It has been a wild Melbourne Cup Carnival and now it's all winding down to an end.
There have been so many stories and eye-catching moments that have lit up a carnival unlike any other.
Now we preview the final day at Flemington, headquarters has been a gorgeous backdrop to an amazing carnival and hopefully we can pluck a winner or two.
FLEMINGTON
RACE 1 - 2000M- BM80
4 - SOMERSET MAUGHAM - Has pushed through the grades really well so far and lands at what may be the grand final, looks like he will enjoy 2000m.
5 - VEGAS KNIGHT - Very good win last start at this trip, beat Irish Flame who won on Thursday so that form looks even better now. Will likely lead and be really hard to chase down.
6 - ROYAL ORDER - Comes here ready to peak, track and trip is a tick and can score here with natural improvement.
10 - KISSINGER - Very good win at a short price last start, comes up in grade here and would need improvement to figure again. worth following.
Suggested Bet: No bet.
RACE 2 - 1400M - 3YO
4 - TOMMY GOLD - Hardly ever puts a foot wrong, was very good when he returned last time out and can improve to score here.
2 - DEEP SPEED - Has won last two in convincing fashion, has been able to sit on-speed and cruise home. Led and controlled the race last time out, maps do similar again here.
8 - SHELBY COBRA - Very good win last start after facing no luck in the run on debut, was well supported in the market before last win.
5 - RONNIEJAY-Â Another won who can settle on-speed and control the race, will battle for that spot but can win from just off the lead if need be. Peaking now.
Suggested Bet: No bet.
RACE 3 - 1400M - GROUP 3 Network 10 Chatham Stakes
6 - BOLD STAR - Was a very good run last week, has been battling along with not much luck. Run in the Moir was sickening to watch then he was plain in the Schillaci, his best is good enough here.
1 - REYKJAVIK - Loves Flemington and loves the 1400m too, was very good in the G1 Toorak running some serious times to the finish. race fastest last 200m on that occasion. Will enjoy the drop in grade.
5 - RIDDLE ME THAT - Was pretty plain over the mile last start, willing to let that go and give another chance over the 1400m. Won over this track and trip two starts back.
4 -Â MORRISSY - Has been ultra consistent last three placing every time, will give himself every chance on the speed. May find these too good but will battle to the line as always.
Suggested Bet: 10 units win - Bold Star. 5 units each-way- Reykjavik.
RACE 4 - 1600M - BM90
5 - RIGHT YOU AR E- Only miss last campaign was behind Persan who went on to run excellently in the Melbourne Cup. Undeniable talent and looks a good placement here. Track and trip a yes and fresh no issue.
7 - POWER SCHEME - Very good win last time out, comes up in grade now but will be peaking here third-up and ready to improve. First-up run was behind Rich Hips which looks all the better after his win on Cup day. Can run a real race here
13 - BEEHUNTER - Latest run is a total forgive after he suffered some post-race issues, before that he was really good behind a peking Windstorm.
9 - SIKORSKY - Needs to be ridden colder then he was last start, suspect he can improve from that fresh run and can figure in this should he get the right run.
Suggested Bet: 10 units win- Right You Are.
RACE 5- 2600M- GROUP 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes
2 - PONDUS - Was very good in first Oz start in Bendigo Cup, will be so much better for that run and looks like he will eat 2600m here. Suspect Flemington is a terrific placement too. Suspect he has the measure of these.
3 - SHARED AMBITION - Looks much better suited to the long Flemington straight to allow him to get into his work from deep. Was very good at MV last time out and suspect the freshen up from then will only help.
4 - CHAPADA - Was decent in the Caulfield Cup, maybe out of his depth a little there but made an early move and stuck on ok. Win before that was brilliant and feel this class may be more to his liking.
1 - LE DON DE VIE - Very brave Geelong cup run, was there for the taking but stuck on well and was beaten by a tough one. Beat Ashrun to the line that day and he won on Derby Day.
Suggested Bet: 10 units win - Pondus
RACE 6- 1200M- GROUP ONE Darley Sprint Classic
3 - BIVOUAC - Was terrific in the Everest tracking Classique Legend into the race, finished off just behind the winner in the end and was arguably the run of the race, Loves the straight here and is every chance to improve again.
9 - LIBERTINI - Had a nightmare run in transit in the Everest, was wide all the way but battled on very well, beat Classique Legend convincingly before that which stacks up. Can figure here after good trial since last run.
2 - NATURE STRIP - Hasn’t been the horse we have come to know but was very tough in the Everest after Eduardo pressured him at the front. Had every right to bail out but he stuck to his task very well. Loves the straight and blasted them away in this last year.
4 - HEY DOC - Excellent win in the Manikato Stakes, bet Trekking in that one who finished very close to Bivouac in the Everest. Might find these a little to quick but he is as tough as they come.
Suggested Bet: 10 units win - Bivouac.
RACE 7 - 2000M - GROUP 2 Matriarch Stakes
2 - TOFFEE TONGUE-Â Stable very keen to have him drop back to the 2000m, suspect 2400m he faced in Caul Cup was a bridge too far. Run in the Turnbull before that was brilliant behind Verry Elleegant. Can bounce back no problems.
12 - AFFAIR TO REMEMBER - Was good to the line at MV on a track that seemed be against her but she was superb. Will enjoy Flemington and has won here well this campaign. Distance should be fine too.
8 - ARISTIA - Finds its very hard to hit the line first but always runs her heart out, was a bit plain last start but runs before that showed her true ability. Does her best work here and she could figure in this.
3 - VANNA GIRL - Wasn’t too far off them in the G1 Empire Rose despite finishing position. Will be better suited at this level and looks like she will eat up the 2000m.
Suggested Bet: 10 units win - Toffee Tongue.
RACE 8 - 2000M - GROUP ONE McKinnon Stakes
2 - FIFTY STARS - Has been building brilliantly this prep, hasn’t put a foot wrong and this is the grand final. Maybe might have liked a bit a juice in the track but can win on dry, loves Flemington and looks well over the odds.
5 - MUGATOO - Cox Plate run was the run of the race by a mile, was miles off the track and matched motors with some of the best WFA horses going around. Run in the G1 Metropolitan was superb and wins prior were emphatic.
9 - ARCADIA QUEEN - Very good in Cox Plate considering the track wasn’t to her liking, gets a drier surface here which is a huge plus. Beat Russian Camelot in the Caulfield Stakes two back, her grand final was the Cox Plate but she can push on here.
8 - MELODY BELLE - NZ star who comes for another assault at this race, 12- time G1 winner and has relished heading home. Does prefer getting her toe in the ground but has the ability to win on dry.
Suggested Bet: 10 units each-way- Fifty Stars.
RACE 9 - 110M - BM80
15 - PLAQUETTE - Was beaten at the start last time out, was very good hitting the line well on that occasion though which would’ve helped keep some fans. Win prior was very good.
3 - EXPRESS PASS - Has been super this campaign, second last start was pretty good and there is no knock coming out of that. Two wins prior were easy watches. Was freshened between those two and recent, will be better for that run and can win here.
11 - METEORITE - Comes up in grade here and would need to improve to match the price about it. Two runs this prep have been good so far though, very good wins from the front. Pattern?
5 - CAN’T BE DONE - Comes here fresh, has only missed the quinella once when resuming. Ran well behind Garner two campaigns back which is noteworthy.
Suggested Bet: 10 units win - Plaquette. 5 units win - Express Pass
