Gator's Game Plan: Gately's best at Flemington & Randwick (24/10)

By David Gately

David Gately has provided his best bets for Flemington and Randwick on Saturday.

See Gator's Game Plan below:

BET OF THE DAY (Melbourne)

FLEMINGTON - Race 2 No.4 - BARRACKS - Beat smart subsequent winner Affari fresh before absorbing pressure last week on hot 33.6 1st-600m and nailed on line. Bias was on-side though, has to be said.

BET OF THE DAY (Sydney)

RANDWICK - Race 8 No.1 - LAZZURA - Beaten in slick time fresh with weight then to 1400m and won Gold Pendant, she now meets 2nd and 3rd there better at weights. 4th-Surfin’ Bird went Caulfield and won well. So well suited in these 2nd-level mares races.

VALUE BET OF THE DAY

FLEMINGTON - Race 9 No.1 - TOO DARN DISCREET - Attacked line fresh then wide/ very good 2nd-up. Kept closing G1 Toorak latest but fancy was looking for 2000m. Gets that now, back to Mares and is 3 for 3 at this trip. 60kg the challenge but backable here $9.

Feature races

Caulfield - Race 8 - G1 WS COX PLATE - WFA - 2040m

1 - 11 - WARWOVEN - Brilliant (and fast) G1 Golden Rose win then love the way he quickened in G1 Caul Guineas then that late strength. No absolute standout amongst older horses may open the door for a 3yo this year. Maps for good trail of genuine speed and count 2040m pulls him up.

2 - 5 - COSMIC CRUSADER - Rock solid in Caulfield Cup. Had fitness edge and wet track in favour in Turnbull but sailed by Sir Delius and Aeliana. Rain predicted on race-day is advantage him.

3 - 12 - BLIND RAISE - Made to work early in G1 Caul Guineas and fought Warwoven to the 125m then no match late but thrashed rest. The win prior again, when absorbing pressure was excellent! A very, very good horse and will relish 2040m to my eye. Likely gets softer run here with older horses setting fast pace. Best roughie?

4 - 3 - SIR DELIUS - Been sound both runs back. The key to him his last two preps is his 3rd-up profile. Won G1 Turnbull 3rd-up last Spring sailing by Via Sistina (Cox Plate winner) and Aeliana. Won G1 Queen Elizabeth 3rd-up last year easily beating Autumn Glow in fast time. Goes in everything… 3rd-up!

5 - 10 - AELIANA - Star mare but she just couldn’t quicken in time in Turnbull and to my eye, she’s looking for 2400m now? She was 3rd-up Turnbull and Sir Delius 2nd-up. When this girl was 4th-up last year in this race she was luckless. 4th-up in Autumn she went to 2400m, and won.

6 - 1 - CEOLWULF - Had back of Autumn Glow last week and kept closing. Hasn’t been at 2000m since March 2025 when came wide and kept closing… was 4L off Via Sistina on the line that day.

7 - 6 - BIRDMAN - Sailed by Cosmic Crusader 2nd-up jumping to 1800m on dry. Was on heels of Sheza Alibi latest in record time and beat Caul Cup winner (who beat Cosmic Crusader) so he clearly has a case. If the rain misses and track dry, he goes in for mine. If wet. He’s less effective it seems.

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