Racing
Ladbrokes Blog: 2025 VRC Community Race Day Preview
Nine races will be run and won at Flemington on Saturday, June 21st.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
The track at HQ has seen some traffic recently and the rail will be set out a whopping 11 metres around the entire course this week, and it has been rated in the Soft (5) range at publish.
Scroll down for my complete Flemington best bets.
Race 1 - 11:55am: 2YO Handicap (1420m)
Observer has opened a fitting favourite for this contest.
The Ghaiyyath colt has only made two appearances at the races so far, but after chasing home Planet Red at Pakenham on debut, he was dominant at Sandown last time out.
Fitter third-up, this is the next logical step for him to take.
3 Units Observer
BET NOW: Flemington Race 1
Race 2 - 12:25pm: Ken Cox Handicap (2000m)
Nearco Frod turned in an improved performance second up and appears primed to strike at Flemington this week.
The former French colt needed his debut run in Australian when finishing more than five lengths behind the winner over 1600m at Sandown last month, but he worked home well behind Shockletz here a fortnight ago.
He does need to turn around four lengths on that horse, but he's open to further improvement and meets him at almost level weights this time.
1 Units Nearco Frod
BET NOW: Flemington Race 2
Race 3 - 1pm: The Funky Farm Sprint (1100m)
There are some talented sprinters engaged in this contest, but Cleo Cat looks hard to beat.
In typical fashion, Cleo Cat returned to the races to record consecutive victories in BM78 and Group 3 company down in Adelaide first and second up this time, and she was only denied by the talented Nianco down the straight here last time.
She's in peak order this week and drops in class, and I think she'll take plenty of beating.
4 Units Cleo Cat
BET NOW: Flemington Race 3
Race 4 - 1:35pm: Rod Johnson Handicap (1620m)
Taken has gone to another level this time and looms as the one to beat again in this contest.
The Ardrossan gelding broke his maiden with an easy effort at Pakenham second up in April, and he has since recorded consecutive victories in a pair of mile handicaps at Sandown and here at HQ.
He does rise in the weights this week, but he's fit and drawn a peach under Craig Williams.
2 Units Taken
BET NOW: Flemington Race 4
Race 5 - 2:10pm: Les Twentyman OAM Handicap (1420m)
Red Galaxy landed a number of big bets at Sale when resuming in May and was only just denied in BM100 company at Sandown most recently.
Fitter third up and under Craig Williams, he is a horse that looks as though he'll be suited to racing on the big Flemington track.
2 Units Red Galaxy
BET NOW: Flemington Race 5
Race 6 - 2:45pm: Bruce Gadsden Handicap (2540m)
I'm going to stick with Goldenstatewarrior when he goes around in Saturday's staying race.
Goldenstatewarrior returned to action to fill the minors, beaten a length in BM78 company and over 2000m at Caulfield in May, and we were with him when he stepped out to this trip and fortnight ago and was beaten half a length.
He's fit, he drops in the weights and in my opinion, he's ready to win a very suitable contest.
2 Units Goldenstatewarrior
BET NOW: Flemington Race 6
Race 7 - 3:25pm: Brian Beattie Handicap (1420m)
Terrestar looks a touch of overs in my opinion at current odds ($9 at publish).
Having raced consistently in Saturday metro company in New South Wales last time in, Terrestar returned to action with a fine performance to finish second, beaten a head in BM78 company up in Brisbane late last month.
She's a winner at this point of her preparation previously and while this is probably a harder race, she's certainly up to the quality, and we can have an each way play at the price.
1 Unit E/W Terrestar
BET NOW: Flemington Race 7
Race 8 - 4pm: The David Bourke (1620m)
El Soleado will have his first start for Robert Hickmott.
Formerly saddled by the late Robbie Laing, El Soleado has turned in plenty of fine performances throughout 23 career starts, and he returned to action a fortnight ago to only just miss behind Marble Nine down the famous straight six here.
He's missed placing once at this point of his preparation and at around the $9.50 mark (at publish), he could be one of the better each way bets on the program.
2 Units E/W El Soleado
BET NOW: Flemington Race 8
Race 9 - 4:35pm: Shop Flemington Handicap (1100m)
Tough way to end the day from a betting perspective and there is a case to be made for plenty of them.
That being said, Fieldelo does put an unbeaten record on the line and is deserving of a crack at something in town.
The Deep Field filly debuted with a nice effort to win in maiden company at Kilmore in November and was immediately put away, and after a handful of trials, she returned for a devastating seven-length victory in BM58 company at Bendigo.
It is a substantial rise in class, but she strips fitter, and a repeat of that last performance would be good enough to see her into the finish again.
1 Unit Fieldelo
