Flemington Racing Tips for October 24 – Jigsaw to continue streak and outlast Extragalactic on Cox Plate day

Here are our best bets from the meeting, which features the Cox Plate, which will be held at the venue this year due to the redevelopment at Moonee Valley. 

Keen on Joely in the Moonee Valley Vase (2040m). One of just two fillies in the Group 2 for three-year-olds, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained galloper was well beaten when runner-up to Saintly Dancer over 1600m on a Heavy track at Flemington last time. However, the winner has since gone on to claim the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) and looks the real deal. Joely settled back on that occasion and was the best of the rest to finish off, recording the fastest final 200m sectional. She was also solid when sixth on a Good surface at Caulfield at her previous start. The daughter of Toronado looks suited by the rise in distance to 2040m and draws to enjoy a perfect trail with Craig Williams aboard. She should be finishing strongly.

Jigsaw just keeps solving the puzzle and has now strung together eight consecutive wins. He looks capable of justifying the short quote in the McEwen Stakes (1200m) and appears to have returned even better following a dazzling first-up victory in the Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield. The eight-year-old went at a good clip in front before putting the race away inside the final 100m, recording a performance nearly 15 lengths faster than standard benchmark. Second-up at his previous preparation, he improved a couple of lengths on benchmark figures to claim the Apache Cat Classic (1200m) at Caulfield before winning the McEwen Stakes when it was staged at Moonee Valley. Interestingly, the son of Manhattan Rain is yet to place in four starts at Flemington, but a couple of those were over longer distances, while the others came in strong races when he was nowhere near the form he has displayed over the past year. He is flying at present and will take plenty of catching.

Torranzino is a sneaky player at massive in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m). The Melbourne Cup (3200m) fifth placegetter from last year has had two runs this preparation, needing the hitout when resuming over 2000m at Caulfield before finishing a well-beaten sixth in the Might And Power Stakes (2000m). That performance may not have been as disappointing as it appeared, with winner Land Legend setting a new track record. Torranzino still went seven lengths faster than standard benchmark, and there is reason to expect significant improvement as he rises in distance. At his spring preparation last year, the Paul Preusker-trained galloper improved 10 lengths on benchmark figures when stepping up to 2500m, finishing runner-up in The Bart Cummings at Flemington before claiming the Geelong Cup. Celine Gaudray takes the ride and strikes at 17% for the stable, providing a 51% profit on investment. He looks capable of producing a much-improved performance at an attractive price.