1st day of the new season and again the name Weir keeps bobbing up in numerous races. Cold week, track a good 4 rail out 6m. It races well, don’t go looking for bias or the wind, its Flemington, tempo key in circle races, straight races, jockeys play jockeys but drawn out seems a better option. (Seems!) BEST: Race 6 #7 YOGI $3 bet now
VALUE: Race 10 #5 TAN TAT TRUSTING $11 bet now
Race 1: 4-1-7-3
Tough start. All the raced are resuming – what have they done or how have they improved since first or latest preps and 6 ARROWROOT is a 10 lane trial winner and 7 FRANKEL MY DEAR is a $500k Frankel with no official public appearances (Please!!!!). The market says no. So that says tread warily but for the sake of it blinkers on 4 INDIAN THUNDER is good to lead here from 1 AZAZEL (1 alley no help).
SUGGESTED: Wait until midday for a drink and a bet.
Race 2: 2-1-6-7
Hard to ignore the current dashing form on 2 DULVERTON, 1700m to suit and of course so much of this form ties in.1 HELL OR HIGHWATER was a wind victim last start. 6 ANOTHER BULLSEYE is well placed with the claim if Marshall rides to use it to advantage. That form brings in 7 WHYOUASK and the big improver will be 3 DOMINO VITALE at the trip.
Suggested: 2 DULVERTON for the hat-trick. $3.7 bet now
Race 3: 1-2-3-9
Good race. Thinking a break and the straight is good for 1 MADEENATY. Had a busy summer and autumn but recall the dominant straight win and post race spin about how good it was. She’s the one to beat clearly. 2 CHATEAU GRIFFO has the form to entice (Limestone/Tulip) and must run well off that. 3 CROWN WITNESS was terrific on debut and claim brings in well and debutant 9 WATCHMESPIN looked to have the ability in jumpouts.
SUGGESTED: 1 MADEENATY proven here, others have much to prove. $3.2 bet now
Race 4: 2-11-1-4
Make a simple call and go with fit horses against the resumes, two of Team Williams 1 BONDI BEACH(gelded) and 5 ALOFT – who did win fresh last prep 60kg but reckon 2 KILLARNEY KID the way to go here with some seasoning over the perennial teaser 11 GALAXY RAIDER. 7 MAGIC CONSOL is in good form and excusable last time. Oh and 3 EXTRA ZERO is always competitive at Flemington.
SUGGESTED: 2 KILLARNEY KID with a fitness edge. $4.4 bet now
Race 5: 7-1-9-8
Love a horse back from 1400m to the straight six and that is 7 NIKITAS. Had been too keen at 1200m, Weir sends out to win at 1400m and straight back here and gets cover. That’s good. 1 BEATNIKS is over the odds. Good resuming for Dale stable but likely to bounce off good return well. 9 HAY BALE defied all last time and 8 KIRANI competitive up the straight to overturn 3 PLAY MASTER.
SUGGESTED: 7 NIKITAS clearly. $3.6 bet now
Race 6: 7-11-4-8
From mid-weeks to Saturday and 7 YOGI is best of the day, Wants 2500m, wants Flemington and reckon Johnny Allen stand over its idiosyncrasies here. Will give 11 CHRISMONTANE a start and not ignoring that. 4 GLOBAL GENTL showed more than enough ability working to first win here and 8 CHEQUERED FLAG has been coaxed to winning form by Weir.
SUGGESTED: 7 YOGI wins $3 bet now
Race 7: 13-4-8-14
This is a future star 13 REBELLIOUS LORD. Should have won last time, no luck, and the only horse trained by Mark O’Donnell – pre-trainer for Darren Weir, he knows what he is doing. Talking of Weir 4 ANDREA MANTEGNA can only improve big win resuming. 8 DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR needs luck from the draw with 3kg claimer. 14 WAYANKA comes off the mid-week form to play here, stablemate 12 JAMINZAH not out of it.
SUBGESTED: Big up and comer here 13 REBELLIOUS LORD. $2.8 bet now
Race 8: 2-4-11-13
Wow what an unattractive betting race. Top pick 2 AMOVATIO hasn’t won for (ages) but looks as though it is ready to do so. 4 RHYTHM TO SPARE rarely wins but in for enough to do so. 11 SHOW ASTAR has been through a few stables, will roll along in front and take a beating. 13 COSMIC LIGHTS well placed here for Baster fresh off Kokoda. 9 MOONOVER MANHATTAN ready to find form again after good grounding for Weir.
SUGGESTED: 2 AMOVATIO to win in the race of non-winners. $4.6 bet now
Race 9: 12-13-17-4
Looks perfect again for 12 PORTMAN. Terrific Flemington record rolls forward with claim and one to beat again. 13 REVOLVING DOOR ideal quinella and clear threat with M Zahra back from holiday, 17 SIN TO WIN is the big query – looks well placed off a BM71 for Kiwi form. 4 DIVINE MR ARTIE needs luck from the alley with claimer up but is ready to peak.
SUGGESTED: Looks 12 PORTMAN again. $3.3 bet now
Race 10: 5-3-11-14
Like the way 5 TAN TAT TRUSTING is progressing from sound debut to good mid-week win and can handle the step to even Saturday 2000m contest here. Plenty of the 4 WINDBERN form again to dissect whichever way you like. Claim looks good for 3 SPANISH REEF. 11 PENTHOUSE KITTEN brings different from the line but reckons it more than measures up. 14 PRESSCOTT has been well founded in early betting after an obviously luckless run at Caulfield. Might be overbet here but can see why at the original $21 plus.
SUGGESTED: Value with 5 TAN TAT TRUSTING $11 bet now