RACE 1B (Flemington) – Post time 10:20 PM EDT

Picks are #8 (top pick), and #3

This race is down the famous 6 furlong “straight course” (no turns) at Flemington, Australia’s top racing venue.  A lot of these sprint races can be tricky, because often horses have little or no form over the straight layout.

This race is equivalent to an non-winners 3 other than with a claiming option of $62,500.  That means these horses are just a cut below stakes winning grade and it makes sense to focus on the horses that fit this condition.

#8 SPLASH OF MOET gets in light under the handicap conditions and has a good record: 10-4-0-2.  I think most notably this horse is 3-2-0-0 at the tricky 5 furlong distance and has won twice off the layoff.  This is unusual because most Australian horses are trained to get better in their second and/or third starts off the layoff.  The trainer/jockey team of Brett Melham and Peter Moody must always be respected as well.

#3 FAB FEVOLA is the speed of the speed and figures to have a top three placing.  My complaint with him is he is 8 years old and is winless sprinting at Flemington:  6-0-3-1 so I am putting him UNDER the 8!

Don’t forget to take a look at the pick 3s offered in races 3A, 3B and 3c.  There looks to be plenty of value in those horizontals and if you do not want to spend a lot you can play for only 20 cents a combination, like they do at Woodbine.

Good luck to everybody!

— Tony