Tim's Tips for Aurie's Star Stakes Day

TIM HABEL was a racing journalist with the Sun, then Herald-Sun for 36 years and now works as a contributor for The Age. His selections are published mid-week and each Saturday.

FLEMINGTON Saturday, August 1, 2026, rail 10m, track good 4

RACE 1: NEARCO FROD 1, Our Chief 2, Stop The Rock 3, Black Run 4

RACE 2: REBEL TUESDAY 1, Heart's Affair 2, Eurocanto 3, The Troubleshooter 4

RACE 3: SEE THAT STORM 1, Smokin' Romans 2, Glory Daze 3, Flash Feeling 4

RACE 4: DARKBONEE 1, Fear No Evil 2, Kahhof 3, Flying Mikki 4

RACE 5: STEALTH OF NIGHT 1, Lovelycut 2, Salizou 3, Cherish Me 4

RACE 6: TOUCHDOWN 1, Shockletz 2, Kaleo 3, Farrh Flugn 4

First time on a good track for ages so expect some form reversals. Touchdown was good resuming coming from second last on a heavy 9 at Sandown, firmer track suits. Shockletz has been freshened and that's often when she shines, stablemate Kaleo impressed here last time.

RACE 7: NDOLA 1, War Machine 2, Arkansas Kid 3, Royal Insignia 4

The Hayes stable should provide the winner, the trick is which of the fancied trio. Perhaps the fit horse Ndola down in the weights and excels down the straight.

RACE 8: RISE AT DAWN 1, Sass Appeal 2, Coeur Volante 3, Duchess Zou 4

Rise At Dawn was game in defeat resuming. Drawn wide so likely to press forward outside the lead or take it up. Sass Appeal was a high class filly last season now taking on open age, drawn for a cosy run.

RACE 9: JUST LIKE GABY 1, Along The River 2, Per Sempre 3m El Pibe De Oro 4

Just Like Gaby resumes and that's when she races best. Gets a whopping 9kg weight advantage over the in-form Along The River who is in career best form.  She's a backmarker while Along The River will settle in the first three,

BEST BETS. Stealth Of Night, Just Like Gaby. VALUE: Darkbonee

THE $20 FLEXI QUADDIE

1st leg: 1, 9, 10

2nd leg: 1, 2, 5

3rd leg: 1, 2, 10

4th leg: 1, 11

For a $20 outlay you would receive 37 per cent of a $1 dividend.