The QLD Winter carnival is not far off and racing is starting to heat up in the Sunshine state.
There are nine quality races on the card at Eagle Farm on Saturday to assess and we have done just that.
Our full 2022 Daybreak Lover Stakes Day Preview can be viewed below.
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – 11:38pm – 2YO Handicap (1400m)
The opening event of the afternoon at Eagle Farm is a very competitive betting race.
Honkytonk Diva was slowly away at the Gold Coast last start and had to do a fair amount of work to find a nice position in running.
She was challenged in the straight but responded well to score by a length and she should have a fitness edge on a few of these runners.
Race 2 – 12:13pm – Benchmark 85 Handicap (1815m)
It’s safe to say four year old gelding Namazu hasn’t lived up to her excellent breeding being out of the top line race mare Earthquake who was the champion 2YO of her season in 2013/14.
The now four year old gelding was sold at the 2021 Magic Millions National race horse sale for just $40k and has been ticking away nicely up north for his new owners.
He has put together back to back wins at Townsville and Rockhampton by a combined 10.25 lengths and earned a shot back in town.
He’s a big horse with a fair amount of ability and he finds a winnable race in the second.
Race 3 – 12:48pm – Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m)
Street Dancer ran into one better when resuming from a spell eat Eagle Farm but he proved he is a stayer with a fair amount of talent when scoring at Doomben last start by six lengths.
He cruised up to his rivals in that 2060m event and had them covered a long way out from home.
The son of Pride Of Dubai was eased up going over the line and the step up in trip should suit at this stage of his prep.
Race 4 – 1:23pm – 2YO Handicap (1000m)
Saweetie looks a very talented young filly who is still working this racing game out.
The daughter of I Am Invincible was bought at the 2021 Magic Millions sale for $600k and has been placed in both starts so far in her short career.
She looked the winner at the Sunshine Coast at the top of the straight last start but she just wanted to have a little look around when she got to the leader and never knuckled down to the task.
She’ll be better for the experience and represents good each way value at her current price.
Race 5 – 1:58pm – Benchmark 80 Handicap (1500m)
The Robert Heathcote trained Guntantes is going much better than his form suggests on paper.
The now five year old gelding was wide throughout the entire trip when resuming at Eagle Farm in an open grade race and was cramped for room at a vital stage in the blanket finish over 1400m last start.
He’ll be fitter third up and represents good each way value at the double figure odds.
Race 6 – 2:37pm – Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m)
This Is So was excellent when winning first up at Newcastle over 1400m in February and he has not been far away in three subsequent runs since.
The son of So You Think was a long way back when rounding the turn at Doomben last start as the favourite but he battled on well to hit the line.
The apprentice will give some weight relief in this event and has drawn perfectly in barrier two.
Race 7 – 3:22pm – Listed Daybreak Lover (1400m)
Keen to take on the favourite Green Belt here from the wide draw and back a few.
Release The Beans was excellent first up over 1200m and drops two kilos for that third place.
Dark Destroyer is a last start Group 2 winner over the ditch in the Auckland Guineas where they beat the third horse home comfortably.
Menazzi put together back to back wins at the Sunshine Coast and Eagle Farm beforre doing his best work late on the heavy track at Doomben last start. He’ll be better back on top of the ground.
Race 8 – 4:02pm – Listed Ascot Handicap (1000m)
Zoustyle is an honest sprinter who has won three times from four starts at 1000m and despite this being his first start at Eagle Farm, he is the horse to beat.
He is winner being first past the post in nine of his 14 career starts and he has won five times from seven career first up starts.
He’s being asked to carry the big weight in this event and he will need some luck from the awkward draw with plenty of speed in the race he may have to take a sit.
Written Beauty is the other class runner in the race who flies fresh and loves the distance.
She gets in well at the weights and I don’t want to be losing in the race if she wins.
Race 9 – 4:38pm – Benchmark 80 Handicap (1200m)
Sir Warwick put together four in a row during his last campaign and has won five of 12 overall.
The four year old gelding was only narrowly denied when resuming over the short course at the Sunshine Coast in open company and despite the rise in weight for this assignment, he is the horse to beat.
He has two wins from two starts at this track and distance and four of his five wins have been on the good going.
Good early support in betting suggests he has taken plenty of improvement out of his first up run as well.
