Kris Lees has regularly targeted Queensland stakes races with regular success over the years and that trend looks set to continue when he saddles up Brook Road, favourite for Saturday’s Travel Associated Classic at Doomben. Raced in the same interest as Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist, Brook Road looks hard to beat after three excellent runs this time in and punters agree, installing her as the $2.90 favourite for the race. Further NSW trainers eyeing off the race are Chris Waller with Just A Girl ($7.50) and David Vandyke who has Breakfast In Bed ($8.00) first up from a break. Best of the local hopes according to the market is Tukiyo with good early support for the consistent Elusive Storm ($13 into $10).
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1. TINTO – B Grylls (3) 59.5ks
The Queensland Oaks winner from last season makes her return and with that Group 1 to her name, gives the rest of this field a minimum of 3kgs. Went from strength-to-strength last campaign and whilst that included a smart sixth (1.4 lengths) to Into The Red in the Listed Gold Edition (1200m), think she’ll find a few too slick for her over this trip with a big weight.
2. DISCREET – L Tarrant (10) 56.5kgs
Rounded out last prep as the punters pal, winning a Class 6 for fillies and mares and an Open class race in succession, starting a short priced favourite in both events. Form in three starts back from the break have seen the Show A Heart mare just off the pace, her most recent outing a fifth (3.5 lengths) to Shiraz Attack. Would think she needs to improve of that to win here.
3. TUKIYO – D Browne (8) 56.5kgs
Secured a lovely run from an inside draw last start, her second this campaign, and had a half a length to spare on the line when taking out an Open class fillies and mares (1400m) on the Gold Coast. Drew wide and had to contend with a heavy track in this race last year, running seventh, but her form since has been solid, although not winning, in similar races to this one. Rates an each-way chance.
4. PLAYTIME – R McMahon (2) 55.5kgs
Barcaldine trainer Todd Austin brings his Foreplay mare to the races for the first time since she ran second (0.7 lengths) to Living On A Prayer in the Cleveland Bay at Townsville back in July. Normally gets back in her runs so from an inside draw with a big field, expect she’ll need plenty of luck in the running. Only the one win from six first-up runs and she’s picked a tough event here to better than record in.
5. ELUSIVE STORM – E Wilkinson (1) 55.5kgs
Fantastic mare that has finished worse than fifth only once, that particular occasion was a sixth in the G3 Glenlogan Stakes, in her past 32 starts! She’s been typically consistent and honest in her three runs this prep, the most recent of which was a tough on pace effort when second to Shiraz Attack in an Open 1350m for fillies and mares. Draws well here, will take up a forward position and the return to six furlongs is a positive. Expect her to be in this for a long way.
6. LITTLE BROWN HORSE – D Missen (6) 55.5kg
Raced well last campaign for trainer Kelly Dougherty which she kicked off by running fourth (3 lengths) in the Listed Silk Stocking on the Gold Coast before Srikandi. Kept that form up for her subsequent six starts and will be ready to run a bold race fresh here too, despite not having been seen at the official trials. Best to keep safe from a good draw.
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7. PRETTYFAMOUS – B El-Issa (4) 55.5kgs
Recorded her fifth career win when successful in a Gold Coast BM 75 (1100m) and returned two starts later, at her most recent start, in an Open class race over the same distance to run second to Tukiyo, whom she meets 2kgs better here. Drawn lovely in four to take up a forward position but her record beyond 1100m is the concern, having only won one of six races.
8. BREAKFAST IN BED – M Cahill (13) 55.5kgs
Sydney visitor who has been aimed at this race first up and given two barrier trials, the most recent of which she won, in the past month by trainer David Vandyke. Her only previous visit to Brisbane resulted in a third placing behind Jazz Song in the Listed Gai Waterhouse (1350m) at Ipswich. Draw three in the Gai Waterhouse and got the perfect run but will have to work harder from an awkward gate here.
9. TEAR IT UP – (9) 55.5kgs
Kicked off this campaign with a Class 3 win at Eagle Farm and two starts later, added a Class 6 to her resume when getting a lovely run in a 1200m race at Doomben, defeating Faith’n’Courage by a head. Despite a better draw, the Tony Gollan trained mare got further back than anticipated at her next and most recent start, and found trouble in the run home looking for a short-cuts. She finished last (3.7 lengths) of nine behind Tukiyo under 58kgs. Gets down to 55.5kgs, improving and had excuses last time out. Capable of running a better race than her current price would suggest.
