A deep and interesting Australian Guineas is the feature on the first meeting in a big month of Fabulous Flemington.
There are plenty of ways to look at the Guineas itself with the Tasmanian filly Mystic Journey in particular adding some intrigue to the betting. She was awesome in Melbourne back in the spring and takes plenty of beating on what she did there - but she couldn't have drawn much worse in barrier one.
We'll skip over the Guineas for our bet of the day, preffering the undercard and the Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap in particular.
Last year's Australian Guineas winner Grunt heads the weights and the interest as he kicks off towards the All Star Mile but it looks no soft task for him giving chunks of weight and race fitness to talented horses - most of all Widgee Turf.
Widgee Turf is as reliable and consistent as they come but he does have one flaw - a racing pattern that almost looks certain to land him last on Saturday. That's a shame, but there is plenty of pace in the race and we can expect to see a true test. The map money should ensure we get more than fair odds about Widgee Turf who was awesome in a high pressure race first up and while it seems unlikely that a horse as well exposed as Widgee Turf is now better than ever, what he produced first up certainly hinted at it. We are happy to bet with that talent and against the map.
Again the map money can give us the price we want to have a play in race five, a terrific betting handicap for three-year-olds which is sure to see plenty of differing opinions.
There's plenty of angles here but we like the way Winning Partner is going this time in without thinking that he has gotten near his peak just yet. That can come today. The issue is barrier one and getting a clean run at them if he is ridden as patiently as he has been this time in.
Luke Currie is in top form (rarely out of such form it should be said) and we are happy to bet with him getting it right. He was aboard Winning Partner when he produced a big peak at Ballarat last campaign and a return to that form will have him right in the finish here.
THE MELBOURNE MAIL
Play of the Day: Race 6 #3 Widgee Turf @ $4.60
Each way play: Race 5 #6 Winning Partner @ $8.00
