The Group 1 Queensland Derby makes up a stacked card of black-type racing this Saturday at Eagle Farm.
The time-honoured stayers race has attracted a capacity field of three-year-olds, including last-start Rough Habit Plate winner Dark Destroyer and lightly-raced Kiwi import, Pinarello.
Champion trainer Chris Waller is looking to not only retain his crown, but also win the race for a third time when he lines up Paternal and Caboche, both at decent value.
Lead-up winners have a strong record in this race with five of the last six winners having won the start prior.
For our thoughts on every horse heading into this year’s Queensland Derby, check out our preview below.
1. Tutukaka (11)
- Record: 13-2:4:1
- Track: 3:1-0-1
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Tony Pike
- Jockey: James Orman
- Odds: $20.00
Returned to Australian shores a fortnight ago where he was seen running on late in the Rough Habit over shorter. Hasn’t tasted a win since claiming the Geelong Classic during the spring but did race well back over in New Zealand earlier in the year. First go at 2400m but does have scope for improvement. Likes some sting out of the track and is worth a look for a place.
2. Dark Destroyer (1)
- Record: 9-4:1:2
- Track: 3:1-1-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott
- Jockey: Sam Weatherley
- Odds: $4.00
In-form Kiwi galloper that has run some impressive races here at Eagle Farm recently. Resumed in the Daybreak Lover and was three-quarters of a length second to Character in the Queensland Guineas. Went on to win the Rough Habit last start where he was stoked up four-wide rounding the home turn before winning a ding-dong battle to the line. Would probably like a little more rain about but 2400m looks no issue based on that performance.
3. Caboche (9)
- Record: 10-2:2:1
- Track: 2:1-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Chris Waller
- Jockey: James McDonald
- Odds: $8.50
Won his maiden at Eagle Farm during the spring and should be plenty fit now for three runs back. Only narrowly beaten at Scone a couple of weeks ago in much heavier conditions after making up good ground from midfield. Maps to roll forward and lead and any extra rain about should strengthen his chances.
4. Menazzi (17)
- Record: 11-3:2:3
- Track: 6:1-0-3
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Stuart Kendrick
- Jockey:
- Odds:
Made up decent ground two back in the Guineas and was good again late in the Rough Habit last time out running a place. Facing a tougher challenge here but looks to be an honest type capable of running a race. Just needs luck from the awkward draw.
5. Pinarello (20)
- Record: 6-3:1:1
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 1:0-0-0
- Trainer: Roger James & Robert Wellwood
- Jockey: Leith Innes
- Odds: $7.50
Another talented Kiwi that put the writing on the wall with a big win second-up earlier in the year. Has since gone on to win again, most recently at Pukekohe in the Trelawney Stakes. Has a lot of work to do from the barrier but another soft track should be to his liking.
6. Red Wave (13)
- Record: 14-2:3:4
- Track: 3:0-1-1
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Tony Maddysen Sears
- Jockey: Kyle Wilson-Taylor
- Odds: $51.00
Consistent type that has found the money in four of his last five starts. Beaten as the odds-on favourite at Toowoomba last start though and is facing a much tougher challenge here.
7. Southern Stock (19)
- Record: 10-3:1:1
- Track: 6:1-1-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Chris Munce
- Jockey: Larry Cassidy
- Odds: $17.00
Stuck to the task in the Rough Habit and made up good ground late for fourth. Was also impressive in the Guineas the start prior and has raced well on rain-affected going recently. Tougher challenge here up in grade, but with a little luck from out wide, he does look a top-five hope.
8. Balmaurice (16)
- Record: 15-1:3:0
- Track: 6:1-2-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Rex Lipp & Nicholas Hahn
- Jockey: Brad Stewart
- Odds: $101
Won on debut at this venue last year but has failed to win in 14 starts since. Recent form against tougher company doesn’t read well either.
9. Sea Treasures (14)
- Record: 11-2:1:2
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 1:0-0-0
- Trainer: Bjorn Baker
- Jockey: Ms Rachel King
- Odds: $18.00
On a quick backup after battling on for a minor placing at Rosehill last week. Up in grade here but did run a clear fifth in the ATC Derby at Randwick last month. Wet track helps his chances, but the barrier draw is a big knock.
10. Ting Tong (18)
- Record: 10-2:4:2
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Kris Lees
- Jockey: Andrew Mallyon
- Odds: $14.00
Has missed a place only twice from 10 career starts so far. Untried at this level but has plenty of strong form on rain-affected going. Hit the line well at Rosehill last time out and is worth a look each way.
11. Satirical Glory (12)
- Record: 11-2:0:0
- Track: 2:1-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: John Sargent
- Jockey: Jim Byrne
- Odds: $41.00
Won a Class 1 at this venue two back but was no match in the Rough Habit last time out. Has won on soft going in the past but would need to improve lengths to trouble most of these.
12. Paternal (3)
- Record: 6-2:1:1
- Track: 1:0-1-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Chris Waller
- Jockey: Hugh Bowman
- Odds: $6.00
Promising type out of a leading stable. Overcame an awkward draw to run a clear fourth in the Frank Packer Plate two back and was much improved in the Rough Habit a couple of weeks when a nose second to Dark Destroyer. Has been racing like he’ll appreciate further and another wet track looks to be of no concern. Much better barrier this time around is one of the main threats to the favourite.
13. Dark Rebel (21)
- Record: 12-1:1:0
- Track: 3:0-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Edward Cummings
- Jockey: Joshua Parr
- Odds: $126
Hasn’t found the winner’s circle since shedding the maiden tag on debut at Warwick Farm over a year ago. Beaten 11 lengths in the Rough Habit and is unlikely to trouble most of these.
14. Global Ausbred (5)
- Record: 7-3:0:0
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Brad Widdup
- Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
- Odds: $15.00
Recent form stacks up nicely. Won his maiden quite well at Goulburn last month and then went a length better at Canterbury on a heavy track a few weeks later. Back in the winner’s stall at Newcastle two weeks ago and looks a serious threat on another rain-affected track. This is the toughest assignment he’s faced, but it does look the next logical step for him.
15. Impel Gazelle (15)
- Record: 4-3:0:0
- Track: 1:0-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Michael Costa
- Jockey: Ben Thompson
- Odds: $67.00
Winner of three straight before finishing eight lengths off in the Rough Habit. Finished off fairly that day in fifth but looks a genuine query out to 2400m now.
16. Anythink Goes (4)
- Record: 9-2:3:1
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Matthew Smith
- Jockey: Ryan Maloney
- Odds: $31.00
Impressive winner at Gosford two back. Backed that up with a clear runner-up performance at Newcastle a couple of weeks ago on another heavy track. Been up a while but has held his form nicely to find the money in his last four starts. This is tougher but another wet track suits.
17. Nest Egg (6)
- Record: 15-2:0:1
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 1:0-0-0
- Trainer: Chris Waller
- Jockey: Ms Samantha Collett
- Odds: $67.00
Promising Kiwi prospect that has been far from disgraced in both runs since making the journey across the Tasman. Sixth over this trip in the New Zealand Derby back in March but does need to improve a few lengths to be a factor here.
18. Villaden (7)
- Record: 8-1:0:1
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Chris Waller
- Jockey: Brenton Avdulla
- Odds: $21.00
Rock-hard fit for four runs back. Ran fourth to a smart type at Flemington last week and warrants plenty of respect on the quick backup. How he handles the soft track looks the main question.
Emergencies
- Turn Me Over (10)
- Velvet Lady (2)
- Kipling’s Journey (8)
