The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Flippant is the early favourite for Group 3 $150,000 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Flippant, above, is the early favourite for the Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Betting for the Aurie’s Star Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au has Flippant as the $4.80 top pick in a very congested market that has six of the ten runners under the $10 mark.
On the second line of betting at $5.50 is the Australian Guineas winner Hey Doc and the first of the four Lindsay Park runners Cannyescent just ahead of Grande Rosso at $6.50, I Am A Star at $7.50 and We’ve Got This at $8.50.
Flippant is a winner at her only attempt over the 1200m down the Flemington straight when she took out the Listed $150,000 MSS Security Sprint on Melbourne Cup Day last year and she should be at peak fitness on Saturday with two fairly recent runs under her belt.
The Hinchinbrook mare was a first up fifth to Burning Passion in the Group 3 $175,000 W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on June 24 followed by a third behind stablemate Calanda and The Monstar in the Listed $160,000 Grafton District Services Club Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton on July 12.
“Her two runs this time in have been good and the only other time she raced down the straight she raced particularly well so that’s the main reason why we are heading back down again this time to see if she can repeat what she did in spring time last year,” Peter Snowden told racing.com.
Flippant’s performance in the Aurie’s Star Handicap will determine the rest of her Spring program which could include transcending from being a race horse to being a broodmare.
“A lot will depend on what she does at the races on Saturday,” Snowden said.
Golden Slipper winning jockey Ben Melham will be having his first ride on Flippant who has drawn barrier six in the ten horse Aurie’s Star Handicap field.
Luke Currie is back aboard the Tony McEvoy trained Hey Doc who will jump from barrier eight and carry the top weight of 59kg.
As well as Canyescent and Grande Rosso, the Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig will also saddle up Snitzson ($15) and Ruettiger ($16).
