Mitchbet

The first day of the Flemington Melbourne Cup Carnival is finally upon us. Like every year, a wave of hope and excitement to watch quality horse flesh and back a mountain of winners sweeps over not just the day to day punter, but the general public. While Derby Day may have lost it’s lustre as “punting Christmas” compared to Caulfield Guineas Day or even Champions Day, there really is nothing quite like this carnival and what it symbolises.

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Flemington Best Bet: Race 6 Number 2 Cylinder

Extremely talented colt who is dropping back to 3YO grade after a super run in The Everest. He’s in a good stable and drawn to the middle of the field is a plus. Only query is first time down the Flemington straight track but has all the professionalism to handle it. Hard to beat in an exciting race.

Flemington Next Best Bet: Race 4 Number 2 Chain Of Lightning

A classy 5YO mare who while giving weight to the boys, has been Group 1 competitive at her best. She was an eye catcher first up behind Asfoora at Caulfield and is two wins from three starts second up. The stable have chosen to race against the boys instead of her own sex which gives me extra confidence she’s going well enough to win this.

Flemington Best Value Bet: Race 5 Number 10 Aethelflaed

She faces a sharp rise in grade from a Maiden/Class 1 Handicap at Kembla Grange. However, she came back and around the field to demonstrate a powerful turn of foot. Her sire Saxon Warrior is producing many talented types and Damian Oliver booked to ride is a positive. He always seems to have a good Oaks ride and potentially this filly could sneak her way into those calculations.

Selections by Mitchell Hamilton

Race 1: Network 10 Carbine Club Stakes 1600m 12.20pm
Influential 5, Heman 2, Brave Mead 1, Ersa 7.

Race 2: Lexus Archer Stakes 2500m 1.00pm
I’m of the belief favourite Athabascan and Most Cloudy should be much closer in price. Athabascan was luckless in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup last week, however it was a bunched finished and not sure that’s always a good sign. Mostly Cloudy beat home Athabascan in the Bart Cummings and before that, M.C started $6 to Athabascan’s $13 when they last met at Randwick in September for the SP profilers.

Mostly Cloudy 4, Athabascan 3, Speak 7, Ladies Man 1.

Race 3: Furphy Sprint 1100m 1.40pm
Rose Quartz 6, Dancing Alone 10, Lempicka 5, Ghaanati 11.

Race 4: Racing And Sports Rising Fast Stakes 1200m 2.20pm
**Chain Of Lightning 2, Garza Blanca 12, Gravina 3, Triple Missile 5.

Race 5: TAB Wakeful Stakes 2000m 3.00pm
*Aethelflaed 10, Zardozi 1, Harlow Mist 4, Konasana 3.

Race 6: Coolmore Stud Stakes 1200m 3.40pm
As above, Cylinder hard to beat. Nadal could be a blowout and a definite first four or exotics player. If Shinzo wins, I’m probably losing.

***Cylinder 2, King’s Gambit 5, Nadal 16, Stretan Angel 18.

Race 7: Penfolds Victoria Derby 2500m 4.20pm
Complete forgive run for Riff Rocket last start when they ran over 19L slower than standard time at Caulfield. The start before at Flemington he managed to explode late to run the fastest last 200m and second fastest last 400m of the whole meeting. Pedigree is an unknown but could be brilliant enough to overcome.

Riff Rocket 4, Apulia 1, Gates 8, Kosgei 9.

Race 8: TAB Empire Rose Stakes 1600m 5.00pm
Alcohol Free 1, Shuffle Dancer 13, Wishlor Lass 14, Atishu 4.

Race 9: The Damien Oliver 1400m 5.40pm
Tamerlane 5, Ayrton 4, Here To Shock 10, King Magnus 2.