“Who will beat him!”: Why Hunter is adamant with Flemington best

Expert analyst Mark Hunter has declared Highland Blaze as his best bet of the day at Flemington on Saturday.

The Shane Jackson-trained six-year-old holds a record of nine wins from 46 starts and will be jumping in Race 6 from barrier 9, holding 55kg.

While this is the son of Highland Reel’s first ever time racing across 2800m, he is the $4 favourite with Sportsbet, and the form expert is adamant Highland Blaze will take out the race.

“I can only give you one number – number 6, Highland Blaze,” Hunter told SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.

“I just can't work out why he won't win!”

Hunter referenced the gelding’s previous run, which was a victory at 2600m.

The form analyst explained that he powered through the line, and an extra 200m will be perfect for Highland Blaze to win again on Saturday.

“His Flemington flat runs are outstanding; he sat back last time, got clear, took his little while to warm up, got to the outside, rounded them up, and on the line, he was just getting further and further in front,” Hunter stated.

“Now, he gets a bit more weight, big deal! He draws wide, he'll go back, he'll let himself balance up.

“An extra 200m (from last start) is just even better, he's got track conditions to suit, he's got distance to suit, he loves the track.

“He's flying, he's a one-outer for me, Highland Blaze, I think he'll win.”

One of the six-year-old’s main dangers in the run may be Bold Soul though – a horse which ran second to Highland Blaze last start.

Despite that five-year-old being at $5, Hunter doesn’t see the Patrick Payne-trained gelding turning the tables on Highland Blaze.

“Bold Soul's got to run 2800m, and the way Highland Blaze rounded him up and raced away from him, Highland Blaze would have to have an off day for Bold Soul to beat him,” explained Hunter.

“I can't see who will beat him. I don’t know where the danger will come from.

“I just cannot see how the horse will run badly!”

Click here to read Hunter’s full set of plays for Flemington!

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