Toowoomba trainer Tony Gollan’s outstanding Brisbane Winter Carnival could be further enhanced in this Saturday’s Caloundra Cup.Gollan prepared Spirit Of Boom, Temple Of Boom and Amexed to feature wins during the carnival and last week saddled up the winners of the Ipswich Cup and Eye Liner Stakes in Brave Ali and Alma’s Fury. Brave Ali ($5.00) is second favourite for the Caloundra Cup on Saturday whilst Alma’s Fury will line up in the Listed Glasshouse Stakes as the popular elect at $3.80. Sitting atop of the betting markets for the Caloundra Cup is Mr O’Ceirin ($2.40). Last year’s Grafton Cup winner graduated to WFA level this campaign and finished second in both the Hollindale Stakes and G2 Eagle Farm Cup, efforts that stand him in very good stead for Saturday. Ironstein, the 2010 Caloundra Cup winner, is also well in contention after his encouraging fourth behind Brave Ali in the Ipswich Cup and is also rated at $5.00 in early markets.
Special Offer: $250 FREE BET – Sportsbet
1. MR O’CEIRIN – G Colless (1) 59kgs
The 6yo has been competing well at WFA races this campaign and has claimed second in the Hollindale Stakes (1800m) and G2 Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) behind Streama and Moriarty Respectively. Set the pace in his most recent start, the G2 Brisbane Cup but was no match for Floria, who set a race record, in the run home and finished fifth (7.2 lengths). Well placed here on his previous efforts this campaign and has drawn to get the run of the race from gate one.
2. BRAVE ALI – J Byrne (3) 56kgs
He made it four wins from his last five starts with a tough front-running effort in the Ipswich Cup (2150m) a fortnight ago, his first run in over a month. The Tony Gollan trained runner was taken on a long way from home but found plenty when challenged and had a length to spare over the fast finishing Noisy Ocean on the line. Will lead the field again here and although stepping up to the 2400m for the first time in his career, will again be in this for a long way.
3. IRONTSTEIN – J Taylor (8) 55.5kgs
Winner of this race in 2010, the rising 9yo finished fourth in last fortnight’s Ipswich Cup (2150m). Settling just worse than mid-field, he had to make his run wide leaving the 500m as those leading, Brave Ali (1st) and Grey Assignment (3rd) kicked for home early. It’s been a long time since this bloke last won a race but on last start, and a drop of 2.5kgs, has to be rated one of the leading chances.
4. ZENNISTA – R McMahon (10) 55.5kgs
The 6yo mare isn’t in the same sort of form as she was when successful in this race last year. The start prior to last year’s victory, she ran third (1.2 lengths) in the Brisbane Cup, three weeks ago she finished eighth and over ten lengths behind Floria in the same race. Has a lot of improvement to make off of that effort and would need a slow or heavy track to come into calculations.
Special Offer 2: $250 FREE BET – Ladbrokes
5. HIGH KIN – E Wilkinson (12) 54kgs
High Chaparral mare that has only had the two starts since after a seven week let-up. She finished fourth of seven in a Sunshine Coast Open (1600m) race, under 59kgs and on a heavy track, before contesting the Ipswich Cup last fortnight. Not a bad effort to run eighth (4.3 lengths) given he settled near last from the widest draw and the race was run to suit those handier to the speed. Can only be better again for that run and the bigger run will suit. She started a 6/1 chance in this race last year but failed on the heavy track.
6. LUCKZAT – L Tarrant (6) 54kgs
Trainer Wayne Walters has made the trip from Mt. Gambier Adelaide, for his 5yo mare to have a crack at this race – which will be her first for a month. Her most recent effort saw her finished last of eleven (10.8 lengths) in the Listed Andrew Ramsden (3200m). That followed two consecutive wins in the Mt. Gambier Cup and Millicent Cup where she finished from well back in the field on both occasions.
7. PERFECT START – L Cassidy (5) 54kgs
Tried her hand at a few of the staying feature races during the Brisbane Carnival but was well handled for on each attempt. Her most recent run, in last week’s G3 Tatt’s Cup (2200m) saw her find a nice spot in the run behind eventual winner The Inventor but she was able to maintain her position and weakened to finish last (5.4 lengths). Better suited back to this grade but record beyond 2000m isn’t great and needed to see more from her in recent outings.
8. BRAYROAN – C Munce (11) 54kgs
After a strong finish in a BM 90 (1800m) at Eagle Farm, the 7yo by Zabeel was specked in betting when contesting the Listed Ipswich Cup, firming from 12’s into 10’s but was only fair in the run home, finishing tenth (4.9 lengths) behind Brave Ali. Only won one of his last twenty-eight starts and it’s hard to take him with any confidence on his most recent efforts.
Special Offer 3: $700 FREE BET – Luxbet
9. CLONMACNOISE – G Killen (2) 54kgs
Locally trained galloper who has won five of her six starts on this track but each victory has come in races of much less quality than this one. She led throughout to defeat five opponents in a BM 85 (2200m) two starts back before being beaten as the 2/1 favourite in a BM 75 (2400m) just on four weeks ago. Will push forward but likely to struggle to hold that spot over the final stages.
10. DENWOOD – R Wiggins (4) 54kgs
The son of Greenwood Lake hasn’t won for over a year now but recent efforts suggest he may break that drought soon. He travelled to Rockhampton for the Tatt’s Gold Cup where he closed well from the second half of the field to run third (0.6 lengths) behind Vandalised before returning to Brisbane, and running a very cheeky race as a 60/1 shot, holding on to his forward position in the run to run fifth (1.2 lengths) behind The Inventor and Wish Come True. Last two efforts combined with a favourable draw could see him fill a place here.
11. CATALONIA – G Goold (9) 54kgs
Flying Spur 4yo mare that has only won two races from twenty-eight starts but has really caught the eye in each of them by finishing hard from well back in the field. She motored late to miss winning a Class 6 on the Gold Coast by a long neck before getting within 1.7 lengths of Brave Ali in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) a fortnight ago. Good effort last start and the extra distance, on a bigger track, can only improve her chances.
12. BRING BACK – A Allen (7) 54kgs
After saving plenty of ground along the fence and surprising most with a Caulfield Open (2000m) win as a 25/1 shot, the Mark Ashby trained Sebring 3yo ventured to Queensland where he has contested the G3 Grand Prix Stakes and QLD Derby. He finished eighth (6.4 lengths) and sixth (2.9 lengths) respectively. Stuck on ok in the Derby but takes on older horses here and likely to find a couple toward the top of the field at least, too good.
DEPOSIT SMALL BET BIG
Special Offer 1: Deposit $10 BET with $40 – Luxbet
Special Offer 2: Deposit $25 BET with $100 – Ladbrokes (use code: TWT75FREE)
RACE OVERVIEW
Mr O’Ceirin deserves to walk away from the Brisbane Carnival with a feature win to his name and he has the ideal opportunity here. From gate 1 he’ll track Brave Ali throughout and get a lovely trial. The only two dangers for mine are Brave Ali and Ironstein. Brave Ali has been in sensational form this prep and the Ipswich Cup win was full of merit. Ironstein gets his chance to break a long winless drought here. He was good in the Ipswich Cup and the weight of 55.5kgs could be the factor that sees him finally crack another win.
- MR O’CEIRIN
- IRONSTEIN
- BRAVE ALI
- CATALONIA
- BRING BACK
