The Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival action steps up a notch this Saturday, March 3, with a bumper eight-even card to take place for Australian Guineas Day 2012, the Races.com.au team’s Flemington tips for which can be found below.

While the meeting is of course headlined by Helmet’s final race down under, the $750,000 Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at 4:00pm, the Flemington race card has plenty of other quality events for bookmaker.com.au punters on Saturday.

Black-type racing is on the agenda right from kick-off with events including the $125,000 Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at 1:20pm where 2012 Adelaide Cup-bound gallopers including Drunken Sailor and Western Jewel will face off.

With rain around in Melbourne and the chance of a Slow track for the weekend, there is likely to be a few Flemington race upsets for Guineas Day, perhaps even in the main affair?

While plenty of punters will be keen to back Helmet to become a four-time Group 1 winner before heading overseas at his easing $3.10 price in the Australian Guineas odds at bookmaker.com.au, there is a bit going against the favourite and an upset could be on the cards.

The stakes racing continues right through until the final race of the day when the $150,000 Group 3 PFD Food Services Stakes (1400m), formerly the Frances Tessday Stakes, brings things to a close at 5:20pm.

With so many exciting races and so many genuine chances across the Flemington race-card, the Races.com.au team has done the hard work for our readers and below are our insider Australian Guineas Day tips.

When you’re ready to back our Flemington selections, or your own excusive picks at the hottest prices, hit up the Australian-owned and licensed bookie bookmaker.com.au today and open your account with the best in the business.

2012 Australian Guineas Day Tips

Flemington – Saturday March 3, 2012

Race 1 – 12:40pm Streets Ice Cream Stakes (1000m)

• 1^st – #1 Fire Thunderbolt – Bet now at bookmaker.com.au
• 2^nd – #8 Rhandara
• 3^rd – #5 Sabie

Lots of hype on the return of Jim Conlan’s smart Redoute’s Choice filly Rhandara who is the firming punter’s pick after her close fourth behind the likes of Applegate and Snitzerland in the Listed Emirates Airline Plate (1000m) on Melbourne Cup Day, but Fire Thunderbolt is fitter having put two and a half lengths on their rivals on debut at Morphettville a fortnight ago and at $6.50 look the value bet.

Race 2 – 1:20pm Roy Higgins Quality (2600m)

• 1^st – #1 Drunken Sailor – Bet now at bookmaker.com.au
• 2^nd – #8 Rowland
• 3^rd – #6 Our Serena

Read our full 2012 Roy Higgins Quality Betting Update & Tips for why Michael Moroney’s imported stayer Drunken Sailor is the pick despite their 60kg topweight.

Race 3 – Mrs Mac’s Beef Pie Sprint (1100m)

• 1^st – #3 Miss Octopussy – Bet now at bookmaker.com.au
• 2^nd – #9 Dark Sun
• 3^rd – #10 Lady Antebellum

Miss Octopussy is the class local hope with improvement, while Dark Sun and Lady Antebellum both look in-form and add value.

Race 4 – 2:40pm Mittys Handicap (2000m)

• 1^st – #7 Under The Hat – Bet now at bookmaker.com.au
• 2^nd – #8 Chasse
• 3^rd – #10 Sidecar

Under The Hat is clear-cut favourite for a reason after their smart one and three quarter length win over Chasse at Flemington over 1720-metres last start, looks to be the same one-two here with Sidecar adding some value after their good form around Melbourne this season over the staying distances.

Race 5 – 3:20pm VIC TAB Guaranteed $2m Quaddie (1400m)

• 1^st – #12 Shadowfax – Bet now at bookmaker.com.au
• 2^nd – #7 Niblick
• 3^rd – #16 Anudjawun

Mark Kavanagh’s in-form Shadowfax is the definite one to beat following their eye-catching second to Manighar in the Group 3 Carlyon Cup last-start and while on paper the draw looks bad, with emergencies out and rain around they can overcome.

Race 6 – 4:00pm Australian Guineas (1600m)

• 1^st – #10 Proliferate ($9.50) – Bet now at bookmaker.com.au
• 2^nd – #1 Helmet
• 3^rd – #16 Mosheen

Read our insider 2012 Australian Guineas Tips post for the facts and stats supporting an upset win by Proliferate over Helmet.

Race 7 – 4:40pm ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m)

• 1^st – #8 Happy Angel – Bet now at bookmaker.com.au
• 2^nd – #3 Master Harry
• 3^rd – #6 Panipique

 

Happy Angel is out for her third on the trot following smart back-to-back wins over this distance at Morphettville and is firming favourite at the bookies. Has the right draw and has decent form at Flemington from last year so the straight six is nothing new.

Race 8 – PFD Food Services Stakes (1400m)

• 1^st – #7 Golden Penny – Bet now at bookmaker.com.au
• 2^nd – #4 I’m Discreet
• 3^rd – #6 Marveen

Richard Jolly’s Adelaide raider is hard to go past based on her form at home, Golden Penny having own her last three starts at Morphettville throughout the summer.

*All odds quoted are Fixed Win and subject to change