Race 1 - 12:15PM TAB We’re On Tips (1100m)
5. She’s An Artist is a galloper the market rarely misses, although she does have a habit of burning punters, having now lost four of her last five starts at short odds, including three defeats as an odds-on favourite.
One of those was a narrow defeat here to Verdoux, and while that form has almost held up, she is becoming costly at the price again.
1. Pop Award was slow away fresh at Listed level, and her second-up record reads two wins and a second from three attempts, including a victory over Arkansaw Kid, whose subsequent form ties in through Tropicus and Jigsaw.
3. Gentle Steel is up in class again but is flying, with the speedster chasing four straight wins on Saturday.
6. Eagle Express had excuses last start in Sydney when covering ground at Group 3 level, and there’s less depth here.
Selections: 5-1-3-6.
Race 2 - 12:45PM York Plate Tips (1400m)
This is a competitive three-year-old race but not one to be overly confident in, with a stack of chances engaged, and this gelding is one at a big price.
2. Miewa resumes with blinkers applied and has always shown plenty of raw ability, breaking through at Moonee Valley in September, and was well backed first-up last winter when having excuses behind a subsequent Group 1 winner.
4. Lawborough did a few things wrong but won well on debut before stepping up to beat older horses at Cranbourne, showing toughness and tactical speed, which should help offset the draw.
11. Exit has been frustrating but has shown ability at stages, and the blinkers go on here in an attempt to spark improvement.
8. Berlemont was a smart debut winner and looked the horse to follow from the Future Stars Final, which is often a good reference.
Selections: 2-4-11-8.
Race 3 - 1:20PM TBV Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes Tips (1200m)
1. Gin Twist faces a tougher assignment stepping from 1000m to 1200m and is not always straightforward, but the recent jump-out on March 20 suggests she is still going well.
She showed sharp speed when leading throughout to win on February 28, and with her sire’s juvenile progeny flying this season, she looks capable of handling the rise in trip.
4. Jadzia should appreciate getting to 1200m after chasing well on debut behind Medicinal in a Group 3, and that winner had strong prior references.
5. Satono Glow comes through a stylish Warwick Farm debut triumph where she recorded the fastest last 400m of the March 11 program.
8. Salann is a first starter who has moved well, and she’s prepared by underrated trainer Ben Brisbourne, who produced a 40/1 VRC Sires’ winner.
Selections: 1-4-5-8.
Race 4 - 1:55PM Glorious Goodwood Handicap Tips (1100m)
14. Moor Mumm is from a travelling Matthew Dale yard, coming off a strong Canterbury effort on stable debut, where she ran the fastest last 600m of the meeting and just missed behind a consistent Godolphin mare.
She has previous Victorian form, including a metropolitan win over this track, trip and grade, and looks well placed with just 52kg after the claim.
13. Actuality has looked sharp in a recent jump-out at Pakenham and has strong fresh credentials, with a win and two placings from three first-up runs.
4. Nimbustwothousand has fitness and form on the board, and while there were excuses at Cranbourne fresh, the gelding has won his past two and is unbeaten at 1100m.
9. Salsa Fellow hasn’t had much go right this prep and drops in grade here, having saluted over this track and trip last winter.
Selections: 14-13-4-9.
Race 5 - 2:30PM The Curragh, Where Champions Are Made, Handicap Tips (2000m)
14. Zakouma may not have been able to progress last winter, but he returned with a strong win at Geelong before backing that up with an impressive Sandown victory, and now drops 4.5kg for this assignment.
That weight relief and recent form make him hard to ignore in a race where a number of the more exposed runners look to be making up the numbers.
12. Jareth has been solid this campaign, placing in a good form race first-up before winning at Pakenham second-up, and looks ready for 2000m now.
6. Darknconfidential is a big price and should have won in this grade on a previous Melbourne visit, while his recent Adelaide runs at Listed level have been sound, although he does not want rain.
15. Pantile Warrior faces a stiff task to turn the tables on Zakouma from their Sandown clash but has upside and is suited rising in trip.
Selections: 14-12-6-15.
