Winx

Group 1 Racing is at Flemington this week with the speedsters doing battle in the 1000m Lightning Stakes down the straight. It's not the strongest Lightning I have ever seen, and with not a huge amount of 1000m form it makes it a difficult puzzle for punters. There are strong fields at Randwick too with champion mare Winx making her return to the track in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes. It's a real smorgasbord for racing fans and plenty of good races for Tournament players to sink their teeth into.

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Race 2 at Flemington is for the stayers over 2000m and features three pretty promising horses. One of those is the Robert Hickmott trained Schabau who won his first Australian run over this track and distance back on New Years Day. He has had a setback and been scratched from a race since and looks one to take on here at the odds on quote. Hang Man was given no hope last start at Sandown over the mile when settling last in a slowly run race. He finished off in very fast sectionals and will be suited to the rise in distance. Damien Oliver replaces the apprentice Jack Martin too and he looks a nice play at $4.60 with BetEasy. The other major chance looks to be Surprise Baby who was a strong winner after sitting wide last start at Moonee Valley over the mile and looks as though he will appreciate the extra distance. He is up in class here but the $7.50 with Sportsbet looks a good price.

Race 5 is The Vanity for the 3yo fillies over 1400m and is race that looks to lack early speed. Fundamentalist is one of the horses that will be on speed getting a good run and will be suited by the lack of tempo. She ran well enough first up at Caulfield two weeks ago in a fast race and that should have brought her on nicely for this. She has only won 2 from 13 which is some query but many of her runs have been at the top level where she is rarely far away. She looks the best bet of the day and is currently $3.00 with BetEasy.

The Lightning Stakes is the feature and is Race 8 on the program. As mentioned there isn't a lot of 1000m form in the race making it a tricky affair for punters. The novelty of the race is 2yo Jedastar running and carrying just 44kg. She is very fast but I think she will be found wanting late in the race as the more better performed and seasoned sprinters get over the top of her. The Kris Lees trained Graff has not raced since a very good 5th in The Everest in the Spring but is unbeaten in two first up runs. He looks one of the main chances at $6.50 with Sportsbet. Another 3yo with a great chance is Lean Mean Machine trained by Chris Waller. This appears to be a target race as he ran well down the straight in the Spring over 1200m and has had a recent jump out down the straight to ready himself for this. Drawing out should suit him and he gets the services of gun jockey James McDonald. He is currently $8.00 with Pointsbet. The value runner in the race looks to be Divine Quality. She has a great fresh record and if seeing is believing she put in one of the performances of Melbourne Cup Week when a devastating winner down the straight on Derby Day. If she can recreate that performance albeit up significantly in class here then she should be in the finish. She is currently $21 with Neds.

Switching to Randwick and whilst all eyes are likely to be on Winx she isn't really a betting option at the $1.09. It may not be the most high profile event of the day but Race 3 for the stayers looks a nice race for tournament players to build their bank. The Chris Waller trained Gayatri looks a nice play. She is lightly raced having won 4 from 6 so has plenty of upside and is coming off a strong win over 2200m at Warwick Farm. The additional distance should only be in her favour and she looks to have a bright future. She is currently $2.05 with Sportsbet.

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