Group 1 Racing Tips - Epsom Handicap, The Metropolitan, Flight Stakes & Turnbull Stakes

Blackbook Staff

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Last updated: 30 Sep 2022

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Blackbook Staff 30 Sep 2022

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Mitchell Cashmore previews the Group 1 action on Saturday, October 1
The Epsom Handicap, The Metropolitan and Flight Stakes takes place at Randwick
Flemington stages the Turnbull Stakes

Expired

Gold Trip runs as our best bet in the Turnbull Stakes. (Getty)

Mitchell Cashmore previews the Group 1 action on Saturday, October 1 with four races to look forward to.

The Epsom Handicap, The Metropolitan and Flight Stakes takes place at Randwick, while Flemington stages the Turnbull Stakes.

Get our previews for all four races.

Flemington Race 7 - Turnbull Stakes

Surefire is a horse that is absolutely crying out for a dry track and he finally gets it here. Blake Shinn is a good jockey to pilot him here as well, as he should take him forward from the wide barrier, stick him in the pocket and grab cover and then rise over them in the final stages. At the current price, he is a great each-way bet.

The same can be said for Profondo. He is a group 1 winner at this distance and is a horse that will appreciate the rise to the 2km mark. He has been really solid in all of his starts and Williams should give him a peach of a ride in transit, currently, overs.

Duais is a horse that will relish the rise in distance more than any of them. This is his first big test en route to the Melbourne Cup. He’ll fly late and a win wouldn’t shock at all and the same goes for Gold Trip. If either of them runs poorly here, they won’t be winning The Cup.

Randwick Race 6 - The Flight Stakes

Fireburn presents as the market favourite and is being declared as a ‘Morale’ by many in the industry. You can see why, as she drops back to the fillies grade and gets the extra 200 metres to stretch out her legs on a wet deck, all of which she loves.

However, from a betting perspective, there is a horse that presents exactly the same and is an extra $4 in betting odds. That is She’s Extreme and I think she rates really highly and is underrated by the market. Yes, she was flat-footed last week, but Berry said she never got into a rhythm, she’ll be better here.

Zougotcha has won two on the trot, can get three here if she isn’t busted by her previous runs. She’s gutsy and will fight to the line, can get it done.

Wolverine presents as a knockout chance who will relish the jump in distance, not sure if she is good enough to beat the proven Group 1 winners.

Randwick Race 8 - The Epsom Handicap

Icebath has always been the bridesmaid, but is it finally time for her to win a Group 1? I think this is by far her best chance to snag one. She’s flying without winning, making ground late and being super behind Zaaki and Anamoe in her last two starts, that’s just about the best middle-distance form you can get in the country at the moment.

Hinged won a Group 1 at this track and in the slop earlier this year so we know that she can deal with the conditions and the pressure of the race quality. She should be ridden nice and forward and potentially rise over them in the straight.

Cross Talk should lead and have a commanding lead going into the final stages if Ellsberg can’t hang, which I suspect he won’t. They’ll have to run him down, and they might not be able to if the track bias is on pace.

Top Ranked loves the mile and does his best work early in the prep, should be in the finish, but if the track is a bog I don’t think he’ll be much of a player.

Read our full Epsom Handicap preview.

Randwick Race 9 - The Metropolitan

Stockman has to be the bet here, doesn’t he? He’s been building with every run and will be ready to peak here and has been looking at this race all Spring. He gets a wet track, which he loves and isn’t facing the three who beat him home last start, he can win and at good odds too.

Durston is absolutely flying right now. Comes off of two straight country cup wins and was superb in both, but this time in he doesn’t have J Mac on board and hasn’t seen a heavy track, perhaps that is the big query?

No Compromise is a horse that I don’t want to disrespect considering how good he is over this distance. He got a massive win over this trip in Autumn and he can get one here, the one to watch fly in the final 400.

Mankayan is an out-and-out stayer. He’ll eat up this distance and will not be bothered by the wet track, a slight KO chance for sure.