Flemington Racing Tips for August 1 – Patrol to star first up in the Aurie Star

Here are our best bets from the meeting, which features the Aurie's Star Handicap and is one of the major city meetings in Australia that we are covering in our Saturday tips.

It was a promising return by Touchdown at Sandown on July 15 and the promising galloper can go close in Race 6. The four-year-old has won four of eight career starts and the slight question is that he may be short of a run- will be keeping a close eye on any market moves in the lead up. He settled back at Sandown after drawing barrier 16 and made a long and sustained run but Kahnof had pinched a break after settling on the speed. The son of Almazor went eight lengths faster than standard, indicating that he has returned in good order. Second up at his last preparation he improved more than five lengths on figures when stepping up from the 1400m to the 1600m and finishing runner-up at Ballarat before chalking up a hat-trick of wins over the summer months ahead of some solid performers. Midfield or just forward of midfield is ideal here and with cover, given the northerly wind in play, and he does have scope to settle a little closer than last time. 

Star Patrol is worth plenty of thought in the feature of the day, the Aurie’s Star Handicap. The lightly raced seven-year-old returns for the first time since the spring carnival last year and was runner-up in the Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) when resuming before placing 3rd behind War Machine in the Gilgai Stakes (1200m). He has produced some big figures when fresh at his past few preparations, going more than 14 lengths faster than standard benchmark last year and when claiming the Bobbie Lewis way back in 2023. The son of Starspangledbanner has options from barrier 8 and will be ridden by Craig Newett, who provides a 26% profit on investment when combining with the Clinton McDonald stable, while he is no stranger to winning big races down the straight. 

This shapes as an excellent race with the likes of Sass Appeal, Duchess Zou and Rise At Dawn in action. Pace looks hectic and that might play into the hands of Ten Commandments, who has been in solid touch this campaign with two wins and a last start minor placing when ridden a bit upside down at Caulfield. In that race, he drew barrier 1 and got a bit fired up, kicking up to lead and racing keenly on a slow tempo before just fading late. His performance prior to that at Flemington over the 1420m was much better when settling a few pairs back on a much stronger tempo and launching late to win by over two lengths from Thebelmontgangster, going more than 14 lengths faster than standard. Barrier 12 for this might be a blessing in disguise as there will be plenty of speed and he can slide into a similar position as to what he did at his previous Flemington run. Teo Nugent takes the ride.