Best Bets – Saturday 12th September

NEARCO FROD looks the standout in the Lexus Archer Stakes and can stamp himself as a genuine Melbourne Cup contender. The Team McEvoy-trained stayer is flying this preparation and heads the market after producing a string of strong performances over staying trips. The rise to 2500m looks ideal, and with a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption on the line, this has clearly been a target race. If he reproduces his recent form, he’ll take plenty of holding out. LITZDEEL shapes as the main danger after racing consistently in similar company and looks the most likely to test the favourite late.

WEEPING WOMAN looks capable of making a winning return in the Sheraco Stakes. The Joseph Pride-trained mare has built an outstanding record, winning eight of her 17 starts, and she signed off last preparation with a dominant victory over this distance. While she resumes from a lengthy 30-week spell, her fresh record is strong and Pride has a reputation for producing his horses ready to perform first-up. Drawn ideally in barrier six with Tim Clark aboard, she should enjoy a soft run just behind the speed and prove very hard to hold out if she returns in the same form that saw her put together a string of wins last campaign.

OLIVEANOTHERDAY looks the clear standout in the Bobbie Lewis Quality. The Tom Dabernig-trained sprinter has won five straight races, including a first-up Group 3 victory in The Heath at Caulfield where he was held up before exploding once clear to maintain his unbeaten streak this preparation. Connections have deliberately chosen this race as a stepping stone towards the Manikato Stakes, and the Flemington straight course experience could prove invaluable later in the spring. With fitness on his side and plenty of upside still to come, he’s the horse they all have to beat.

ST GOTTHARD looks the horse to beat in this year’s Run To The Rose. The unbeaten Chris Waller-trained colt has won both career starts and has created plenty of excitement ahead of his spring return, with connections viewing him as a genuine Golden Rose contender. Waller has noted how much the colt has furnished physically since his juvenile season, and the key booking of James McDonald only adds to the confidence. Drawn ideally in barrier four, he should enjoy a perfect run and gets his chance to announce himself as a serious Group 1 prospect. WARWOVEN looks the main danger. The Bjorn Baker-trained colt has already shown plenty of ability against quality opposition and should take improvement from his first-up run, making him a genuine threat if St Gotthard isn’t fully wound up fresh.

SMOOTH CHINO looks the class runner of the W.H. Wylie Handicap. The Indianna Weinert-trained gelding has won seven of his 10 starts and resumes with an outstanding record that includes multiple victories at stakes level. While he shoulders the topweight of 62kg, his quality is undeniable, and he showed last preparation he can measure up against much stronger opposition than this. Drawn ideally in barrier five with Austin Galati aboard, he should get every chance to settle close to the speed and prove too strong late.