Flemington Preview & Best Bets – Saturday August 6

Adam Cusworth

in Bets of the Day 4 Aug 2022

Our form expert provides Flemington tips for today’s horse racing at Flemington Racecourse and gives his best bets.

Flemington Tips 6/08/2022

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5 No. 3 KING OF SPARTA – ($2.70)

I am a big fan of Sirius Suspect at Flemington over the 1200m but just think that KING OF SPARTA might have the answers here. The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained galloper had the measure of the locals when tackling the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 23, coming from worse than midfield to defeat Scallopini and Mariamia. He set a personal best figure by going 12.8 lengths faster than standard benchmark in that race. The straight at Flemington is always an unknown but the new season four-year-old gives the impression he can go on with it, while he has been a slight firmer in the early betting.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 4 No. 2 BLUE CUP- ($5.50)

Going with BLUE CUP in Race 4 at Flemington. The Maher/Eustace import caught the eye at his local debut when 4th at Caulfield over the 1600m before tackling the 2000m here on July 16 and running 8th behind Hezashocka on July 16. On that occasion, the six-year-old was posted three wide and without cover, racing keenly before the tough run told in the end. He drops in grade for this assignment and went 7.8 lengths faster than standard, which are the best last start benchmark figures of any runner, while he went 11 faster at his start prior. He will strip fitter for this and gets the ride from Jamie Kah.

Best Value 💰 (EACH-WAY)

Race 9 No. 7 SQUID GAME – ($6)

We close off with a BenchMark 84 over the 1100m and I am sticking with SQUID GAME after the Patrick Payne-trained galloper did the job for us over the 1000m here on July 16. He settled handy and picked up a deserved win after some solid and luckless runs prior to the behind the likes of Inundation and Passive Aggressive. He went 10.9 lengths faster than standard benchmark in his recent win, which are the best figures that any horse in this race has produced in the past two years. The presence of Chain Of Lightning creates a bit of interest but we can come in with confidence knowing that Squid Game likes the track and trip, while he has the versatility to settle forward or back for Craig Williams, who rode him last time.