Flemington Racing Tips November 5 - Champions Sprint, Champions Mile & Champions Stakes

The Champions Sprint, Champions Mile and Champions Stakes are the three Group 1s taking place. Get our previews for all three races.

Nature Strip is the best sprinter in the world. A loss in The Everest has not changed that. On the day he was 5 wide on the turn and just burned too much petrol to get the job done. But he’s a different beast down the straight and I think he bounces back and shows the world that The Everest was just a small spot on a sparkling career. Giga Kick coming here sets up a major rematch, the grudge match of the Spring if you will. He comes here undefeated and loves the straight just as much as Nature Strip and will carry much less weight here, so you could certainly make a case. Bella Nipotina is coming off a thundering win in the Manikato and she has never been racing stronger, she should certainly be close to the finish and is probably the best value in the race. The Roughie of the field would have to be September Run. She’s always around the mark and is a straight-track specialist, finishing close behind Nature Strip many many times. Levante is one I also want to mention, purely because she brings some solid NZ form into this, as well as a strong run in the Newmarket at this track in Autumn, she shouldn’t be left out of the exotics.

Selection: Nature Strip

Private Eye comes into this one as the favourite and deservedly so as he is absolutely airborne, transforming from one of Australia’s most consistent middle-distance horses to one of the country’s most prolific sprinters. It is very interesting to see him back to the mile now when a showdown with Nature Strip down the straight could have awaited him, but Joe Pride isn’t an idiot, he knows what he is doing with this horse and he’s primed for a massive run. Cascadian is another horse that is just on fire, and bar Anamoe, is probably the most in-form middle-distance horse in the country right now and it’s no surprise that both horses share a trainer/jockey combo. His last two starts at Randwick have been as impressive as they come and now he is back in Victoria to show them how they do it Sydney style. With #sydneyform being all the rage these days, he would have to be hard to hold out  My Oberon is a horse that I am very invested in, as I think he might just be the next Zaaki, a talented European stayer under the tutelage of Annabel Neesham with a devastating turn of foot. He was incredible in his Aussie debut, but this is a different class of horses and he will have to improve even further to get the job done, which wouldn’t shock me one bit. We can’t forget about Alligator Blood, who unlike the Cox Plate is drawn closer to the rail again and will get a chance to dictate things up front just the way he likes it. He has an affection for Flemington and doesn’t have to deal with Zaaki or Anamoe, he can win. 

Selection: Cascadian

Anamoe is Australia’s best horse as of right now. He has won 4 Group 1’s on the trot, with all runs more impressive than the last. He dominated the Cox Plate and can certainly make it 5 on the trot if he turns up ready to run his best, which with the risk to the stud price, they would never risk. I think the only thing that beats him is Flemington first time, which will give the chasers more time to run him down. Speaking of which, I’m Thunderstruck has his best chance to knock off Anamoe here. He’s lost to him narrowly in his last two starts and just hasn’t been able to get his nose in front. But like I said, he now gets a whole lot longer to really stretch out his legs and get past the Godolphin star. Throw in that he loves Flemington, never missing the quinella and I don’t think that record gets broken this weekend. Hinged at $23 is silly. I know that he will have to beat the likes of Anamoe and I’m Thunderstruck home, but she is super talented, she’s shown that time and time again, including a narrow third in both the George Main Stakes and the Epsom Handicap. She would have preferred it wet, but I think she presents as a definite roughie chance to take the cake. Finally, Mo’Unga has to round out the Top 4, as with every start he has been really strong through the line, including the Cox Plate. So similarly to I’m Thunderstruck, with the longer straight to really get motoring in the final 400, he can find his way into the money. 

Selection: Anamoe