Plenty of speed here from the likes of Spanish Whisper (9), Haut Brion Her (2) and Dawn Dawn (1).
Fidelia was held up for a run after taking an inside lane last start behind Spanish Whisper and was a certainty beaten.
From barrier 8, she should be no worse than mid-field with cover. Look for jockey Jye McNeil to give her a peach of a ride and come down the outside, where she'll be able to use her exceptional turn of foot to get back into the winner’s circle.
Spanish Whisper has two starts for two wins over this trip at Flemington and is the one to beat again.
She has not drawn ideally in barrier 9, but I expect Mark Zahra to put her in a forward position just behind the leaders and she should get the run of the race. My second pick.
My Pendant (5) is another runner from the race that Spanish Whisper won, back here on September 14th.
On that occasion, she was too far back but rattled home to finish in fifth place, only 1.3 lengths away from the winner. Clear third pick.
Mark's Race 4 Tips
1st Fidelia
2ndSpanish Whisper
3rdMy Pendant
Flemington Race 7 Turnbull Stakes 2000m (Group 1)
Trap for Fools will set a cracking speed here, with Kentucky Breeze also going with him.
Mystic Journey (9) and Rostropovich will both sit just behind the leaders.
Mr Quickie runs remarkable sectionals and what he did here last start behind Gatting and Mystic Journey was nothing short of extraordinary.
From barrier 11, look for him to settle at the rear of the field and watch it all unfold in front of him. Once he hits the 400m mark, expect experienced jockey John Allen to peel off to the outside and make a sustained run to pick them all off one-by-one.
After seven straight wins, Mystic Journey was in the unusual position of running second when beaten by the long shot Gatting in the Makybe Diva Stakes.
The mare aims to bounce back here and the only query is how she'll handle the step up to 2000m for the first time. She's finished all of her races over a mile with vigour, so there's no reason to suggest she won't relish the extra 400m. My second pick.
Finche won well in a Group 3 race in Sydney recently and is being geared towards the Melbourne Cup.
From barrier 2, I expect this gelding to take a forward position and follow the path taken when finishing fourth in last year’s Melbourne Cup. Look for him to give this race an almighty shake.
Mark's Race 7 Tips
1st Mr Quickie
2ndMystic Journey
3rdFinche
Flemington Race 8 Bart Cummings 2520m (Group 3)
Wolfe (1) will lead with Alfarris (13) pushing forward to travel with him.
Dal Haraild (5) and Ventura Storm (2) will sit just behind the leaders.
Surprise Baby is sharply up in distance but that won’t worry her as she is suited to the trip. Connections are determined to get an automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup, so they'll have her in great order for this.
From barrier 6, she should get a nice sit and just let the leaders do all the work. Look for her to peel out in the straight and win this well.
Te Akau Caliburn raced for the first time in Australia last start, running a cracking fifth place behind Alfarris.
These races are a rise in class compared to what he's faced overseas. However, he will be coming home at a rate of knots and runs some very fast sectionals.
Could be the surprise packet here and is my second pick.
King Of Leogrance was another runner from the race that Alfarris won at Flemington.
From barrier 9, I expect Damien Oliver to put this gelding mid-field with cover and when the whips are cracking, he will be storming home. A clear third pick.
Mark is a racing tragic. Whether it be the tight turn of Mooney Valley or the long Flemington straight, Mark's ability to assess a race is proven to give punters an edge.
Mark's Race 4 Tips
