Written by Rhea Alison, Sports reporter, covering international sports since 2020.
Tactical Shift Sparks Flemington Rebound
Highlights entered the Ryan yard with patchy form following stable transfers from the Guy stable in Queensland and Bjorn Baker in Sydney. However, a radical change in training gear saw the veteran gelding completely transform. Stripping away the excess tack and trialing completely bare with only a tongue tie at Werribee unlocked the horse's natural speed, leading to a brilliant third place finish where he was beaten by a mere head by Seafall in the David Bourke Handicap.
“His form with me has been a little bit patchy, but he’s had excuses every time he’s run badly,” Ryan said. “He looked the winner the other day, and he’s come through the run well, so no doubt we’ll head to the final on Saturday. He’s very structurally good, he’s a little bit quirky… he trialled well nude with no gear on at Werribee so we just stripped everything back, left the tongue tie on, but I think it certainly helped.”
The David Bourke Handicap remains the ultimate launching pad for the Finals Day centerpieces. Notable star milers Jimmy The Bear in 2025 and Tuvalu in 2022 both successfully completed the David Bourke and Winter Championship double, highlighting why Ryan remains remarkably confident in his lightweight challenger's prospects.
Winter Championship Lead-Up Performance
Lead-Up Run: 3rd in the David Bourke Handicap (1620m) at Flemington.
Key Adjustment: Stripped back gear gear, retaining only a structural tongue tie.
Historical Precedent: Trainer Nick Ryan won the identical double with Munhamek in 2024.
The track surface is expected to suit back markers, meaning Highlights will carry a lightweight advantage into the final field. For official final acceptances, barrier draws, and horse weights, check out the comprehensive updates on the Victoria Racing Club Portal. For rolling form guides across all state tracks, head directly to our Horse Racing News Hub.
Looking to find an edge on the competitive fields carded for Flemington Finals Day? Analyze the opening markets and secure value selections through our premium SmartTips Racing Predictions portal to back the right runners this weekend.