10. JUST A GIRL – C Munce (12) 55.5kgs
Sat second first up on a heavy surface at Warwick Farm and did what she had to in recording a neck win over Swipeline and backed that effort up at her only start since, with a fifth (1.2 lengths) behind Holy Delusions in a BM 80 (1200m). Got a lovely run on the leader’s back last time but with the 59kgs, just couldn’t pick up the leaders. Gets down in the weights here, has Munce on top and he’ll have to be at his best to negotiate a good run from a wide gate.
11. FAITH’N’COURAGE – Scratched
12. GREY COUNTESS – M McGuren (21) 55.5kgs
The Ben Currie trained mare returned from a spell by finishing eighth of nine behind Tukiyo in the Gold Coast F&M’s race (1400m). Not enough in that run, or in her previous form which consists of races of lesser quality than this, to suggest she’d be winning here.
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13. BEACH BABE – Scratched
14. BROOK ROAD – J Byrne (7) 55.5kgs
Took the very good mare Avoid Lightning to beat her two starts back in the G3 The Nivison Stakes (1200m) and she backed that effort up, under the steadier of 60kgs, with a sound third placing behind Paris Match and Peace Force in a BM 80 (1400m). Paris Match and Peace Force have since both raced very well and with only 55.5kgs here and her Nivison run fresh in mind, she presents as a leading contender for this event.
15. DARCEY – (11) 55.5kgs
Just passed a year now since this 6yo mare last won a race, which came in a Muswellbrook Open again four competitors, and judging by her six runs in this campaign, five of which she has missed a place, she’ll struggle to break the drought here.
16. GALLINER – L Cassidy (20) 55.5kgs
The Lion Hunter mare has had two runs back from a spell, the most recent of them saw her run third (2.6 lengths) in a Class 3 at Ipswich three weeks ago. Only has 0.5kgs less to carry, jumps significantly in grade and has drawn barrier 20. No thanks.
17. ADORABUBBLE – (16) 55.5kgs
Going well in easier races than this and was given a break before tipping her toe in Open company at her most recent start. She draw an inside gate, settled on the speed but wasn’t able to match it with the tougher competition later and finished sixth (2.1 lengths) behind Tukiyo. Couldn’t see her winning this, especially from this gate, off of that effort.
18. MISS STASH – (18) 55.5kgs
A lightly raced 6yo mare by Bradbury’s Luck who is steadily working her way through the grades and finished a respectable fourth (1.7 lengths) to Tukiyo in Open class on the Gold Coast recently. Looks to take up a handy position in her races and that’s probably not going to happen from eighteen without an enormous amount of luck.
19. TARLOSHAN – J Taylor (14) 55.5kgs
5yo New Zealand mare that was creating a bit of an impression down in Sydney during the winter, with two good wins and close second to Forever Crazy in a BM 80 from three starts. Sneaks in here with a good barrier trial win at Deagon under her belt and is not to be overlooked should she get a run.
20. COMMAND MORE – (5) 55.5kgs
Recorded only her second win three runs back and has finished hot the heels of the place-getters in her two runs since, both in BM 80 1200m events at Rosehill. The Gerald Ryan trained runner has been getting back in her run and finishing off well. Should she get a start here by some miracle, it’ll be hard to see her rounding them up from back in the field around the tight Doomben track.
21. KALAHARI PRINCESS – (15) 55.5kgs
Country galloper who won an Ipswich Class 5 at her most recent start, her fifth career win, but will struggle against the quality of this opposition if he sneaks a run.
RACE OVERVIEW –
All roads lead to Brook here. Impeccable form, leading local Jock aboard and having drawn a barrier that will see her secure a lovely just off the pace, makes her the obvious choice. No surprise to see Elusive Storm the subject of good support after drawing the fence which should see her obtain a perfect run. Keen to see Tarloshan return here if she gets a run. Showed plenty of promise last time in, is lightly raced and looks smart in a recent trial.
1. BROOK ROAD
2. ELUSIVE STORM
3. TARLOSHAN
4. JUST A GIRL
