A very competitive field has gathered for the running of the Glasshouse Handicap at the Sunshine Coast this Saturday with the early favourite Alma’s Fury ($3.80), looking for a feature race double after claiming the Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich a fortnight ago. Well in contention are two horses who have been regular visitors to the Sunshine Coast in recent years. Belltone ($13) won this race in 2012 and ran third to stable-mate Someday last year. His lead-up form doesn’t read as strong as it had in previous years but he’s not to be dismissed lightly. Jetset Lad ($6.50) finished third to Belltone in 2012 and last year, as a 7/1 chance, failed on the heavy track and finished a disappointing eleventh. An encouraging fourth in last fortnight’s Eye Liner Stakes, his first run in a month, may see him prove the old adage “third time a charm” correct.
Special Offer: $250 FREE BET – Sportsbet
1. ALMA’S FURY – J Byrne (11) 59.5kgs
Both runs back from a spell and for new trainer of Tony Gollan, have been excellent. He finished seventh (2 lengths) first up behind the smart Sacred Star in the QTC Cup (1300m) before getting a lovely run behind the leader and then the split when required at the top of the straight, to defeat Masthead by a nose in the Listed Eye Liner (1350m) at Ipswich a fortnight ago. Drawn a little more awkwardly here but can’t dismiss on that factor alone and sure to be in the mix again.
2. BELLTONE – C Munce (15) 58.5kgs
Ran third to stable-mate Someday in this race last year with 59kgs and come from gate 12 and again this year, the draw is not a favourable one. Drew wide two starts back in the QTC Cup and crossed to lead but the early effort told and he weakened to run second to last before getting back in the G1 Stradbroke (1400m) and finishing sixteenth. Was only 5 ¾ lengths from River Lad and Temple of Boom on the line, the pair dominating from the front. Ran a similar race in the Straddie prior to last year’s Glasshouse but will have his work cut out from the draw.
3. MUIR – M Morris (12) 57kgs
He has had one start in three years and that was fourteen months ago when finishing a long last in the Listed Hinkler Quality (1200m). The rising 9yo son of Galileo won the 2011 Adelaide Cup and would have to be the raging hot favourite to fill a similar position here.
4. STEEL ZIP – J Stanley (14) 55.5kgs
He didn’t have a great deal of luck when sixth (1.5 lengths) in the G2 QTC Cup (1300m) two starts back and then just couldn’t quite sprint when he needed to under the 58kgs in last fortnight’s Listed Ipswich Eye Liner Stakes (1350m), and was only winding up late when sixth (4 ¾ lengths) behind Alma’s Fury. Meet’s that horse 3kgs better here and the bigger Sunshine Coast track will give him his chance to run them down. Doesn’t win out of turn but has to be included in any multiples and on a each-way basis.
5. STARTSMEUP – T Bell (13) 54.5kgs
The 6yo by Danzero has had three runs back from a spell with the most recent outing resulting in a seventh (5 lengths) in the Eye Liner Stakes a fortnight ago. Led last start but was gobbled up at the 100m last start. Better when ridden more quietly and that’ll happen from the gate here but still has a lot of improvement to make on his efforts so far this campaign.
6. PHELAN READY – E Wilkinson (10) 54kgs
It’ll be fitting if this bloke can score his first win since claiming the 2009 Golden Slipper as a 2yo, in a feature race on his home track but it’ll take a brave person to suggest he can after his last placing (8.1 lengths) in the Eye Liner Stakes. After two good trial performance, he went into the Eye Liner first up from a spell but failed to make any impression from there in the run home. Forty-two starts since his last win and more inclined to take the odds of him stretching that sequence to forty-three than whatever the price he’ll be to break it.
7. BLACK CASH – R Wiggins (4) 54kgs
After running a bold race, finishing fourth (1.2 lengths) to Sacred Star in the QTC Cup, the 5yo gelding started as one of the leading chances in last fortnight’s Eye Liner Stakes. From the inside gate he got himself into a handy spot on the turn but shied when taking a rails run and dropped out to finish second to last (7.9 lengths). A better horse than that and best to go on his QTC Cup effort. Can bounce back.
8. JETSET LAD – A Allen (1) 54kgs
After leading and holding on for fourth (3.9 lengths) in a Listed race back in his native New Zealand, the son of Elusive City crossed the Tasman to join Brian Smith’s stable and ran a good fourth (3.2 lengths) in the Eye Liner Stakes. Made good ground from the second half of the field through traffic last fortnight and being his first run for four weeks, and only his second since mid-April, expect him to be better again. Started 7/1 in the race last year after finishing fifth in the Eye Liner but failed to handle the heavy track then. Drawn well and could be a value runner for the multiples.
