Group 1 racing returns to Flemington with the running of the Makybe Diva Stakes, while at Rosehill, the top three year olds should start to make their claims in the Run to the Rose.
Best Bet
I Am Bene is taking a step up in class here but she looks an exceptionally promising mare capable of taking the leap to Group company. She comes off an outstanding last start win at Caulfield when in a near impossible position, and that race has produced several subsequent winners. From barrier four, Ben Melham can hopefully sit a little closer in the run and use that brilliant turn of foot to good effect.
Recommended Price: $5.00
Confidence Level: 4.5/5
More Racing Tips
Alpha One comes through the Vain Stakes which looks an exceptional form line, and the speedy colt can prove too strong here. The son of Super One has abundant early speed so should be able to find the front from the wide draw, and it should be no disadvantage to be in that part of the straight. With a race fitness edge over key rivals, he can prove too strong.
Recommended Price: $3.60
Confidence Level: 3.5/5
English Riviera looks well placed second up. The McEvoy trained filly comes off a ten length demolition job first up at Ballarat, but she has also proven her mettle in tougher company with a close up finish in the Blue Diamond to her credit. She has also run well down the straight before, finishing second on debut.
Recommended Price: $5.00
Confidence Level: 3/5
Alligator Blood maps to get a very soft lead here if the stable want to use the opportunity, and knowing how Gai Waterhouse has preferred her horses to be ridden for the last 30 years, I doubt they will pass it up. Yes, he was a touch disappointing first up but he can improve significantly at a track and trip where he has won at Group 1 level before.
Recommended Price: $4.20
Confidence Level: 4/5
Check out Betseeker’s runner-by-runner preview of the Makybe Diva Stakes here
Sejardan was a top two year old – he started $9 in the Slipper – and can come back with a bang first up. His most recent trial looked very good, beating home some very capable older sprinters. At nice odds he looks hard to beat at a track and distance he has won over before.
Recommended Price: $6.50
Confidence Level: 3.5/5
Prime Candiate has come up a big price here, especially given that he brings a strong level of race fitness into a race where 10 of his 11 opponents are first up. Dylan Gibbons should be able to find the front from barrier one and should take a lot of catching.
Recommended Price: $8.00
Confidence Level: 3/5
Roch ‘n’ Horse ran very well at Moonee Valley first up despite being unsuited around Moonee Valley and held up for clear running at a vital stage. Last time she ran down the straight she won the Newmarket at 100-1 and I suspect that was not a fluke. Can figure here at nice odds.
Recommended Price: $9.00/3.00
Confidence Level: 3/5
Tijuana blew the start first up in the McNeil Stakes but still flew home to run third at big odds. This race is a step down from that, and he was an all the way winner over this track and trip in April, so with a clean getaway he is capable of taking up a forward position and being very hard to run down.
Recommended Price: $4.50
Confidence Level: 3.5/5
