STANDISH HANDICAP
Graeme Begg to the fore in the day's feature with a strong looking 1-2 punch. VESPERTINE (4) has been kept on ice since winning really well here over Cup week. If she can repeat that then she is the one they will have to beat. Stablemate ROSE QUARTZ (8) hasn't been quite so good but she has been consistent and similarly she has shown a liking for the straight course. 1200m can be the real key for her. Terrific record at the trip and she has been begging for it in recent runs over shorter. 1200m will be on the short side for WESTERN EMPIRE (1) who is a Group One winner over a mile. He creates plenty of interest though with his Perth peaks outstanding for this. Didn't fire in the spring but he was hardly terrible in two runs at the top level. Fellow West Australian INDIAN PACIFIC (3) comes back across to Flemington where he was placed twice in two attempts including a Newmarket. Still racing well. HALVORSEN (2) has won this twice including last year. He's respected.
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