Flemington Racing Tips for March 28 – She’s An Artist to get the Australian Cup day off to a flyer

Here are our best bets from the meeting, which features the Group 1 Australian Cup. 

She’s An Artist is the one to beat in the opener at Flemington. The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper resumed with a win at Caulfield on the Heath circuit in Febriary then stepped over the 1100m here on March 7 but missed out as a $1.70 favourite behind Verdoux, who was closer to the rails side on a day that favoured those in that part of the track. While the daughter of Trapeze Artist hasnt quite lived up to the early boom she had on her after her first two starts, she is compiling a more than handy record and has produced some very strong figures down the Flemington straight in the past. With just 54kg on her back and Jamie Melham in the saddle, this looks her race. 

Race 2 pits a solid crop of three-year-olds up against one another and Wise Inlaw looms as a bit of a value player. The Moody/Coleman galloper has registered just the one win, with that coming in Maiden grade in Bairnsdale last spring. But he was placed in two city races following that, including one at the track and trip in the Listed Exford Plate behind Vinrock and West Of Swindon, brave when setting a hectic tempo out in front. He has settled midfield in his two runs this time in and was ok when 4th behind Pallaton when resuming at Group 3 level before not much went right in easier company at Sandown last time when 4th behind Everain. He was back and wide with no cover throughout but did come home well to go five lengths faster than standard. He was a 13-length improver at this stage of his last prep, while we can take confidence out of his performance in the Exford Plate. From barrier 4, he should enjoy a perfect time in transit to set up nicely for him at the business end. 

Apulia shapes as an each-way player in the Australian Cup (2000m) after finishing runner-up behind Birdman in one of the key lead ups to this, the Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield. The Team Hayes galloper covered extra ground when looping the field, unlike Birdman who was able to stick closer to the rail before edging out in the straight. Apulia produced the fastest splits from the 600m to the 200m and stuck on strongly late. He brings a strong staying base into this, having won the Perth Cup over 2400m earlier in the preparation, and that fitness profile is ideal for what will be a genuinely run 2000m at Flemington. From barrier two, he maps to enjoy a much more economical run, and with blinkers back on, he shapes as a forgotten runner in the market who is well placed to improve sharply and figure prominently at each-way odds.