Doomben is done and dusted, now it’s time for Eagle Farm to have the spotlight! And as always, the first day is a beauty, highlighted by the $400,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2400m), where classy Sydney filly Arabian Gold has the race at her mercy after an arrogant win in the traditional lead up, the Doomben Roses (2000m).
Some of the better class three year olds will strive to squeeze into the final Stradbroke field when they line up in the $350,000 Group ll Sky Racing Queensland Guineas (1400m), where the likes of Agadir, Costa Viva, Hucklebuck and Havana will race to gain entry into the big one next week.
Final tunes up for the Brisbane Cup (2400m) will be done by some of the leading players in the $250,000 Group ll Eagle Farm Cup (2200m), where Akzar appears to be the clear horse to beat after his slashing fourth in the Doomben Cup (2000m).
The older gallopers will get their chance to gain a start in the Stradbroke when they contest the $175,000 Group ll Magic Millions QTC Cup (1300m). The race in recent years has proven to be a good guide heading towards the big one seven days later.
Special Offer 1: $250 FREE BET – Ladbrokes
Race One (11:45) : Mitty’s Handicap (90) 1800m
Back Me: Kiwi visitor King Kamada worked home really strongly in a similar race over the Doomben mile a fortnight back when a narrow fourth to Bewhatyouwannabe. Extra furlong is a big tick, and he’ll lover the bigger surroundings of Eagle Farm. Heading towards races like the Ipswich Cup and Caloundra Cup, but still should make his presence felt here.
Big Danger: Bewhatyouwannabe had the dream run in that race and duly saluted, albeit narrowly. Has to rise in weight and steps up to 1800m, which is a slight concern, but from barrier one, Nolen will put him to sleep, which should allow him every chance to run a strong 1800m.
Roughie: The rock hard fit horse will be the Adelaide visitor Stella Lante, who has racked up plenty of frequent flyer points thanks to Melbourne visits. She tried her guts out last start in the Centaurea over the 2000m at Morphettville on a slow track, so she’ll have no issues with the 1800m here and will love the return to a firmer surface.
Race Two (12:25) : KRA Busan The Phoenix 1400m
Back Me: I didn’t mind the debut run of Fixation at Ipswich. He never looked comfortable racing around that tricky circuit and only really found his feet over the final furlong, hitting the line with purpose. Quickly up to 1400m is no worries, gets on his home track and strikes a pretty thin race here. Stable are having a wicked run at the moment, and there is no reason why it can’t continue with this promising youngster.
Big Danger: Thief Of Hearts was given a lovely steer by Macca on debut in the Dalrello and stuck on gamely when third to all the way winner Pinch River. Will only improve off that outing naturally, but even if he holds that form here, he’ll go very close in what is a very winnable race.
Roughie: Walk To The Bar did a power of work on a bottomless Sunshine Coast surface last start and didn’t look happy in the going, but still slogged it out best to win impressively. What he beat is a question, but the way he ran through the line tells me that he is crying out for this distance and draws beautifully.
Race Three (13:05) : Eagle Farm Cup 2200m
Back Me: Looks to be a pretty safe bet here in the shape of Akzar, who has been a revelation since joining the Darren Weir camp, with the highlight being his stunning Warrnambool Cup win two back where he was no closer than the centre of the track yet drew away with every stride in the straight. He then went to the Doomben Cup and was one of many not suited by the on pace bias, but he weaved his way through narrow gaps and ran a sensational fourth. Should bolt in here, and then the Brisbane Cup.
Big Danger: Moriarty ran his usual honest race in the Doomben Cup, running a credible fifth. He is always competitive at this level, but does struggle to greet the judge. The small field and returning to Eagle Farm gives him a great chance to register a win on the board, but he’d want to improve a bit to topple the top tip.
Roughie: Mr O’Ceirin needs a soft track to show his true colours, but he is a sneaky upset chance here given there is absolutely no early speed engaged here, so Bossy could do as he pleases here and walk them in front, like he did in the Naturalism last Spring. As I said, needs a wet track, but the cheap lead brings him into the exotic conversation.
Race Four (13:45) : Channel Seven Bright Shadow Handicap 1200m
Back Me: She’s Clean has really gone off the boil since the Spring, but there have been signs that she may just be getting back on track. Loved her trial behind a future star in Excess Knowledge, then went around in the Juanmo and was far from disgraced when fourth to Srikandi. She is the clear highest rated runner in the race hence the lofty weight, but the bigger track of Eagle Farm and a fairer racing surface should see her be right in the finish.
Big Danger: Single Style made up good ground in that race won by Srikandi despite the fact that mare had a picnic in front. Single Style is always around the mark at this level and is another that will appreciate coming to Eagle Farm. Her best runs have come when ridden cold, so expect them to adopt similar tactics here given there looks to be good speed engaged.
Roughie: Little Brown Horse stuck to the task gamely in the Juanmo where she was another not suited by the slow tempo. Races very well at Eagle Farm, and at 1200m, and for mine, she strikes a very winnable race here provided she gets the right run.
Race Five (14:25) : XXXX Gold Spear Chief Handicap 1500m
Back Me: Lady Echelon is racing so well at the moment without winning. Took a gem ride by Browne on Angel Of Mercy to beat her two back in the Members Handicap, then dropped back to benchmark company and just failed to pick up Bewhatyouwannabe on a day where leaders were dominating. Gets weight relief here and gets back to Eagle Farm, where she races quite well.
Big Danger: Pleiades has had two fair runs this time in, both in Stakes company back home. Worked home okay in the Darley Crown behind Aerobatics, then never got into the Dark Jewel behind Seaside in a race dominated by those up near the speed. Third up at 1500m, thin race…won’t get a better chance to find some form.
