logo
Brad Waters' horses to follow from Flemington on Saturday

Brad Waters' horses to follow from Flemington on Saturday

The Australian2 days ago
Form expert Brad Waters analyses Saturday's Flemington meeting, revealing his horses to follow as well as three to forgive from the nine-race card.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
FIVE TO FOLLOW
FENESTELLA (2.1 length 4th of 5, Race 1): The Shane Nichols-trained filly ran fourth over 1200m at Seymour on debut last month but went around at big odds despite being only one of five runners in the first race at Flemington. The race was a slowly-run affair, causing Fenestella to be flat-footed when the sprint went on early in the straight. However, Fenestella finished off her race strongly to finish two lengths from the winner. The Brazen Beau filly could continue to improve as she gains experience.
CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (0.35-length 2nd of 8, Race 2): The Irish import looks to have had the benefit of more time in Australia with his excellent second at Flemington. Changingoftheguard went OK when resuming in Sydney on June 14 but went into Saturday's race off a six-week break. The former Aidan O'Brien-trained stayer raced handy to the speed and boxed on well in the straight to be beaten a long head while giving the winner 5.5kg. He could show up in the Archer Stakes next month. — 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 2, 2025
CAPPER THIRTYNINE (0.15-length 2nd of 16, Race 3): Capper Thirtynine made a terrific return to racing for trainer Nick Ryan with his fighting second to handy sprinter De Bergerac down the Flemington straight. The five-year-old had not raced since March but was prominent throughout the Benchmark 74 contest before going down narrowly, giving the winner 2kg. He looks set to win a couple of similar contests this time in.
TOO DARN DISCREET (0.75-length 1st of 15 Race 8): Too Darn Discreet produced a terrific effort to salute at her first crack at open-age racing at Flemington. She was a Group 2 winner as a three-year-old but those horses sometimes fail to progress in their four-year-old seasons. However, Too Darn Discreet's powerful Flemington finish showed she could develop further as her preparation progresses.
FARHH FLUNG (0.75-length 2nd of 15 Race 8): Farhh Fung is racing in great heart in two runs back from a four-week freshen, performing well again at Flemington on Saturday. The Danny O'Brien-trained galloper stepped up to BM84 class and looked a chance to break through for a deserved win but found the smart Too Darn Discreet too strong late. There's a win in store for him in the coming weeks.
PLEASE FORGIVE
EXIT (1.6-length 3rd of 5, Race 1): Exit was a victim of circumstances when a beaten favourite in the first race of the day. She ended up at the back of the field after a moderate start while the tempo of the five-horse race didn't suit the Ciaron Maher-trained filly. She ran on soundly but was unable to reel in the quinella horses late. She can bounce back in a bigger field soon.
DOCUMENTARY (3.6-length 8th of 10, Race 4): The heavily backed Documentary was poised to pounce on the leaders at the halfway point of his 1000m assignment but didn't quicken in the second half of the race to be well held late. However, a later vet's examination found Documentary pulled up lame in a foreleg.
FEDERER (1.5-length 2nd of 12, Race 5): Federer had a comfortable run to the home turn but had trouble getting clear running early in the straight, preventing him from building the required momentum to reel in the winner in the last 300m. He's worth another chance.
STEWARDS SAY
EXIT (Third Race 1) – Rider Blake Shinn said she needed tracks with more give.
EPIC PROPORTIONS (7th Race 3) – Held up from the 400m to the 250m.
MUNHAMEK (8th Race 6) – Jockey Mark Zahra said the gelding might not have handled the seven-day break between runs.
Jockey Liam Riordan suspended for eight meetings for overuse of the whip on Marble Nine in Race 8.
EL SOLEADO (14th Race 8) – Blood in one nostril detected in post-race examination.
PUDDING (6th Race 8) – Held up from early in the straight until the 100m.
OCEAN BEYOND (4th Race 8) – Held up on multiple occasions in the straight.
FARHH FLUNG (2nd Race 8) – Held up from the 500m to the 200m.
OUTTA COMPTON (12th Race 8) – Lame in near foreleg.
ILLYIVY (10th Race 9) – Lame near foreleg.
ELECTRIC BELLE (13th Race 9) – Cardiac arrhythmia. Read related topics: News Corporation Horse Racing
Nine-time Group 1 winner Mr Brightside has made his first appearance since Hong Kong, cruising through a jumpout at Flemington. Horse Racing
The achievements of women jockeys Angela Jones and Emily Lang have inspired the next generation of kids trying to emulate their heroines.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pezet eyes week-to-week NRL in Storm spine squeeze
Pezet eyes week-to-week NRL in Storm spine squeeze

