A massive field of 3 year olds line up for this Group 2 event. The market reflects the open nature of the race with Academus the current favourite at $4.50 in advance of Boban and Sizzling at $6.00 each.
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1. SIZZLING – C Munce (11)
Queensland’s Champion 2yo who returned as a 5/4 favourite in the G3 Gold Coast Guineas and rattled home from the tail of the field to finish fifth behind Academus. He then was a victim of an inside gate, getting too far back and in an awkward spot as they turned for home in the G3 Fred Best Classic a fortnight ago. By the time he got out, the race was over and he finished well for sixth. Four wins from five starts this track and will get back again from a wide gate meaning he’ll have some smart ones to run down.
2. SALUTER – J Stanley (1)
Winner of the Magic Millions Guineas last campaign, the son of Commands has had two starts back this prep for an eleventh in the Gold Coast Guineas and, at his last start, a seventh in the G3 Fred Best Classic. Not sure he’s returned in the same form he left us in.
3. ACADEMUS – (10)
Ridden a treat to win the Gold Coast Guineas first up from a spell for team Darley and was better again – despite not winning, when third (beaten ½ length) behind Platinum Kingdom in the G3 Fred Best Classic. Closed well in a race where the winner had a sweet run. In good form and justifies he’s favouritism.
4. LUNAR RISE – S Arnold (6)
Winner of the G3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) on VRC Derby Day last year but who has taken his time finding that form this time in. He was poor in the G3 Carbine Club at Randwick before a month off and a better effort chasing home Taxmeifyoucan in the Scone Guineas a fortnight ago. Better last time out but further improvement needed.
5. JIMANDO – T Clark (13)
Stayer from the Tony McEvoy yard who, despite finishing twelfth of sixteen last start in the G3 Fred Best Classic, was ok late. That was his third run in and would’ve expected to see him in something longer than this now. He’ll be giving some very smart horses too much start on the turn.
6. PLATINUM KINGDOM – J Riddell (3)
This NZ galloper is certainly enjoying his time since coming across to Australia in April. He claimed the 3yo Classic at his first run, was unlucky in the Hawkesbury Guineas and then was ridden a treat last start to score a ¾ win in the G3 Fred Best Classic. Drawn to get a similar run as he did last start and impossible to knock his recent efforts.
7. DANCES ON STARS – B Avdulla (14)
Good effort first up from a wide draw to run third in the Gold Coast Guineas behind Academus but from a wide draw again, went forward in the Fred Best Classic and weakened late to finish tenth (beaten 4.6 lengths). No favours at the barrier draw again here and that’ll make it hard.
8. FERMENT – C Reith (15)
One of the last Patinack Farm runners we’ll possibly see and who is tackling this race first up from a twelve week spell. Supports a good strike rate of four wins from thirteen starts but been a long time since he has competed in an event of this calibre previously let only win one.
9. COMPLICATE – (5)
Second of Darley’s runner’s this son of Commands makes his own luck by taking a forward position in the run. That was the case in both of his recent starts that resulted in ¾ length fourth in the Hawkesbury Guineas before sticking on very well in the G3 Fred Best Classic a fortnight ago. Will take up the running from five but they’ll be coming for him over the last 100m.
10. EXIMUS – SCRATCHED
11. BOBAN – J Bowman (4)
Defied the track bias to finish well from the tail of the field and get within a head of Limes in the Hawkesbury Guineas before having little luck getting a run as they straightened up in the Fred Best Classic and finishing hard to run second (beaten ¾ length) behind Platinum Kingdom. Busting to win a race and will get his chance here from a good draw. His trainer Chris Waller is in rare form as well.
12. LUCKY HUSSLER – J Cassidy (9)
Beat Sizzling last prep to win the G3 Vo Rogue Plate but hasn’t quite reproduce that form in two runs back from a fourteen week spell. Despite lugging 61kgs on a Slow track he was sent out 3/1 favourite first up on the Sunshine Coast and then, from a good draw, settled in the right position in the run but failed to capitalise on it and finished eighth in the G3 Fred Best Classic. Needs to find more than a few lengths to turn the last start around.
13. AL ANEED – SCRATCHED
14. GENERAL EXHIBIT – T Harrison (8)
General Nediym gelding who produced a great effort first up to run fourth (beaten 2.4 lengths) in the Gold Coast Guineas before being claimed late when a head second to My Shabella in an Open 3yo Handicap at Doomben last start. A consistent type of galloper who races handy and tries hard but, from eight and over the 1400m – might be vulnerable late.
15. REFLECTANCE – M Cahill (18)
Another Patinack runner who showed some promise last campaign and has a win over Better Than Ready to his credit. Returned to racing in the BTC Cup and as you’d expect, was well accounted for before a much better effort in suitable grade when finishing well from the tail of the field to run third (beaten long neck) by My Shabella and General Exhibit. Horror draw here means he’ll be giving too many too much start.
16. DIAMOND EARTH – P Robl (20)
A smart filly who, despite camping wide and on the speed, defied the track bias at Scone to record a tough 1 length win in the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) last start. She jumps to 1400m now, a distance she’s only ventured to once before in her career but from gate 20, it could feel like a mile.
17. DOUBTFILLY – (21)
Has had three starts in this prep and finished midfield in the Weetwood at Toowoomba before winning a Class 6 race at Eagle Farm on heavy conditions last start. A big jump in class here not helped by the poor draw.
18. SATURN ROCK – M Walker (17)
Competed well, albeit without success, in some smart filly races during last Spring and the daughter of Fastnet Rock as returned to racing with the same consistent form. She finally registered her second win at Morphettville two starts back before finishing fourth behind Primitive Man at Caulfield over 1200m. Thought she’s been better placed in other races and hasn’t been able to get the chocolates so would think she’d struggle here.
19. LILLIBURLERO – M Rodd (7) (EM)
Redoute’s Choice filly out of Magic Million winning mare Regimental Gal, she lines up for only her fifth start and second this time in. Her first run back from a twenty week spell was a cracking effort in the G3 Fred Best Classic where she finished fifth (beaten 1.9 lengths) behind Platinum Kingdom. Can only be fitter for that run you would think and drawn well enough in gate seven that, as they turn, Rodd should have her placed to advantage.
20. HOLY TOLEDO – G Cooksley (22) (EM)
His last two wins have been in a Toowoomba Class 3 and Gold Coast Restricted race. Hard to make a case for him given his last start in the Scone Guineas (tenth) and the fact he jumps from the widest gate.
21. MY SHABELLA – (2) (EM)
Haradsun filly who is working her way through the grades in good style and registered a head win last week over General Exhibit in an Open race. She’ll go forward from gate two but will find this, her second attempt at Black Type, too challenging.
22. EYE WINSOME – J Byrne (19) (EM)
Winner of two of five of his starts – both on the Gold Coast but hard to see him graduating to this level.
OVERVIEW
Sticking with the obvious form line here – the Fred Best Classic where the trifecta in that race, could produce the same result here. Putting Boban on top this time though, with a touch of luck last start, may have been able to turn the tables on Platinum Kingdom. Speaking of Platinum Kingdom, his form is faultless and from a good draw, he’ll be in the mix again and the same again for Academus. Hard to find something that has shown in recent starts, the capability of turning the tables on these three runners.
