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Flemington Betting Tips for March 9, 2024 - Race-By-Race preview for Newmarket Handicap day

Alex Marsh

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Last updated: 08 Mar 2024

Alex Marsh 08 Mar 2024

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Flemington host the Melbourne metro meeting on March 9
The track is currently in the Good 4 range
This program could be brought forward due to the heat
Our race-by-race preview is included below

Expired

The Group 1 Newmarket Handicap headlines Saturday's Flemington card. (Getty)

Flemington hosts an eight-race program on March 9 and Saturday's preview is included below.

Flemington Tips March 9
Race 1 - 10:45AM Cirka Plate Tips (1100m)
Race 2 - 11:15AM TAB Australian Cup Prelude Tips (1800m)
Race 3 - 11:45AM Super Saturday Plate Tips (1400m)
Race 4 - 12:15PM MSS Security Sires' Produce Stakes Tips (1400m)
Race 5 - 12:45PM Yulong Newmarket Handicap Tips (1200m)
Race 6 - 1:20PM TAB Kewney Stakes Tips (1600m)
Race 7 - 1:55PM Furphy Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap Tips (1400m)
Race 8 - 2:30PM Matron Stakes Tips (1600m)

Flemington Tips March 9

Race 1 - 10:45AM Cirka Plate Tips (1100m)

Best: 2. Hanchi. Despite bringing decent form from his last prep in the west, the market wanted nothing to do with Hanchi, who was a notable drifter on return at Caulfield.

It was still a strong Melbourne debut from the gelding, who was held-up early in the run home before angling clear and at 11.20, he's run the fastest last 200m of the meeting.

Along with being VOBIS Platinum eligible, Hanchi is also a three-year-old who can drop back to a race against his own age and they've made that move on Saturday.

Value: 6. Lost. This filly can continue to improve with racing and while she progressed from a fresh run to salute second-up, she still wasn't fully screwed down at Sandown.

The Godolphin three-year-old defeated Lazy Susan in that last run, with the runner-up franking that form on Wednesday, while her fresh form through Diamond Decorator has also stood up.

She's one of the race-fit and in-form gallopers of this field who has tactical speed, while the filly carries 2kg less for this third-up attempt.

Race 2 - 11:15AM TAB Australian Cup Prelude Tips (1800m)

Best: 7. Fawkner Park. There's still no decision on where Fawkner Park is going, as he's also accepted for the Canberra Cup on Sunday, although this might be the savvier placement.

As a middle-distance type who has a lovely turn-of-foot on firm ground, he'd be ideally suited on an Australian Cup path, as he should relish the big expanses of Flemington.

I think he was looking for a longer break last year after winning these first four and off a nice return, Blake Shinn takes the engagement for this 1800m affair.

Value: 5. Berkeley Square. Given how costly he was throughout his last campaign, a lot of punters have jumped off this gelding, however, he's ticking over quite well.

Berkeley Square showed a lot talent as a two and three-year-old before missing last autumn, and with just one lead-up trial, it's a slower build up this campaign.

He should've finished closer first-up and while he was ultimately a run short second-up last week, Berkeley Square still made good inroads when working home in restricted room.

Race 3 - 11:45AM Super Saturday Plate Tips (1400m)

Best: 1. Scheelite. He was one of the more unlucky runners in the Group 3 Zeditave at Caulfield on February 24, where the colt was held-up at key stages in the straight.

Off what was only fair work at the jump-outs, Scheelite was a late drifter ahead of that 1200m return and Mark Zahra jumps aboard for this seven furlong attempt.

It is getting close to D-Day for the three-year old, as he had plenty of chances last spring and arguably the pick of those runs was the second-up effort when running slick sectionals.

Value: 11. Groundrush. He's up in grade, but being race-fit, this is well worth a shot at the stumps for the Team Hawkes-trained colt, who looks ideally placed out to 1400m now.

After a luckless return at Canterbury, Groundrush was probably the best $6.50 chance you'll see in a Newcastle maiden and he broke through there second-up.

I felt he was looking for this trip last start, where he stayed at six furlongs at Canterbury, but he once again made ground and that winner is no slouch.

Race 4 - 12:15PM MSS Security Sires' Produce Stakes Tips (1400m)

Best: 2. Stay Focused. The winner of the barrier draws was Stay Focused, a Phillip Stokes-trained colt who was brave in the Blue Diamond when covering ground.

He was on the fresh side prior to that when contesting the Prelude, with the son of Cosmic Force freshened up for that following a stylish debut win.

