The Queensland Summer Racing Carnival heats up this Saturday on the Gold Coast with a nine-race card at Aquis Park.
Next week’s Magic Millions Race Day continues to take shape with the two-year-olds on show in the Gold Pearl and Gold Nugget, while The Wave is shaping to be a fascinating betting race with big prize money on offer.
For our best bets across the nine-race program, read on below.
Race 1: Aquis The Home of 2YO Speed BM78 Handicap (2200m) – 12:48pm AEDT
Readily Availabull looks set to run a much-improved race third-up out to his preferred trip.
Jack Bruce’s five-year-old had genuine excuses at Eagle Farm a fortnight ago, drawn a horror gate and missing the start where he was eventually beaten nearly eight lengths.
His previous effort fresh on the Sunshine Coast was solid though and it’s fair to say he’s needed the runs as he works up to further.
Drawn kinder and proven over this trip, this looks the right race for him with Ben Thompson back on board.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Readily Availabull
Race 2: Aquis Gold Nugget 2YO Colts and Geldings (QTIS Bonuses Applicable) (1100m) – 1:23pm AEDT
Sticking with Spywire despite a few post-race concerns following his runner-up effort in the Wyong Classic a few weeks ago.
The talented colt by Trapeze Artist led for the majority before being run down by Highness in his final few strides, eventually found to be lame post-race on examination.
Based on his brilliant debut win at Rosehill though, he should be bouncing back to the winner’s stall with Craig Williams piloting from an ideal gate.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Spywire
Race 3: Aquis Gold Pearl 2YO Fillies (QTIS Bonuses Applicable) (1100m) – 1:58pm AEDT
Another short-priced favourite in the fillies race, this time in the form of the talented Arabian Summer.
We saw this smart two-year-old break her maiden in fine style at Ballarat last month, leading out of the gates and proving no match down the straight where she was eased down under hands and heels.
Placed at Stakes and Group 3 level prior, I’d say the best might be yet to come.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Arabian Summer
Race 4: Magic Millions Maiden Plate (1100m) – 2:33pm AEDT
Barassi is an intriguing entire making just his second start for the Edmonds stable.
Arriving as a five-year-old, the son of I Am Invincible debuted in fine style at Doomben last month, rattling home late for third after copping some interference early in the race.
All four of his trials leading in came on soft ground, so with some sting out of the track and a few gear changes likely to prove the trick, he should be going close again.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Barassi
Race 5: Invader at Aquis QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1200m) – 3:12pm AEDT
Betterletmedance was galloped on badly at Doomben last month where she was forced to settle for second after being held up at a key stage.
The Better Than Ready three-year-old has drawn a tricky assignment out wide, but she gets in with 3kg off under Craig Williams with some experience racing on wet tracks to her name.
The step back in trip can be seen as a plus and if she gets luck in running, she could surprise at good odds.
Suggested Bet: No. 13 Betterletmedance
Race 6: Magic Millions Maiden Plate (1400m) – 3:52pm AEDT
Pasima is a Sydney-based colt that continues to improve with racing.
Trained by Maher and Eustace, the son of Pierro was last seen racing at Kensington where he got right back in the run and had a bit go against him down the straight on his way to finishing third.
He’s been given a soft trial between starts to keep him sharp and providing he can settle closer in the run, he should be right in this.
Suggested Bet: No. 7 Pasima
Race 7: The Wave (1800m) – 4:32pm AEDT
Madame Odette looks to be a mare with real upside for trainer Ben Thompson.
The Churchill four-year-old was a narrow third two runs back at Doomben in similar conditions, storming the line late to make up a stack of ground in the finish.
She was rewarded a few weeks later with a solid win over further at Eagle Farm, handling the rise in trip beautifully when kicking clear late to win.
Thompson engaged, some string out of the track, and the gate in her favour, she ticks most of the boxes.
Suggested Bet: No. 10 Madame Odette
Race 8: Magic Millions Rising Stars 3YO & 4YO Fillies & Mares Class 4 Plate (1300m) – 5:10pm AEDT
Junqueira was a winner on this same race day last year when she took out the 3YO race by a handy margin as the favourite.
She’s mixed her form in the 12 months since, but did race much better than the result at Randwick suggests last month where she never found clear air and was checked across heels late in the piece.
Her recent trial win at Rosehill suggests she might be set to peak now with three runs under her belt, so look for her to be finishing strongly.
Suggested Bet: No. 11 Junqueira
Race 9: Magic Millions Rising Stars 3YO & 4YO Colts, Geldings & Entires Class 4 Plate (1300m) – 5:50pm AEDT
Keeping an eye on Meridius here is the track starts to firm up by this point in the day.
The Extreme Choice gelding was going great guns in town in Melbourne during the spring, before coming undone on a bottomless track at Ballarat where most failed to make up ground.
He’ll handle a bit of sting out of the track, and if he gets an ounce of luck from the wide gate, he could surprise.
Suggested Bet: No. 15 Meridius
