Flemington Tips & Preview | Saturday 25 April

His first two Australian starts in February and March were fair without threatening, but Kurakka turned in an improved performance to fill the minors, beaten a length over a mile and a half at Caulfield last time out. With further improvement this week, further out in trip and dropping a few kilos in the weights, I think he gets plenty of ticks here.

Having improved for two competitive efforts first and second up this time, Carriedo was an eye-catching winner in maiden company at Ladbrokes Geelong last month and backed that up with an utterly dominant display at Sandown last time out, greeting the judge more than four lengths ahead of her rivals. This is another rise in class, but she’s clearly got plenty of ability, and she can go on with it.

He’s only made one appearance at the races so far, but Blind Raise did trial up nicely before kicking clear of his rivals to win by more than two lengths at Sandown earlier this month. With natural improvement for that experience and from the good draw, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.

He’s yet to miss placing in six trips to the races since debuting, and Mukhtalif ended his debut preparation over in the UK with consecutive wins. Having seen some late interest in betting ahead of his Australian debut at Caulfield earlier this month, the Sea The Stars gelding showed his class with a dominant performance to win. He strips fitter for that run and should be suited to racing on the big Flemington track.

After returning to action with a decent enough performance to finish third in a lucrative VOBIS race over 1400m at Caulfield last month, Athanatos kept his best work for late when second behind Hughes in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap last time out. He’s a winner here at Flemington previously, I’m confident he’ll be at peak fitness this week and that will give him the edge over several key rivals who are resuming.

Silvasista has continued to improve with racing this time in, culminating in a nice win in BM62 company at Donald last time out. That followed a credible second placing behind Salty Pearl in the VOBIS Sires Guineas at Caulfield back in March, and she’s a horse that looks as though she’ll relish getting further out in trip this week. With a light weight, I think she’ll stamp herself as a South Australian Derby contender.

He clearly needed his first run back to dust off the cobwebs when finishing midfield over a mile here late last month, but Berkshire Breeze is a horse that tends to enjoy sharp improvement with a run under the belt and getting further out in trip. I like that he’s been back to the trials since that race, he loves Flemington, and we can have an each way play at the price.

Three wins from four runs back this time is how his 2026 CV currently reads, and Cripps has found form around some credibly types since resuming. Having hit the line nearly seven lengths ahead of his rivals in BM70 company at Ballarat last time out, this looks an ideal opportunity to him to return to Saturday metro company.