3 minute read

The Creswick Stakes add some flair to a deep card of racing for this time of year at Flemington.

The last two winners of the Creswick Stakes have gone on to win at Group One level - Nature Strip and Gytrash - and while there had been a more inglorious patch prior to that, and it would be wildly optimistic to think that there is a Group 1 horse in there this year, the race is invariably a good contest and it does throw up a strong betting heat in 2020. 

Our each way play comes up in the race, with the now gelded Scorpius looking undersold in the early betting after a terrific effort first up at Mornington where he showed himself better than ever, and by some way. 

Scorpius has been handy enough in the past, he was a second up winner at Sandown last campaign and did that fairly well, but after getting himself into trouble at the start and ending up in a horrible spot, particularly at Mornington, he showed talent well beyond what he has done to this point to squeal home into second. 

He takes on a much tougher assignment on Saturday but there is good reason to think that he is up to the level and 16-1 looks a lively gamble in the days feature. 

For our bet of the day we will look to make a bright start by winning the first with Danon Premium. He ran well first up and did enough there to think that he has come back at least as well as ever.  

That gives him a favourite's chance in a fairly basic off season handicap, and there remains some hope that he still has more to offer in Australia after his first campaign showed glimpses of something more than what he has been able to put together so far. 

If he does put it all together now he's likely to find himself competitive in much stronger races than what he faces on Saturday and $4.00 appeals as a good bet given that. 

THE MELBOURNE MAIL 

Bet Of The Day: Race 1 #2 Danon Roman @ $4.00

Each Way Play: Race 7 #9 Scorpius @ $17.00