The Advertiser

time39 minutes ago

  • The Advertiser

Pezet eyes week-to-week NRL in Storm spine squeeze

Jonah Pezet says he wants to chase the opportunity to play in the NRL every week, but insists a loan deal away from Melbourne is not yet at the front of his mind. Melbourne's half-in-waiting for several years, Pezet has been named to come off the bench against Brisbane on Thursday night with Jahrome Hughes injured. Pezet is signed with the Storm until the end of 2029, but is believed to have a clause in his contract that allowed him to speak to rivals if Hughes re-signed. Hughes did so last week, extending his time in purple until 2030. The other factor is the future of Cameron Munster, who is contracted until the end of 2027 but been linked to potential Perth interest. Both Pezet and Munster share a manager in Braith Anasta, while a loan deal could potentially buy time for Munster to decide his future beyond his current deal. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to play NRL every week," Pezet said. "As a kid you grow up and that's what you want to do. So of course I want to chase those opportunities. "But I'm just focused on putting my best foot forward every week, so that's when Belza (coach Craig Bellamy) picks me in the team." Melbourne hooker Harry Grant this week backed the idea of loans, speaking of the good it did him at Wests Tigers while stuck behind Cameron Smith in 2020. Asked whether a loan deal could be an option for him, Pezet said it was not something he wanted to be considering. "I think I'll leave that up to Braith and everyone at the club ... they'll sort it all out," Pezet said. "With Hughesy going down there's an opportunity there, and I'll keep putting my best foot forward so that when the time comes I'm ready for that wherever it might be. "Obviously the best footy I play, the more NRL I'm going to get, so that's what I'm focused on." The Storm have stuck with Tyran Wishart as Hughes' replacement at No.7, after the reigning Dally M Medallist dislocated his shoulder last month. Bellamy on Wednesday left the door open for Hughes to return before finals, with the 22-year-old avoiding surgery and back training away from the main squad. Melbourne have not got a specific plan for Pezet off the bench, who has had limited football in the past 16 months with an ACL rupture and subsequent setback. Pezet was brought on at halfback late in last week's win over Parramatta, with Wishart shifting to lock. "I'm definitely confident in my own ability to go out there and play 80 minutes of footy in the halfback position," Pezet said. "But that's not what's best for the team at the moment." Jonah Pezet says he wants to chase the opportunity to play in the NRL every week, but insists a loan deal away from Melbourne is not yet at the front of his mind. Melbourne's half-in-waiting for several years, Pezet has been named to come off the bench against Brisbane on Thursday night with Jahrome Hughes injured. Pezet is signed with the Storm until the end of 2029, but is believed to have a clause in his contract that allowed him to speak to rivals if Hughes re-signed. Hughes did so last week, extending his time in purple until 2030. The other factor is the future of Cameron Munster, who is contracted until the end of 2027 but been linked to potential Perth interest. Both Pezet and Munster share a manager in Braith Anasta, while a loan deal could potentially buy time for Munster to decide his future beyond his current deal. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to play NRL every week," Pezet said. "As a kid you grow up and that's what you want to do. So of course I want to chase those opportunities. "But I'm just focused on putting my best foot forward every week, so that's when Belza (coach Craig Bellamy) picks me in the team." Melbourne hooker Harry Grant this week backed the idea of loans, speaking of the good it did him at Wests Tigers while stuck behind Cameron Smith in 2020. Asked whether a loan deal could be an option for him, Pezet said it was not something he wanted to be considering. "I think I'll leave that up to Braith and everyone at the club ... they'll sort it all out," Pezet said. "With Hughesy going down there's an opportunity there, and I'll keep putting my best foot forward so that when the time comes I'm ready for that wherever it might be. "Obviously the best footy I play, the more NRL I'm going to get, so that's what I'm focused on." The Storm have stuck with Tyran Wishart as Hughes' replacement at No.7, after the reigning Dally M Medallist dislocated his shoulder last month. Bellamy on Wednesday left the door open for Hughes to return before finals, with the 22-year-old avoiding surgery and back training away from the main squad. Melbourne have not got a specific plan for Pezet off the bench, who has had limited football in the past 16 months with an ACL rupture and subsequent setback. Pezet was brought on at halfback late in last week's win over Parramatta, with Wishart shifting to lock. "I'm definitely confident in my own ability to go out there and play 80 minutes of footy in the halfback position," Pezet said. "But that's not what's best for the team at the moment." Jonah Pezet says he wants to chase the opportunity to play in the NRL every week, but insists a loan deal away from Melbourne is not yet at the front of his mind. Melbourne's half-in-waiting for several years, Pezet has been named to come off the bench against Brisbane on Thursday night with Jahrome Hughes injured. Pezet is signed with the Storm until the end of 2029, but is believed to have a clause in his contract that allowed him to speak to rivals if Hughes re-signed. Hughes did so last week, extending his time in purple until 2030. The other factor is the future of Cameron Munster, who is contracted until the end of 2027 but been linked to potential Perth interest. Both Pezet and Munster share a manager in Braith Anasta, while a loan deal could potentially buy time for Munster to decide his future beyond his current deal. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to play NRL every week," Pezet said. "As a kid you grow up and that's what you want to do. So of course I want to chase those opportunities. "But I'm just focused on putting my best foot forward every week, so that's when Belza (coach Craig Bellamy) picks me in the team." Melbourne hooker Harry Grant this week backed the idea of loans, speaking of the good it did him at Wests Tigers while stuck behind Cameron Smith in 2020. Asked whether a loan deal could be an option for him, Pezet said it was not something he wanted to be considering. "I think I'll leave that up to Braith and everyone at the club ... they'll sort it all out," Pezet said. "With Hughesy going down there's an opportunity there, and I'll keep putting my best foot forward so that when the time comes I'm ready for that wherever it might be. "Obviously the best footy I play, the more NRL I'm going to get, so that's what I'm focused on." The Storm have stuck with Tyran Wishart as Hughes' replacement at No.7, after the reigning Dally M Medallist dislocated his shoulder last month. Bellamy on Wednesday left the door open for Hughes to return before finals, with the 22-year-old avoiding surgery and back training away from the main squad. Melbourne have not got a specific plan for Pezet off the bench, who has had limited football in the past 16 months with an ACL rupture and subsequent setback. Pezet was brought on at halfback late in last week's win over Parramatta, with Wishart shifting to lock. "I'm definitely confident in my own ability to go out there and play 80 minutes of footy in the halfback position," Pezet said. "But that's not what's best for the team at the moment."

