Flemington Preview: Saturday, May 18th by Dean McHugh 

Flemington will host ten races this Saturday, and the feature race is the Lexus Andrew Ramsden Stakes. Worth $300,000 to the winner, The Map will start as the favourite as he bids to win his second race in succession.

Ahead of what is bound to be a superb day of racing, here are our picks for every race from Saturday’s card.

Race 1: Sir Eugene Gorman Handicap (1400m)

Saturday’s racing begins with a fourteen-runner handicap, where La Pleine Lune will start as the overwhelming favourite.

A convincing winner on debut, the manner of his victory suggested that bigger things could be to follow and his connections will hope that he will be able to follow up that win here.

Miss Mahjong is yet to get off the mark in any of her three contests but has come close on a few occasions. Only just touched off on her last start, this could finally be the race where it all comes together.

Race 2: Murray Cox Handicap (1800m)

Mirzann will headline the betting market in our second contest, and it’s easy to see why. 

Lightly raced, he has never finished outside of the top two in any of his six starts and can boast two wins.

Although he has a wide draw to overcome, his consistency should see him go close once more.

If you want to take the favourite on and back a horse at a bigger price, Sir Kingsford looks a safe bet. Having won five of his last seven starts, he is thriving at the moment and looks capable of running a big race.

Race 3: Inside Headquarters Handicap (1200m)

Eleven fillies and mares will head down to post for the third handicap of Saturday’s card, and once again, there is a heavy favourite in the shape of Niance.

One of the least exposed horses in the field, she has won three of her seven career starts, but will be hoping to bounce back from a poor showing when last seen. 

Wakanjeja is a winner of three of her last six starts and she takes a drop down in class here in the hope that she will be able to return to the winner’s circle. 

Race 4: K.A Morrison Handicap (1400m)

The fourth race of Saturday’s Flemington card looks to be wide open.

Modown hasn’t finished outside of the top three in any of his last four starts and will hope to win for just the third time in his career.

Set to run him close is The Shaper. Since his debut, he hasn’t finished any worse than second and has two wins from his last three starts. Another big performance is expected, and he has to be the best value angle of the race.

Race 5: Stud and Stable Staff Awards Handicap (1100m)

Eighteen horses will head down to post to mark the halfway juncture of Saturday’s card, and several look to have a great chance.

Ideally drawn in Gate 10 is Losesomewinmore. Having just had four starts, he has posted two wins and two second-places and is likely to jump off as the heavy favourite and could take all of the stopping.

Drawn next to Losesomewinmore is Sisterhood. A winner of two of her last three races, she reported lame after her last start, and her connections will hope she is fit and firing here.

Pretty Tavi has won her last two races and looks to be one of the best-priced outsiders.

Race 6: Sir Henry Bolte Handicap (2000m)

Another big field has been declared for the day’s sixth race, where Heed The Omens is likely to jump off as the slim favourite. 

Having yet to finish outside the top three in any of his races, he looks to be the class angle of the contest.

Aztec State has been drawn in Gate 1 and will have plenty of backers. A winner last time out in a valuable handicap, he has more than enough class to win this race.

Cotton Tree and Saban should be two more for the shortlist.

Race 7: Hilton Nicholas Straight Six (1200m)

The most valuable handicap contest of the day comes in the seventh race of the card. 

Steparty has enjoyed a wonderful start to his career and has five wins from seven starts. Having finished third in both of his last two starts in Grade 3 company, he takes the step back down to handicap company and could have the ability to blow the rest of this field away.

Joyful Fortune has two wins from his last three starts and will be hoping to run another big race here. Drawn in Gate 1, he represents some great connections and looks to be a great value option.

Race 8: Lexus Andrew Ramsden Stakes

The most lucrative race on Saturday comes in the shape of the Lexus Andrew Ramsden Stakes. Worth $300,000 to the winner, fifteen runners will be bidding for glory.

The Map will start as the short-priced favourite following two wins in her last four starts. However, despite her strong levels of form, Let’sbefrankbaby, Strawberry Rock and Lionel could all be valuable options at decent prices.

Race 9: L.V Lachal Stakes (1600m)

The penultimate race from Saturday’s card will see sixteen horses enter the starting stalls. 

In a race where the betting is expected to be tight, Green Fly will attract plenty of attention. 

A winner of both of his last two contests, this looks like the perfect opportunity for him to notch another win.

El Soleado is another horse who heads into the race in fine form. With four wins from his last eight starts, this is a race he looks more than capable of winning, and he could be the option for those looking for a winner at a bigger price.

Race 10: Trevor Clarke Handicap

Saturday’s card concludes with a tricky-looking handicap. 

Icarus is by the far the most fascinating runner in the race. Having just had the one career start, he got his career off to a great start when winning on debut, this race is harder, but there could be more to come.

If you want to back a horse with more experience, Pondalowie looks like a great play. A winner of two of her four career starts, she was a winner at the track three weeks ago; a repeat of that performance looks more than possible here.