ANTHONY NUNES' FLAGAMAN looks a bit stretched out at 1300 metres but has enough pace and is fit enough to last the distance in tomorrow's eighth event for three-year-olds hunting their third wins.

Runner-up in his last three races, failing by a neck to tag MISS EILEEN at 1100 metres on November 29, FLAGAMAN again faces a testing line-up with his main threats appearing to be TWENTYFIRSTOFJUNE and PLEASURE FLIGHT.

TWENTYFIRSTOFJUNE won impressively at 1100 metres on December 3, beating non-winners-of-two GIRLOFMYDREAMS by seven lengths in a fast 1:06.2, quicker than the 1:07.0 in which FLAGAMAN lost four days earlier.

However, FLAGAMAN faced a much tougher field, as the splits of his race indicated, 23.0, 46.3, chasing all-the-way winner MISS EILEEN, whereas TWENTYFIRSTOFJUNE had things her way in splits of 23.3, 46.4, giving her more finishing power and a quicker final time as none of her rivals were good enough to take her out off her bridle.

Both horses worked last Sunday morning and FLAGAMAN clocked 1:01.0 for five furlongs round, bettering TWENTYFIRSTOFJUNE's workout of 1:01.2, suggesting the gelding has a bigger pace to the filly.

Meanwhile, PLEASURE FLIGHT, runner-up in his last two races, was caught close home by FOREVER MINE at 1500 metres last Saturday.

The NATURAL SELECTION colt does not like to be rushed off his legs too early, preferring middle- distance events, which allow him to use his pace to dictate down the backstretch.

However, he's more a 24.2-, 47.2-split horse and could have trouble staying with FLAGAMAN and TWENTYFIRSTOFJUNE in the first two furlongs, causing him to come off his bridle too early and flatten in the stretch run.

FLAGAMAN has never gone beyond 1200 metres, the last time being Superday, November 8, when he turned for home looking all over a winner but was caught and beaten three lengths by THE QUEEN.

Challenges

At 1300 metres, Nunes' runner should benefit from Shane Ellis' riding style, dead still down the backstretch and into the lane where he should have enough in the tank to turn back the challenges of his rivals, who should be too used-up trying to keep pace.

Use TWENTYFIRSTOFJUNE's form line to bank on LITTLE BAY in the 1100-metre seventh race for non-winners-of-two.

The bay filly has good speed and chased TWENTYFIRSTOFJUNE into the lane on last before being relegated by GIRLSOFMYDREAMS in the final half-furlong.

LITTLE BAY, who returned off a three-month lay-up on December 3, caught the eye at exercise last Sunday morning, clocking 48.2 for four furlongs on the round course.

Track Price Plus Pick-6 players should close their bets with FEE FI FOE in the second at 1000 metres straight; STRONG DELIVERY in the third at 1400 metres; RISK REWARDS in the fourth at 1000 metres straight, and ITAL QUEEN at the same distance in the 10th event.

FEE FI FOE should go all the way at the expense of SKIPPING SUE in the second event for two-year-old maidens, after being relegated third close home at 1100 metres by the filly when beaten by GUAN YU on December 6.

STRONG DELIVERY ran a big race behind repeat winner BLUE MARLIN on November 29, disputing the lead and holding second back to the wire. RISK REWARDS has been working like a bomb at 1000 metres straight for his debut and ITAL QUEEN is better than $180,000 claimers on any given day.