On The Punt: Flemington best bets for Saturday, May 17, 2025
News Corp form analyst Chris Vernuccio takes a look at the Flemington meeting on Saturday.
â– â– â– â– â–
BEST BET
KING ZEPHYR (R6 No.11): King Zephyr sets up to stakes grade for the first time after winning all four runs this prep, beating his opposition easily by a combined margin of 9¼ lengths. He looks capable of winning Group races. The step back to 1200m is the only concern but connections have their sights on the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap next month.
NEXT BEST
HIGHVOL (R2 No.1): Highvol won a stakes race on debut on Anzac Day and should have more upside. The horse he beat, Stay Cosmic, was runner-up in a handicap race at Sandown Lakeside after winning on debut, so the form potentially looks strong. He's drawn well in barrier six to settle among the leading pack.
VALUE BET
MAGARTEN (R9 No.10): Magarten chased home in-form galloper Know Thyself at Randwick last start, finishing 1¼ lengths behind the Country Championships Final winner. He should be ready to peak third-up and has placed twice in both attempts at 1800m.
ETHAN BROWN
HIGHVOL (R2 No.1 – $2.80), MATERIAL DREAMS (R3 No.5 – $8.50), KALKALLO (R4 No.7 – $3.90), OXFORD BLUE (R5 No.4 – $4.80), BERKSHIRE BREEZE (R7 No.12 – $5.50).
Originally published as On The Punt: Flemington best bets for Saturday, May 17, 2025
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

ABC News
22 minutes ago
- ABC News
Sydney Swans rookie Riak Andrew to miss five weeks at VFL and AFL levels following homophobic slur
Sydney Swans listed player Riak Andrew will be suspended from VFL and AFL matches for five weeks, after being found guilty of using a "highly offensive homophobic slur". The incident happened in a VFL match last weekend, where Andrew was found to have made a slur towards a North Melbourne opponent during the first quarter. The incident was reported to an umpire by North Melbourne at the end of the quarter. Andrew will also undertake Pride in Sport education, according to a media release from the league. 'It is important that we continue to make clear that homophobia or homophobic language has no place in our game at any level or in the wider community, for that matter,' AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade said. 'It is disappointing to be dealing with another incident, and while we will always examine the individual circumstances, the clear message is that this language is not acceptable in any workplace, and that includes on the field of play.' The incident involving Andrew comes barely a week after West Coast midfielder Jack Graham was handed a four-match ban for using a homophobic slur during a match against the GWS Giants. Three AFL players were suspended for using homophobic slurs during matches in 2024. Gold Coast's Wil Powell (five matches) and Port Adelaide's Jeremy Finlayson (three matches) were banned in the AFL. St Kilda's Lance Collard received a six-match penalty following a slur made towards two Williamstown players in a VFL fixture.

Daily Telegraph
37 minutes ago
- Daily Telegraph
Sangha's 202 strengthens Test case after Ponting backing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News. Ricky Ponting put emerging star Jason Sangha's name in the Test selection mix and he duly delivered with a masterful double-hundred to come away the biggest winner of an Australia A run fest in Darwin. The second four-day match between Australia A and Sri Lanka A was called a draw halfway through the final day when Sangha reached a maiden double century. Sangha, an adopted South Australian, hit a century in the Sheffield Shield final in March and backed it up with an unbeaten 202 from 379 balls on Wednesday. The 25-year-old's haul came amid a shoutout from Ponting ahead of what looms as a crucial start to the home summer for plenty of batters with at least one opening spot up for grabs in the Ashes. 'The start of the Sheffield Shield season will be an interesting one ... I'll throw another name in that I think is a highly talented Australian batsman, that's Jason Sangha,' Ponting told the ICC Review. 'I think (Sangha is) someone whose name will probably come up at some stage as well, but there's just not many games now, not many opportunities to be able to get yourself and get your name up in front of the selectors.' Sangha made the most of batting friendly conditions, which took in 10 wickets for 1043 runs across three and a half days. The previous match in Darwin was also a draw with only three innings played across the four days. Sangha shared a 209-run partnership with fellow centurion Jake Weatherald and a 165-run stand with Victorian young gun Ollie Peake. Peake finished agonisingly short of his century, dismissed for 92 off 178 deliveries. Sangha is one of many state discards who have flourished in South Australia after he was cut from New South Wales. His career stood at a junction at the end of the 2023-24 season when he crossed the border to become a Redback. Sangha produced a brilliant Shield season and has since emerged as a rising star of Australian cricket. Originally published as Jason Sangha's rise continues to build momentum after a double century for Australia A

The Australian
an hour ago
- The Australian
Sangha's 202 strengthens Test case after Ponting backing
Ricky Ponting put emerging star Jason Sangha's name in the Test selection mix and he duly delivered with a masterful double-hundred to come away the biggest winner of an Australia A run fest in Darwin. The second four-day match between Australia A and Sri Lanka A was called a draw halfway through the final day when Sangha reached a maiden double century. Sangha, an adopted South Australian, hit a century in the Sheffield Shield final in March and backed it up with an unbeaten 202 from 379 balls on Wednesday. The 25-year-old's haul came amid a shoutout from Ponting ahead of what looms as a crucial start to the home summer for plenty of batters with at least one opening spot up for grabs in the Ashes. 'The start of the Sheffield Shield season will be an interesting one ... I'll throw another name in that I think is a highly talented Australian batsman, that's Jason Sangha,' Ponting told the ICC Review. 'I think (Sangha is) someone whose name will probably come up at some stage as well, but there's just not many games now, not many opportunities to be able to get yourself and get your name up in front of the selectors.' Sangha made the most of batting friendly conditions, which took in 10 wickets for 1043 runs across three and a half days. The previous match in Darwin was also a draw with only three innings played across the four days. Sangha shared a 209-run partnership with fellow centurion Jake Weatherald and a 165-run stand with Victorian young gun Ollie Peake. Peake finished agonisingly short of his century, dismissed for 92 off 178 deliveries. Sangha is one of many state discards who have flourished in South Australia after he was cut from New South Wales. His career stood at a junction at the end of the 2023-24 season when he crossed the border to become a Redback. Sangha produced a brilliant Shield season and has since emerged as a rising star of Australian cricket.