The final hit-out for the 3yo fillies before the QLD Oaks due to be run in a fortnight and a full capacity field of sixteen (plus four emergencies) are taking advantage of the opportunity. Always hard when 3yo reach this distance range, many for the first time but, stick with the first half a dozen runners in the field, and there’s a good chance you’ll find the winner.
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1. DEAR DEMI – L Nolen (20)
The VRC Oaks winner from the Spring returned in good order winning the G2 Surround Stakes second up but just appeared to lose her way in the G1 Coolmore Classic and G1 Vinery Stakes where she finished eleventh and fifth respectively. She bounced back to somewhere near her best by chasing home the impressive Royal Descent in the ATC Oaks. No doubting this filly’s class and despite gate 20, will be competitive.
2. KAZANLUK – D Browne (15)
Anthony Freedman trains this Red Ransom filly for Darley and she comes to this race having run fourth in the G3 The Schweppes (2000m) and sixth in the Listed Adelaide Guineas (1600m). She has got a long way back in both of those starts and expecting that’ll be the same again Saturday from gate fifteen.
3. SOAPY STAR – N Hall (18)
First of two runners for Kris Lees, this filly has done everything right in her past two starts but on both occasions, has found one better. The first was Westchester (since fair at Hawkesbury) in a BM 75 over 1550m and then no match late for stable-mate Express Power in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m). Always offers her best but from a horror draw over this trip that may not be enough.
4. EXPRESS POWER – J Cassidy (5)
Stable-mate to the above runner, this Snitzel filly that is improving with each run this preparation and who has won two from five including her most recent start in the Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m). She was very strong late in the Bracelet and on that performance, the 2000m of today’s race looks ideal. Drawn to get every chance and will be making her presence felt.
5. GONDOKORO – (8)
She broke her maiden status three starts back – at her ninth career start when successful in a Moonee Valley Maiden. Since then she has finished fourth in the G1 Vinery Stakes (beaten six lengths) and third in the ATC Oaks (beaten twelve lengths) on Slow and Heavy tracks respectively. Back to a more suitable grade of race here and a drier surface would also be beneficial.
6. FANTISHA – T Bell (10)
Finished too well on the bigger Eagle Farm track and arrived right on the line to win the Listed Princess Stakes (1600m) two starts back before running sixth behind Express Power in the Gold Coast Bracelet. A back-maker who steps up to this trip for the first time in her career but judging on her latest effort over 1800m, can’t see her winning here.
7. WATERFORD – L Innes (9)
New Zealand filly who arrived in Australia after running fourth in the G3 NZ Breeders Stakes and held her spot in the run to the line last week in a BM 85 behind Less Is More at Eagle Farm. Has never ventured beyond a mile and whilst competing well in some of NZ’s better races, still has only her maiden win to her name.
8. ANTARTIC DREAM – P Hammersley (12)
Bruce Hill trains this Southern Image filly but judging by her three starts in this prep, where she has finished fourteenth of sixteen, ninth of eighteen and tenth of fourteen at her most recent start in the Gold Coast Bracelet, fair to say she’ll struggle to produce a performance good enough for her to be winning here.
9. CATALONIA – M Cahill (11)
Finished well with Fantisha two starts back in the Listed Princess Stakes (1600m) but was out-bobbed on the line by that horse, before closing fairly again in the Gold Coast Bracelet a fortnight ago. A fair effort last start and would be a rough place chance at best.
10. JUST AS COSMIC – Y Ichikawa (17)
Broke her maiden status three starts back at her fourth career start but has gone on with it and posted two more wins at her subsequent starts. The first was in a Canterbury BM 70 and then in BM 64 at Wagga on their Cup Day. Improving type but this is a big leap in class.
11. ZOMBIE DANCER – B Evans (19)
Well bred filly by Encosta de Lago and trained by Victorian conditioner, Greg Eurell. Had little luck at Flemington when, as a 9/2 fav, ran eighth of sixteen in a Open fillies race before finishing better than most in the Gold Coast Bracelet, running third and four lengths from the winner, Express Power. On that run, the trip should be a favourable one but have her mapped as being a long way back in the run from her poor draw.
