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The Melbourne Mail: Flemington – 8th of March 2025

Bumper day at headquarters this week with the Newmarket Handicap and All-Star Mile.

FANCIFY winning the The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes
FANCIFY winning the The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Picture: Colin Bull / Sportpix

One of the great racedays at Flemington this week with the Newmarket and All-Star Mile, the latter in which we see Mr Brightside go for his tenth Group 1.

He's been right up around his best in two runs back despite being beaten by Another Wil fresh, and it's interesting that Mr B's career peaks have all come over the Flemington mile.

I think he gets into a great spot here and can turn the tables, but the market seems very tight between the pair and doesn't offer any value.

Where there does look to be value is in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue (1400m). I'm confident with Fancify or Is It Me will win, and while they are one-two in the market, better than even money can be had by dutching the pair.

Fancify was heavily supported last start but copped awful conditions just before the race and dropped out. The market had her running to 111 on the RAS scale which is up to her best, and in line with a horse like Ayrton who gives her 4kg.

On a firm deck here, she leads this for fun and can repay the faith. Don't want to lose on Is It Me who has posted two strong ratings around the 109 mark his past two. At the weights with 54kg his last two ratings come out on top in this field.

I'll skew my betting towards Fancify but keen to make a result out of both.

For the each-way play, there are a couple at big odds that could be worth something small. One is Marble Nine in Race 3, who was a complete forget fresh and has a couple of ratings that go a long way in this.

The other race is the last, an open mare's race over 1600m. I thought Wishlor Lass was too big at double figures there having worked home well fresh behind Wrote To Arataki first-up over 1400m to finish fourth.

She's much better suited at a mile and should have more improvement to come than a few of these. Her best ratings are right up to winning this and she can land in a much better spot from the soft gate.

The other one in that race that might be a big improver is Eternal Flame. Two runs back have shown very little, but she did win this race last year in good time. She needs the pace on and should get it with Jennilala hopefully running them along. 


The Melbourne Mail

Bet of the day: Race 4 #6 Fancify ($5.50) & #10 Is It Me ($2.90)

Each-way plays: Race 10 #5 Wishlor Lass ($10) & #2 Eternal Flame ($41)