Did progressive pair punch tickets to the Spring Carnival on Saturday?

New speed stars make a massive impression with slick victories on Flemington’s season-opening card, now hungry for further success. 

The Spring Carnival starts on September 2 at Caulfield, but horse racing fans were treated to some early class at Flemington on Saturday. The first day of the 2023/24 season included very smart performances from sprinters who have marked their cards as Carnival hopefuls. 

A notebook is a huge part of the process for most who enjoy horse racing betting online. They are filled with the names of horses we have seen that we want to be backing next time they race, as well as general notes for the future.

Two of the ten races at Flemington on Saturday were won by horses who, if they were not in your notebook before, should be now. Both were hugely impressive, giving the idea that they could win bigger prizes as the season progresses. Those wins could even come at the Spring Carnival, just around the corner. 

It’sourtime

A run style of last to first is not easy to achieve. It has horse racing bookmakers shaking their heads in disbelief as what looks like a losing favourite suddenly produces a superb turn of foot to cost them.

That happened in Saturday’s feature race at Flemington, the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap. It’sourtime had looked desperately unlucky in his prior start when kept wide around the turn in the Group 3 Bletchingly, forced out into the middle of the track. Although things did not go his way on Saturday, his class shone through.

A time of 1:08.68 is a flying run for this time of year, and although the ‘wrong’ horses chased him home from a form standpoint, the clocking stands out as a top-notch performance. As the old saying goes, you can only beat what is put in front of you and beat them - he did, and well.

The Show County Stakes on August 19 is being discussed as his next target, another Group 3 contest. He has had plenty of racing but still appears to be on the way up, with Saturday a clear career-best from him. Another win at Randwick, and surely connections will look to step him up in grade.

Benedetta

The Jason Warren-trained mare has made her way quickly into a classy performer. The winner of five of her first seven career starts, she won the closing contest over 1100m at Flemington on Saturday with plenty in hand under Tatum Bull, who was riding her first winner at the track.

In an interview after the race, Warren admitted that “she’s about 80% wound up, so I think she has a decent amount of improvement to come, and we’ll look forward to better races.” Given that she won with plenty in hand if she was only 80%, connections have a smart mare for the upcoming Spring Carnival.

That starts September 2 at Caulfield, where Benedetta will be seen next in the Cockram Stakes over 1200m. That race is close to Warren’s heart as it saw his first big-race success in 2010.

Saturday’s contest was only a Benchmark 84 handicap, so there is a long way for Benedetta to go if she is to make it to the very top, but she is proving very progressive and certainly looks as if there is still better to come from her.

Both of these sprinters have a way to go if they are to make an impact in Group 1 company. That is still a distant dream for connections of both, but after Saturday’s wins, it is a dream that has taken a big step closer to reality.