Odds: $1.00
12. VAQUERA – M Rodd (6)
Broke her maiden status three starts back – at her fifth race start – when successful in Maiden company at Newcastle and immediately backed that up with a win in a BM 66 at Canterbury. Led and capitulated in the Gold Coast Bracelet last week and can’t include her on that run.
13. NEVER DESPAIR – R McMahon (2)
She registered her third win of her career when successful on the Sunshine Coast three starts back in a BM 80 (1800m) before failing on the slow track behind Dazzle Us in a BM 75 (2200m). Had a month off after that run and returned in the Gold Coast Bracelet where nothing went right in the run home and she was never tested, finishing 7.7 behind Express Power.
14. MAGIC IN MOTION – G Colless (14)
Magic Albert filly trained by Rob Heathcote who has won both her starts this time in, taking her record to three wins from nine starts. The first of those two wins was an Ipswich Class 1 and at Ipswich again, this time in a BM 75 race. Ran second in Open company last prep to Mishani Stealth over 1800m but think grade is too rich.
15. GREMAYNE LASS – R Wiggins (4)
Camped on the speed and stuck on well in the Listed Princess Stakes when third behind Fantisha and Catalona before settling and finishing midfield in the Gold Coast Bracelet at her next and most recent start and finishing ninth (beaten 6.8 lengths). Drawn to go forward but will find too many too strong late here.
16. DOLPHUS – (1)
A Dylan Thomas filly who kicked off her career in Sydney and is now with Gold Coast trainer, Toby Edmonds. First start for Edmonds was as 6/4 favourite were she ran second in a Sunshine Coast maiden (1300m) before sticking on soundly in the Gold Coast Bracelet to run fourth. Will settle handy again from one and whilst can find more upside to her then most in the bottom half of the field, would think she’ll struggle against the top half.
17. PHANTOM CALLWER – B Stewart (21) (EM)
First emergency in the race who finally broke her maiden status three runs back in a Doomben Maiden and was then strong to the line when winning a Class 1 at the Sunshine Coast (1800m) at her most recent start. Big jump in class combined with the poor draw will be way too much.
18. OFFENSE – (13) (EM)
Red Ransom filly who was fair first up behind stable-mate Sookie in Open Class and better again when ¾ second at her next start behind Cormora, again in Open company. However, her last two starts – Open grade at Eagle Farm and in the Gold Coast Bracelet, have been poor and she’s finished second and third to last respectively.
19. PRINCESS CINDERS – J Byrne (3) (EM)
She was her lost four in a row including all three this time in. They have all been in out at Toowoomba and in Class1, Class 2 and her most recent win, Class 3 company. Big jump in class here and, if she were to get a run, would likely struggle.
20. VARANASI – (7) (EM)
After recording six placings from nine starts, this Encosta de Lago filly finally cracked it for her maiden win last start by recording a 1 ¼ length victory in an Eagle Farm Maiden race.
21. FIESTY BELLE (16) (EM)
Stable-mate to the above runner but like her colleague has a poor strike rate of one win (also an Eagle Farm Maiden) from her twelve starts. Not here.
OVERVIEW
It is hard to go past last start winner and improving type, Express Power. She warmed up nicely over the concluding stages in the Gold Coast Bracelet and won going away from Soapy Star with a good gap to third. Drawn here to be positioned to advantage throughout and should prove hard to beat. On a good track, would include the NZ representative Waterford. Her record on a dry surface is four starts for a one, a second (in the G1 1000 Guineas) and two thirds (one in G3 Company) and this field in terms of class, falls away rather quickly. Kanzanluk has the form to be more than competitive here and would think that getting to this trip, the first time of her career, would be to her benefit. Off the local hopes, thought the picks were Dolphus and Never Despair.
