Experts tipping strong day for O'Brien
Tipping experts are predicting a strong day on Saturday for Flemington trainer Danny O'Brien for the final meeting of the season on his home track.
O'Brien has three horses engaged at the meeting: Gervais in Race 1 over 1600m to be ridden by Craig Williams, Portman. pictured winning at Flemington, in Race 4 over 1400m with Williams also engaged and the impressive debut winner Tahi in Race 9 down the straight who will utilise apprentice Ben Allen's 1.5kg claim.
"All three horses have been at our Barwon Heads facility since their first-up runs. They have been heading down to the beach and galloping on our grass track and we are very happy with them all. With any luck we are confident of having a good day," O'Brien said.
Racing.com's Grace Ramage is keen on Portman and has declared him as one of her best bets on the program: "Craig Williams know this horse well and has opted to reignite the association on Saturday, when the horse is second-up off a solid run when resuming at Caulfield three weeks ago. Williams rode Orient Line to win just last Saturday over the same trip at Caulfield and in Williams we trust at this time of year. Portman stepping up in trip here will settle closer and within firing distance from barrier 5. I think the Danny O'Brien-trained galloper will improve again out to a mile but still think he'll be too good here."
Just Horse Racing has Portman as its best bet and Tahi as the value runner for the day on it's webiste: "Looks such a lovely race for Portman (Race 4 No 8, $3.00). Above average gelding for the Danny O’Brien camp who resumed over 1200m at Caulfield three weeks ago and you had to like the way he closed his race off late in the piece when a close up third to Leodoro. He should come right on from that and he loves racing on his home track."
"Tahi (Race 9, No 11, $8.50) is a beautifully bred gelding for the O’Brien camp who debuted at Geelong on the turf and had a bit of market support late in the piece. They got it right as he led all the way and bolted in, running time. Draws the right part of the track, down in the weights and I’m sure he would have had a look down the straight given he’s trained here."
Leading Herald Sun form analyst Michael Manley had little hesitation in nominating the lightly raced Portman as a horse on the way up and his best for Flemington on Saturday: "He ran home well for a first-up third at Caulfield over 1200m this month. His two runs at Flemington over 1600m and 1400m have returned a win and a second to smart galloper Snitzson. That is enough to persuade me that this race sets up well for the Danny O’Brien-trained four-year-old."
Herald Sun Super Racing's aul Micallef has tipped Gervais on top in Race 1: "He will improve sharply second-up and getting out to a mile suits also. Loves Flemington and he is the horse I want to be on the first race. I also think Portman will be hard to beat and Tahi is in the mix in the final event as his debut was stunning."
Pic by Racing Photos