A quality line-up of spring-bound sprinters faces off in the 2023 Aurie’s Star Handicap field at Flemington this weekend including the in-form Shawn Mathrick-trained favourite Cause For Concern.

Cause For Concern is favourite for the 2023 Aurie’s Star Handicap this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The early scratching of Ingratiating, who instead contests the Group 2 Missile Stakes in Sydney, from this year’s Group 3 $200,000 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) has opened up betting on the popular sprint down the ‘straight six’ at Headquarters.

Sitting top of the updated Aurie’s Star Handicap odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au is the rails-drawn Cause For Concern ($3.70) who has won three of his past four starts.

The Worthy Cause gelding has his first start as a four-year-old on the weekend looking to add to his already imposing Flemington track record (3:2-1-0).

The Cranbourne-based galloper rises notably in grade, but brings in some strong form.

Two back he finished runner-up in the Listed Creswick Stakes (1200m) with 58kg before carrying 56kg to a half-length win over 1400m here in a three-year-old handicap on July 15.

Cause For Concern comes back to 54kg and the six furlongs here making him a deserving favourite.

The big danger following closely in Aurie’s Star Handicap betting at $3.80 and firming is the Danny O’Brien-trained It’sourtime.

Michael Dee comes aboard the Time For War six-year-old who won the Listed Straight Six at the track and trip back in May.

He has been racing consistently since including his last start third with 58.5kg behind Ingratiating in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield and will relish the drop back to 55.5kg.

The Bletchingly Stakes runner-up General Beau is also a key chance in the Aurie’s Star at Flemington this weekend with the in-form Matthew Ellerton-trained Brazen Beau entire rated a $6 shot.

It has been some time between wins for the now five-year-old who hasn’t won a race since September of 2021.

He has been competitive in plenty since however including his Group 1 third behind September Run in the William Reid Stakes at The Valley last March.

This prep he has been stacking together the minor placings at this level and can improve again coming back to 57kg with Damian Lane to ride.

Sarah Ryan’s quality grey Much Much Better ($8) rounds out the hopes under $10 in betting coming to Melbourne off some nice lead-up Sydney runs with big weights.

Others in the mix at a more generous price chasing an upset include the James Cummings-trained Zethus ($12) who recently ran third in the Listed All Victorian Sprint here and the resuming Here To Shock ($13) for the Hayes’ stable.

The 2023 Aurie’s Star Handicap is set to run as Flemington Race 7 at 3:20pm (AEST) on Saturday’s bumper 10-race card with full markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available by clicking here.

2023 Aurie’s Star Handicap Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.