Flemington Tips & Preview | Saturday 4 July

Having only just been denied on debut at Sandown in May, Stars Of Dom was again beaten by just one rivals over the 1000m at the same course last time. With further improvement and further out in trip this week, she need only handle the straight to be right in the finish again.

While yet to strike in three starts since debuting, Star Of Macedon has stamped himself as one to follow by placing on all three occasions, beaten less than a length over 1420m here last time out. The mile looks perfect, he’s open to further improvement and he can stamp himself as one to watch in spring by winning.

After recording consecutive victories in BM84 company ay Sandown and here at Flemington, Duchess Zou kept her best work for late again when filling the minors behind Stylish last time out. In peak order this week, she meets that horse and others far better at the weights and is drawn to receive the run of the race.

Having stripped fitter via a few competitive efforts earlier this prep, Decalogue broke his maiden over 1850m at Newcastle in May and has since added victories in BM72 company at Randwick and a 2000m handicap here at Flemington to his CV. In peak order this week, he’s another one that looks suited to getting further out in trip. Topweight is the knock, but he’s proven to be as tough as they come, and I am confident he’ll handle it.

De Bergerac has continued to improve with racing this year, and after finishing the runner up in a pair of metro sprints, including the Listed Straight Six over this route two back, he was too good for them under handicap conditions last time out. Given he was a month between runs into that race, it should have brought him right back on, and a race of this quality, particularly with a small field, isn’t beyond him.

The Western Front has been a strong and consistent performer in races not dissimilar to this one, this time in, winning three of his last five starts, including the Sandown Cup in late May. Having only been denied by Vegas Jack when dropping back down to 2500m here last time out, he looks perfectly placed under these conditions and he need only hold his form to be in the finish once more.

Al Duca finished worse than second just once in his last five trips to the races, wining the Listed Anniversary Vase at Caulfield most notably and finding form around some credible opposition. He loves Flemington, Craig Williams enhances his winning claims, and he should enjoy a dream run from a nice low draw this week.

Ludlum stamped himself as one to follow during a brief but strong debut campaign last spring, while he returned to action with undoubtedly his strongest performance so far to win in Class 1 company at Seymour. He does face a rise in class this week, but I love that he’s kept up to the mark with a strong trial and should be able to find some cover from the central alley.

Clevor Trever ended his debut prep with a strong win in maiden company back in February and is so far unbeaten this time in, winning three races in succession, each tougher than the one the preceded. This is another rise in class, but he’s a horse that should relish getting out to a mile and on the big Flemington track, and I am happy to stick with him until he gives us a reason not to.