Special Offer 2: $250 FREE BET – Ladbrokes
9. ELLAWISDOM – (2) 54kgs
Showed just what kind of finishing burst she can produce when at her best first up in the Listed Bright Shadow (1200m) two starts back. The daughter of Top Echelon rounded them up in impressive style and defeated Avaladyluck by 1 ½ lengths. Contested the Eye Liner at her only start since and got back from an inside draw before circling the field and finishing tenth (5 ¼ length) behind Alma’s Fury. She’s won two from three, and ran second on the other occasion – in weaker grade – but can’t be dismissed as a blow-out chance.
10. PLAYITSTRAIGHT – R McMahon (9) 54kgs
Two very good efforts since resuming from an eight month spell from this 6yo son of Foreplay. He was pipped on the post by Regular first up in a BM 90 (1350m) before getting a lovely run in transit in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes but finding Alma’s Fury (sweet run) and Masthead (in solid form) a shade too strong late and finished third (2.4 lengths). Third up should be now at his peak and rates a strong chance to fill a place again.
11. BILLY AUCASH – V Colgan (7) 54kgs
He got caught wide first up from a twenty-one week spell and no surprise to see him feel the pinch late when fourteenth of sixteen runners in a BM 90 (1350m). He then lined up in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) last fortnight and belied his quote of 60/1, holding on well after a nice run in transit to get fifth (4 lengths) behind Alma’s Fury. Rounded out last prep with three good efforts in Listed company, including a fourth to Someday and should be ready to match that kind of effort with a couple of runs now under his belt.
12. ESCOFFIER – G Goold (16) 54kgs
Had every chance in her most recent start, a BM 85 (1400m) at Eagle Farm last week, where she settled in fourth behind the leaders but couldn’t quite reel in Believe ‘n’ Succeed and Saluter, finishing third (0.9 lengths). Won’t find stepping up to Listed level any easier than last start, especially from the widest gate.
13. SPITFIRE LADY – J Taylor (8) 54kgs
Mike Moroney’s mare has spent most of this year in New Zealand where she can boast a second at Listed level and a close up ninth (2 lengths) in the G1 Easter Handicap (1600m). Competed in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Stakes (1350m) a fortnight ago, her first start this campaign in Australia and her first for five weeks, and ran a solid fourth (2.2 lengths) behind Jazz Song and Griante. Leader’s dominated in that race and she can only be better for the hit-out. Has above average ability and is worth a close look.
14. THAT’LLBGOOD – V Colgan (5) 54kgs
Has won three of her four starts this prep, kicking off with a Class 1 win here first up and graduating to Open class at her most recent start, where on a heavy track, the Perfectly Ready mare won a mile race by 1 ½ length. Improving at a rapid rate but faces a stiff challenge here against some of these competitors.
Special Offer 3: $700 FREE BET – Luxbet
15. NOOGOORA BURR – (6) 54kgs
He commenced this campaign way back at the end of December last year and this will be his fifteenth start this preparation. His won two of those starts, a Class 5 and Class 6 with his most effort resulting in an honest fourth (2.4 lengths) behind Believe ‘n’ Receive in a BM 85 (1400m) at Eagle Farm last week, where he made up good ground from near last on the turn in a race where the leading pair dominated. That was a good run for a similar grade of race but aiming too high here.
16. AUGUSTE – (3) 54kgs
Local Trainer Len Treloar has prepared this Exceed And Excel gelding to win both of his most recent starts, a BM 70 (1640m) at Doomben and more recently, a Class 4 on the Sunshine Coast. He has camped just of the speed in both before letting down to well for his rivals in winning by comfortable margins both times. He’ll push again from an inside gate but does face a substantial step up in grade here.
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
Not a great deal of pace on paper here so would expect the likes of Belltone, Alma’s Fury and Escoffier, who have all drawn wide, to push forward and look for a spot handy to the lead. If Alma’s Fury can find such a position, and at $3.80 it’s probably worth taking the price he will, he’ll be very hard to run down. This has been a good race to favourite in recent years and his lead up form is first rate. After Masthead, who ran second in the Eye Liner, he had a few lengths on the rest of them and will be peaking here third up. Belltone might be the forgotten horse here. He carried 59kgs and jumped from a wide gate last year but still ran third and he’ll find this a lot easier than the Stradbroke Handicap and the QTC Cup run here he had to lead from a wide gate. Would like to see more pace in the race for Steel Zip but the big Sunshine Coast track might give him the chance he needs to wind up. Was ok late in the Eye Liner where he was left a bit flatfooted with 58kgs. The 55.5kg assigned to him here bring him into the equation at a good price. Black Cash and Jetset Lad get the runs of the race from their respective draws with Spitfire Lady the pick of the others.
- ALMA’S FURY
- BELLTONE
- JETSET LAD
- STEEL ZIP