NRL 2025: Wayne Bennett tells Lewis Dodd he's free to leave the Rabbitohs, NRL 360, Braith Anasta, player transfers
NRL 2025: Wayne Bennett tells Lewis Dodd he's free to leave the Rabbitohs, NRL 360, Braith Anasta, player transfers

Daily Telegraph

timean hour ago

  • Daily Telegraph

NRL 2025: Wayne Bennett tells Lewis Dodd he's free to leave the Rabbitohs, NRL 360, Braith Anasta, player transfers

Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Braith Anasta has described the Rabbitohs' signing of Lewis Dodd as 'one of the great recruitment blunders in NRL history' as reports emerged that coach Wayne Bennett had told the youngster he was free to leave the club. Bennett apparently had a meeting with the Englishman on Tuesday and told him he was free to look elsewhere in the NRL or overseas. Dodd has played just six NRL games in 2025, and just 68 minutes in the No. 7 jersey, despite signing a $2 million, three-year deal and a huge injury crisis at the club. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer > Anasta, the host of NRL 360, gave a frank assessment of the Rabbitohs' decision to sign Dodd, who won a Super League title and a World Club Challenge title with St Helens. 'It's one of the great recruitment blunders in NRL history,' Anasta said on Wednesday night. 'I just can't get my head around how (CEO) Blake Solly, (football manager) Mark Ellison are the ones flying to England to sign a premier half for your club without the permission of a coach. Lewis Dodd's signing has been a disaster. NRL Photos 'I can't get my head around it.' Co-host Gorden Tallis believes the club would have run the signing of Dodd past coach Wayne Bennett. 'You would think (Bennett) would have been asked (about Dodd),' Tallis said. Anasta said Solly and Ellison needed to take responsibility for the decision to sign Dodd. 'The fact of the matter is 'Ello' and Blake have got their hands all over it, it's just whether Wayne knew or not,' Anasta added. 'Wayne might have had one fingerprint on it,' Tallis said. Anasta said he was always surprised by the Rabbitohs' decision to sign Dodd, given there were others playing in the Super League who seemed more suitable to join an NRL club. 'Everything I have heard out of the Super League, from coaches, players over there and even recruitment back here, is that there's four or five better candidates that could be better in our game over here, in the NRL,' Anasta said. 'I think there's just some accountability that needs to be taken there.' Tallis said he was 'shocked' the Rabbitohs are in last spot on the ladder, with Bennett rejoining the club this season. 'Probably shocked with the injuries, and I know Wayne, and normally Wayne Bennett coached sides compete really hard, they win against the odds, don't give up,' Tallis said. 'The way that they've sort of fallen apart, I think I am shocked, and if you went to every Souths fan, they wouldn't believe that they'd be in this position, no way.' Originally published as 'One of the greatest recruitment blunders': Blame game over who made $2m, 68-minute signing

Hawthorn vs Collingwood teams: Breust, Mitchell among key changes
Hawthorn vs Collingwood teams: Breust, Mitchell among key changes

The Australian

time2 hours ago

  • The Australian

Hawthorn vs Collingwood teams: Breust, Mitchell among key changes

Hawthorn has recalled veteran Luke Breust for its must-win clash against Collingwood on Thursday night. The crafty forward has not played in the senior side since round 9 and has played just five AFL games this year. But he is one of two inclusions into the side, and will likely be deployed as the substitute, in a game against the Magpies. The Hawks will also recall Changkuoth Jiath for the clash after a strong VFL performance last week, replacing Harry Morrison on a wing. Hawthorn will be without Will Day, but instead of replacing him with a midfielder the coaching staff have opted to promote James Worpel from the substitute role last week to a spot in the best 22. Collingwood has made three changes for the clash as the Magpies desperately try to cling onto top spot on the ladder. The Pies dropped off the top perch with a loss to Brisbane last week, but have stocked their backline with experienced duo Billy Frampton and Jeremy Howe. Tom Mitchell has also been recalled and will face his old side, with Charlie Dean and Oleg Markov dropped for the clash. Bobby Hill made his return to the AFL last week but will miss again, this time due to illness. Matthew Forrest AFL Chief of Staff Matthew Forrest is the AFL Chief of Staff for News Corp's national sports team. He has worked at News Corp since 2021 in a variety of sports journalism roles including at the Mackay Daily Mercury and the Geelong Advertiser. Previously, Matthew was the Chief Football Writer at the Geelong Advertiser until 2024, when he started in his current role. @mattforrest29 Matthew Forrest

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store