He'll need to settle kinder to run out seven furlongs, but he has the gate/map to do and being out of a Galileo mare who won over 1900m, he should get the trip on breeding.

Value: 3. Traffic Warden. Being from the same family as Willowy, Skilled and Ambidexter, Traffic Warden should have no problem running out of a strong seven furlongs.

I would have had him on top had he drawn an alley, especially at the current prices, although from a kinder barrier, he would have been $4 and not an each-way quote.

He was on the fresh side in the Canterbury Stakes before heading south and he only completed one quiet trial since the Caulfield win in December, so there is room for improvement.

Race 5 - 12:45PM Yulong Newmarket Handicap Tips (1200m)

Best: 12. Sghirripa. While the talented South Australian visitor had to settle for a midfield finish last start in the Oakleigh Plate, he'll have his time in the sun at Group 1 level.

The four-year-old struggled to muster early from a wide draw, which is out of character, although following a career best at Flemington over 1200m, maybe he needs six furlongs now?

Sghirripa was completely unsuited by the pattern of the meeting, where he was back, wide and chasing, yet at 11.29, he's recorded the fastest last 200m of the Oakleigh Plate.

Value: 6. Magic Time. Espiona is going north to dodge Imperatriz and others for what is a deeper race (Newmarket), and Magic Time is another that the Chris Waller-trained mare is smartly avoiding.

With even luck, Magic Time would've belted Espiona via The Invitation at Randwick last spring and as the more lightly raced of the two, the Grahame Begg mare has more upside.

The daughter of Hellbent rounded out her spring campaign with a much-deserved Group 1 win in Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and she carries half a kilo less in the Newmarket.

Race 6 - 1:20PM TAB Kewney Stakes Tips (1600m)

Best: 5. Autumn Angel. Serasana can also be included as one to follow from the Angus Armanasco, as she was also luckless, but going forward, Autumn Angel will prosper over longer trips.

Quiet jump-outs and a late market drift suggested she'd need that fresh run and considering where she was placed from the 300m-200m when finding trouble, it was a great recovery.

She's only got warm late (fastest last 200m of the race) in what was ideal fresh blowout for a three-year-old who could be on an Australasian Oaks path and the mile suits now.

Value: 11. Into You. I'm interested to see how this Shay Keating-trained filly measures up here, a three-year-old who is improving with racing and she does have a touch of X-Factor.

She improved off her debut third at Sandown to breakthrough at Ballarat before returning to metro level on the Hillside circuit and bolting in on February 28.

Into You made light work of some useful horses at Sandown, where she relished the rise to 1600m and from gate one on Saturday, she can settle closer in the run.

Race 7 - 1:55PM Furphy Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap Tips (1400m)

Best: 3. Amenable. Despite proving himself at Group level as a three and four-year-old, Amenable was a little inconsistent, hence the decision to geld the son of Lonhro.

Even when he had won prior jump-outs, he could often look workmanlike as an entire and now being a few stones lighter, the recent workouts were much sharper.

The Doncaster Mile might be the aim if he can progress through this first-up and as one of the few progressive horses in this Group 3, he's very well placed here.

Value: 7. Windstorm. There's no doubting his class, however, it's just a matter of keeping Windstorm on the park, a seven-year-old who has only completed 14 starts overall.

After being off the scene for more than three years, the Bob Peters galloper was a pass mark fresh, with the gelding just peaking late on an early and wide move from the rear.

There won't be plans, as John Leek will just be happy to get some racing into him, but with any improvement second-up, he's not without top three claims here.

Race 8 - 2:30PM Matron Stakes Tips (1600m)

Best: 10. Eternal Flame. There wouldn't be many more gallopers in Melbourne who are more deserving of a stakes win than Eternal Flame, who was absolutely luckless here two starts back.

Given she was held-up in that 1400m tilt, Mick Kent backed her up in the Group 3 Mannerism at Caulfield, when she got home out wide and that was against the pattern of that meeting.

She is better suited back to Flemington at this level and another positive is the Damian Lane engagement, with the gun hoop having been aboard for her last win.

Value: 4. Rumbled Again. This is clearly harder coming out of benchmark company, but Rumbled Again is going well and this is worth a shot at the stumps for some black-type.

She'd been building well without luck ahead of her last start win and from an inside draw, the six-year old might be able to settle closer this time around.

She's one of the hard-fit gallopers in this field that's bringing winning form and as Hell Hath No Fury proved last Saturday in Sydney, sometimes that's all you need in these mares races.