Matt Dunn has elected to run Madotti in the $1 million QTIS race instead of the Magic Millions event for fillies and mares at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Madotti has been in sparkling form this campaign, winning at Rosehill and then finishing second to Egyptian Symbol in the Wyong Magic Millions fillies and mares race before Christmas.
The mare has a stakes win in the 2015 Vo Rogue Plate but she has had bad luck in many races.
Madotti was fourth in the 2015 Magic Millions Two-Year-Oold Classic and finished fifth in last year’s Magic Millions Guineas, both times having to work hard from wide barriers.
Dunn said he would love to see Madotti win on Saturday for the mare’s connections who had been patient.
“She has won over $400,000 but with any luck it could have been so much more. The problem has been wet tracks and bad barriers,” Dunn said.
“But on Saturday she should get a dry track and she has finally drawn a good barrier in number five. It means we can ride her the way we want just off the pace.”
Dunn said it had not been a hard choice to miss the Magic Millions fillies and mares race.
“From the day we saw the weights she was going to run in the QTIS only race,” he said.
“She is very well weighted in it (54kg) and I would be disappointed if she doesn’t go well.”
Meanwhile, Dunn has a double-barrelled chance in the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic with Saxton Rock and Arrestar.
Dunn’s decision to run the pair at Murwillumbah, where they both ran second, two weeks ago, paid off with both qualifying for the Classic.
“They were on the cusp of getting a start and I would rather have run them 12 days before the race than seven which was the other choice,” he said.
“They are both well and although they drew wide they will come in a few with scratchings. They are both big prices but you have got to be in it to win it.”
“Also Saxton Rock is eligible for the $500,000 women owners bonus and at the worst would get an extra $25,000 for starting.