Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted October 27, 2022 Journalists Share Posted October 27, 2022 What VRC Derby Day 2022 Where Flemington Racecourse – 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington, VIC 3031 When Saturday, October 29, 2022 First Race 12:20pm AEDT Watch Live Visit Ladbrokes The 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival is upon us with the traditional opener, VRC Derby Day. All nine races at Flemington are at Group level, headlined by the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) and supported by the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) for the three-year-olds and the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) for fillies and mares. With all the rain that Melbourne has copped in the lead up to the carnival, Flemington has come up as a Soft 6, but with a near-perfect day for racing forecast on Saturday we will not be surprised to see an upgrade throughout the day. The rail returns to the true position for the massive day of top-class racing commencing at 12:20pm AEDT. Keep reading for our free race-by-race preview and quaddie selections Race 1: Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) The traditional opener to VRC Derby Day is the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes and considering he was beaten under a length in the Caulfield Guineas, it is hard to go past Tijuana. The three-year-old colt was a smart winner of the Group 2 Stutt Stakes two runs back at Moonee Valley and backed it up by finishing on the heels of the trifecta in the Guineas at his subsequent start. He draws barrier two on Saturday under Mark Zahra and with a cosy run in transit and already a proven miler, this son of American Pharoah should prove too classy for this lot in the Carbine Club. The fact we are getting $4.60 with Unibet about Tijuana is ridiculous as he looks to be one of the better bets on the card. Selections: 1TIJUANA 12PUNGO 8WATADEEL 4THE FORTUNE TELLER Next Best Race 1 – #1 Tijuana (2) 3yo Colt | T: Ben & JD Hayes | J: Mark Zahra (58.5kg) $4.60 with Unibet Race 2: Archer Stakes (2500m) Realm Of Flowers needs to win the Group 3 Archer Stakes on Saturday to assure herself a start in the 2022 Melbourne Cup and she looks well placed to do just that. The six-year-old mare was forced to travel three wide with no cover throughout The Metropolitan on October 1 and only went down by a nostril to the eventual quinella. That effort jumps off the paper compared to some of her rivals who have been struggling in recent times. There is little doubt that with a neater run in transit last time out, she claims her first win at Group 1 level and if she repeats that staying performance on Saturday she looks the one to beat. From barrier 13, Damien Thornton will have the So You Think mare out the back early on, but with a strong staying prowess and the ability to handle all conditions Realm Of Flowers should be booking her spot in to the Cup with a smart win in the Archer. Selections: 7REALM OF FLOWERS 1ALEGRON 8SUREFIRE 10INTERPRETATION Race 3: Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) Having blown the start in the Listed Caulfield Village Stakes on October 8, the Lindsey Smith-trained Triple Missile will be out to redeem himself in Saturday’s Rising Fast Stakes. Despite missing the kick badly first-up, the five-year-old did extremely well to be beaten just under two-lengths behind the likes of Gravina and Zethus. His win in the Golden Topaz last campaign has him right in a race like this and managed to comfortably dispose of the likes of Curran and Sirius Suspect who he meets again on Saturday. With the likes of Sirius Suspect, Generation and The Astrologist set to make this a genuinely run six furlongs, the race sets up perfectly for Triple Missile to build through his gears and unleash a devastating turn of foot out wide. Selections: 8TRIPLE MISSILE 4SIRIUS SUSPECT 3GENERATION 9ARGENTIA Race 4: Wakfeul Stakes (2000m) The Group 2 Wakeful Stakes has long been the best lead-up event for those fillies on their way to the VRC Oaks just five days later and we expect the John Sargent-trained So Dazzling can claim Group 2 glory. She won the Oaks trial in convincing fashion two runs back before giving her rivals too much of a start in a Newcastle BM64, but flashing home to finish third beaten under a length. She looks like a filly who will only appreciate getting out over further and considering outside of one or two main market rivals, this race doesn’t exactly scream “depth”. Look for Damien Oliver to have her settled in the second-half of the field and when asked for an effort, we expect So Dazzling to have this race wrapped up in a couple of strides. Selections: 3SO DAZZLING 1JENNY JEROME 2PAVITRA 8AS TIME GOES BY Race 5: Linlithgow Stakes (1400m) Having been beaten by under a length to the progressive Cardinal Gem, Peter Jolly’s veteran Morvada looks to present great value in the Group 2 Linlithgow Stakes. The nine-year-old gelding is as honest a runner you could hope for and considering he will be up on speed throughout, it is hard to ignore the $23 on offer with Ladbrokes about this bloke. He hardly runs a poor race these days and on recent form will be fighting out the finish in this. Linda Meech sticks on board which is an added bonus and despite their being a few key chances in the race – at an each-way price – Morvada cannot be dismissed under a well rated ride out in front from Meech. Selections: 10MORVADA 5CROSSHAVEN 8OLD FLAME 7TURAATH Best Value Race 5 – #10 Morvada (16) 9yo Gelding | T: Peter Jolly | J: Linda Meech (54.5kg) $23 with Ladbrokes Race 6: Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) The Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes is the first of three Group 1 events on Saturday out of Flemington where a strong field of 17 sprinters will compete for the $2 million on offer. Online betting sites have Godolphin sprinter In Secret as a $3.80 favourite whilst Golden Rose Stakes victor Jacquinot heads the challengers at $5.50. Last start Moir Stakes winner Coolangatta ($7.50), Buenos Noches ($8.50) and Grand Impact ($8.50) round out the runners at a single figure quote. Click here for our full betting preview of the 2022 Coolmore Stud Stakes Race 7: Victoria Derby (2500m) The time-honoured Victoria Derby is the headline act at Flemington this weekend and a capacity field of 16 three-year-olds will be looking to etch their name in Derby folklore. Heading the market with online bookmakers is last start Moonee Valley Vase victor Berkeley Square ($3.40), with Spring Champion Stakes winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart ($3.60) expected to fight for favouritism approaching the jump. Mr Maestro ($6) and Pericles ($7.50) are both expected to challenge the favoured pair in what shapes to be a cracking edition of the VRC Derby. Click here for our full preview of the 2022 Victoria Derby Race 8: Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) A capacity field of 16 fillies and mares will duke it out of in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes over the infamous Flemington mile. Kiwi pair La Crique ($2.50) and She’s Licketysplit ($8) will be looking to join fellow Kiwi Melody Belle on the Empire Rose Stakes honour roll. Click here for our $100 betting strategy and preview of the 2022 Empire Rose Stakes Race 9: Begonia Belle Stakes (1100m) Patience will be crucial on Saturday as our best bet of the day Asfoora from the Henry Dwyer yard steps out in the Group 3 Begonia Belle Stakes in the last. The four-year-old mare gave a similar field a galloping lesson in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint on October 15 when leading throughout, kicking clear and putting close to three-lengths on proven Group-class sprinters. She draws barrier two for the 1100m scamper under John Allen and despite their being genuine speed influencers in the race, Allen will look to have this girl settled just off the leaders, peel towards the inside rail and ultimately prove too speedy once again. Asfoora is a clear best bet of the day. Selections: 2ASFOORA 3ZAPATEO 6JUAN DIVA 14ROSE QUARTZ Best Bet Race 9 – #2 Asfoora (1) 4yo Mare | T: Henry Dwyer | J: John Allen (58kg) $3 with Palmerbet Saturday quaddie tips for VRC Derby Day 2022 Flemington quadrella selections Saturday, October 29, 2022 1-3-4-14-15 1-2-4 7-9-14-16 2 Investment: $60 for 100% More horse racing tips View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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