Roughie: Startsmeup was quite good in the BRC Sprint, coming from well back in a slowly run race for a meritorious seventh, beaten just under six lengths. Races well at Eagle Farm and can perform well second up with the right run. Will need the speed on, and if that eventuates, he’ll be hitting the line as hard as anything else.
Special Offer 2: $250 FREE BET – Sportsbet
Race Six (15:00) : Sky Racing Queensland Guineas 1400m
Back Me: One of the better editions of the Queensland Guineas. If you backed Hucklebuck first up, don’t sack him after that run, because Dom rode the track and not the horse. There was a clear bias towards leaders and from the good draw, they took advantage, but the horse just got tired late and ran a 1.1L fourth to our roughie. He is a much better horse when chasing, as we saw earlier in the Autumn. Needs to win to get in the Stradbroke and I think he can.
Big Danger: Costa Viva is the interesting one. She has been kept fresh since a slashing fourth in the Gold Coast Guineas to Dothraki, where it appeared as though the rider was riding as if it was a barrier trial. She is a classy filly from NZ who may be aimed towards the Tatt’s Tiara, so I think whatever she does here, she will improve on, but as I said, she has the class and talent to win despite that factor.
Roughie: Havana was a disappointing third in the Mick Dittman to Agitate after being heavily backed, then backed up seven days later and improved sharply to win the Fred Best, beating home most of his rivals here. He probably doesn’t have as much upside as some of them though, so that’s the concern with him, but he is in winning form and will appreciate Eagle Farm.
Race Seven (15:40) : Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks 2400m
Back Me: If they run the Oaks the same way they did in the Roses, then Arabian Gold will win and win with ridiculous ease. The slowly run affair just allowed to be put to sleep by Shinn, peel out on the turn and use her turn of foot to comfortably beat her rivals. The only query I have is if they make it a truly run 2400m. That could take the sprint out of her and leave her vulnerable. But in saying that, she has many, many lengths of class on these and that should be enough to get her home.
Big Danger: Rock Diva was the real eye catcher behind Arabian Gold in the Roses, making up significant ground between runners on a day where it was hard to make ground from the rear. She will be the one suited by a strong tempo if it eventuates and will no doubt savage the line better than Arabian Gold. The price difference is a bit excessive I feel, so I’d definitely have something on Rock Diva in case it is a fast run Oaks.
Roughie: Big watch and a huge amount of respect for Sancerre, a stablemate of Rock Diva. She lacks the class of Rock Diva, but there is definitely a sense of timing about her. Bolted in at the Sunny Coast over the mile, then went around like a young drunk at Ipswich yet toyed with them. The bigger track and extra distance looks ideal and is another you should have something on each way.
Race Eight (16:20) : Magic Millions QTC Cup 1300m
Back Me: The kiwis have produced another street corner tip for a big race here, this time courtesy of four year old Sacred Star. Went through his grades quite impressively during the Summer back in New Zealand, culminating with slashing back to back placings at Group l level. First up here, but trialled like a star recently at Doomben and from all reports, you won’t find a better looking worker at the moment. If the wraps are right, he’ll go very close here, and in the big one next week
Big Danger: Dances On Stars was excellent I thought in the BRC Sprint given he was wide, midfield in a race where the front two just dominated and cleared away to fight it out. He peeled very wide yet made up ground on the leaders to run a super third. He only needs normal luck to go very close here.
Roughie: Doubtfilly was one of only a handful to make ground from the back a fortnight back on Doomben Cup Day when coming from near last to run third to Pure Purrfection in the Bribie. She can be quite hard to follow, but on that first up run, she has to rate as a serious chance.
Special Offer 3: $500 FREE BET – Luxbet
Best Bet: Race Seven Number 1 Arabian Gold
Next Best: Race Three Number 2 Akzar
Best Roughie: Race Two Number 7 Fixation
Special Offer 4: Deposit $25 BET with $100 – Ladbrokes (use code: TWT75FREE)
Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):
Leg One: 2, 8, 12
Leg Two: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 14, 15
Leg Three: 1
Leg Four: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12
$50 Investment = 34.72% of the dividend if successful.
We recommend BET365 for all Quadrella punters. BET365 guarantee the best value on all Quadrella’s as they pay out on the best tote, meaning you get the best dividend across VIC, NSW and TATTS on every meeting every day. Get a $200 FREE BET at BET365 for a limited time HERE.
All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
In the news:
Ryan can’t separate QTC Cup pair
Gerald Ryan can’t split stablemates Hot Snitzel and Dances On Stars as the pair prepare to clash in Saturday’s Magic Millions QTC Cup at Eagle Farm.
The Rosehill trainer can make a case for both horses with Hot Snitzel dropping significantly in grade while Dances On Stars has been racing in great heart during a Brisbane campaign which has already yielded a win in the Prime Minister’s Cup at the Gold Coast.
“It will come down to luck in running,” Ryan said.
Hot Snitzel has contested weight-for-age company at his past two starts and while he was unplaced in the BTC Cup and Doomben 10,000, he wasn’t disgraced in either.
A return to handicap conditions and a drop in grade from Group One company will be factors in his favour on Saturday.
“He will back up and he’s back to his right type of race,” Ryan said.
“His last two runs have been in Group One, weight-for-age races and he just quite wasn’t up to them.”
Dances On Stars has become a regular carnival visitor and finished third in both the Champagne Classic and Sires’ Produce Stakes as a juvenile.
He returned last winter when he placed in the Gold Coast and Queensland Guineas.
Ryan said the horse had again thrived in the Queensland sunshine and had done well since his last-start fourth in the BRC Sprint.
Neither of Ryan’s charges will press on further into the carnival with the trainer confirming the pair will be spelled after Saturday’s race.