Race 6 - 3:05PM VRC Sprint Classic Tips (1100m)
5. My Gladiola looks well placed to bounce back after her latest effort up the Flemington straight where she was held up and resented being in restricted room as second favourite in the Newmarket Handicap.
It took an enormous run from Tentyris to deny her fresh in the Black Caviar Lightning, and the slight drop in trip suits given her best performances have come between 1000m and 1100m.
2. Legacy Bound is a consistent performer who placed behind both Tentyris and My Gladiola in spring before a spell and resumed with a win over 1100m here, and there’s still improvement to come.
4. Bacash resumes gelded and worked nicely under a hold in his latest jump-out, and has placed in both previous straight-track attempts.
7. Snow Mercy is a classy runner to respect at odds, with previous Group 3 success and solid jump-out work leading in.
Selections: 5-2-4-7.
Race 7 - 3:40PM Lexus Roy Higgins Tips (2600m)
13. Litzdeel looks the one to beat as she attempts to secure a Melbourne Cup berth, having improved sharply second-up when making ground in the Australian Cup Prelude, and this looks the autumn target.
Her prior staying form is strong, including a dominant 2800m win at Flemington, and two of her prior close-up seconds have also been franked through both Mr Monaco and American Wolf.
6. Desert Hero comes through the same race and had excuses there, and with strong overseas ratings and a rise in trip, he shapes as a key chance.
2. Paradise Storm brings fitness and confidence after an Auckland Cup win, although he rises 5.5kg for that effort.
8. Steel Run has been frustrating but still competitive, and while only fair last start, that was third-up and he may improve again here.
Selections: 13-6-2-8.
Race 8 - 4:15PM TAB Australian Cup Tips (2000m)
10. Leica Lucy brings strong form into this after an excellent Futurity Stakes return and an All-Star Mile effort that was better than it looked, having been unsuited by race pattern.
The mare still ran the fastest last 200m of that race and now steps to 2000m, which should suit given her staying background, and she looks well placed from the draw.
6. Sabaj has plenty of raw talent and ran the fastest last 400m in the All-Star Mile despite working in restricted room, and if he can put it together over 2000m, he is a major threat.
5. Birdman is one of the more improved horses in the country, winning the Blamey before bolting in with the Peter Young, and his overseas form suggests the rise in trip will not be an issue.
12. Philia could be a value inclusion, having not handled Caulfield last start, and she was luckless at Flemington prior to that.
Selections: 10-6-5-12.
Race 9 - 4:55PM ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap Tips (1000m)
This is a very open race and difficult to be confident, with multiple contenders.
6. Corniche could be the blowout, with a strong effort at Cranbourne on stable debut for Shawn Mathrick where he ran the fastest last 400m and 200m of the meeting, and while disappointing last start, the form has held up strongly.
13. Grand Larceny is genuine and proved both his straight and wet track credentials here in spring before a competitive Listed effort, and his March 20 jump-out win was impressive.
8. Celerity returned to winning form at Listed level last start and has been racing consistently, and she holds her place despite this being tougher.
3. Midwest nearly caused an upset last start behind Bridal Waltz, who was then competitive in The Galaxy on Golden Slipper Day.
Selections: 6-13-8-3.
Race 10 - 5:35PM Royal Ascot Handicap Tips (1600m)
11. Justadeel is well placed in the finale, having completed a solid return, and there was then a gap between runs when beaten narrowly in the Echuca Cup, and he carries 3.5kg less from that second-up tilt and will only strip fitter.
A lightly raced five-year-old, the son of Dundeel has been very consistent, with his biggest defeat a debut fifth, and four wins, six placings and a pair of fourths from 12 subsequent runs, including his only try over this track and trip.
1. Cafe Millennium brings strong form, with his second-up win over Sabaj and Enxuto a great reference, while he was completely unsuited last start, although the mile remains the main query.
10. Statuario can pull out a run fresh, as shown first-up last prep when placing at Caulfield, and Damian Lane takes the ride again.
18. Merrigold is holding form well and has just 52kg after the claim, and while this is deeper, she is not without a chance.
Selections: 11-1-10-18.