Saturday marks the biggest race and meeting of the year in Queensland and I can’t wait to get my teeth into the nine races on the card.
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BEST BET:
FAWKNER PARK (Race 9 No 15)
NEXT BEST:
ANTINO (Race 8 No 3)
VALUE BET:
MANHOOD (Race 2 No 12)
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Quaddie numbers are:
Race 6: 1,2
Race 7: 4,6,1
Race 8: 3.7,8,17
Race 9: 2,3,6,15
$96 = 100 per cent of the dividend
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Race 1 – Wayne Wilson Stakes (1600m)
Deja vu here with Tony Gollan having FREEDOM RALLY (1) missing out on the Stradbroke as did last year’s winner Antino. With James McDonald from gate one the Rubick four-year-old won his only previous start over this trip, makes his own luck and can frank his recent strong Group level form.
I KNOWASTAR (5) brings consistent Sydney Saturday form and ran them off their legs last start. No one rides frontrunners better than Tim Clark and a repeat is on the cards.
A strong speed suits POISON CHALICE (7) which just missed here last and now third-up is ready to strike. He rises 1.5kg in stronger company but Mark Zahra stays on and he is a horse with upside.
COASTWATCH (4) was held up but hit the line strongly here last week and the Freedman’s haven’t been afraid to back him up. He prefers the sting out of the ground but with some gear changes and Tommy Berry replacing Nash Rawiller is in the mix.
Verdict – FREEDOM RALLY (1) the one to beat.
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Race 2 – Hinkler Handicap (1200m)
Firm ground and no weight suits MANHOOD (12) which has promised more than delivered but has won twice here previously and put the writing on the wall two starts back at Rosehill. A wide gate and soft track cost him at Scone last outing but with 6kg less he will get all the favours with Zac Lloyd from the ace.
PEREILLE (5) relished the heavy ground at the Sunshine Coast and was far too good. He has trialled since and while he prefers softer ground is suited by a big track. With James McDonald he will be strong late.
MIDNIGHT IN TOKYO (10) was well beaten by PEREILLE (5) at the Sunshine Coast and franked that form winning a Doomben midweek Open Handicap. A consistent performer she has won third-up previously and Damien Thornton will send her forward to make her own luck.
DALAALAAT (7) has a good first-up record and has been readied by two trials. He takes on stronger company but is rarely beaten far and will be handy throughout for Tyler Schiller.
Verdict – Wary of PEREILLE (5) but some value with MANHOOD (12).
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Race 3 – Oxlade Stakes (1300m)
Two placings at Listed level is better than any of these have achieved and while EMBASSY (1) is still a Maiden he hasn’t done much wrong at both Queensland outings. Out of a Listed winner that won up to 1600m the step up in trip won’t bother him and Blake Shinn will give him every chance.
SILVA ‘N’ SUAVE (4) was ridden out of his comfort zone and never on the track at Doomben. This longer distance on a bigger track suits and he can run up to his narrow defeat in a Group 3 two starts back.
DON’T FORGET JACK (8) has been too good for them at both outings and ran a strong final 400m when putting them to the sword in a Doomben midweek. He takes on stronger company but has upside and will be hard to hold out.
ASTAPOR (2) wasn’t far behind EMBASSY (1) at Doomben, improves second-up and will appreciate this trip on a bigger track. Justin Stanley stays on and can make his presence felt.
Verdict – EMBASSY (1) to break through.
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Race 4 – Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m)
With KNIGHTS ORDER (1) and GOLDMAN (4) in the field they should go along at a good tempo and make it a true staying test. MOSTLY CLOUDY (7) ran The Map close on the Andrew Ramsden at Flemington and will appreciate getting on to firmer ground. He had an excellent record over this trip in the UK and has been consistent over shorter trips since arriving in Australia. With Blake Shinn he gets the gun run and will be hard to hold out.
ALEGRON (5) put in a strong trial for this when running a strong final 1000m and beating all but Hezashocka here last start. He hasn’t won for 90 weeks and 2800m is as far as he has been but on a dry track that suits this is his chance.
Paul Preusker is a good trainer of stayers and CAPTAIN ENVIOUS (6) has been brought North with this as his target. He got a long way back but kept coming when beating all but the placegetters in the same race as ALEGRON (5). Mark Zahra replaces Michael Dee and a more positive ride is expected.
AMADE (2) is a 10-year-old but it is the longer the better for him and he is looking at back to back wins at the trip. He will give them a start but is the one that won’t be getting the stitch late.
Verdict-MOSTLY CLOUDY (7) gets to the right trip.
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Race 5 – Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m)
There was a lot to like about GERIATRIX (9) which had support and put paid to an open-age Benchmark field on his Australian debut. Back to his own age-group this extra distance won’t faze him and will get the gun run from Craig Williams.
RAZORS (3) found trouble last start and will appreciate getting on to a better surface. He just missed two starts back here in a Group 2 over this trip and will get every chance with James McDonald.
The 2000m proved too far for PORT LOCKROY (8) at Doomben but he is better suited here and was hitting the line behind RAZORS (3) two start back. Ryan Maloney replaces Adam Hyeronimus and will have him close enough if good enough.
MARY SHAN (15) is a high-quality Kiwi filly with form around the likes of La Crique and Molly Boom. She bolted in at Pukekohe last start, gets a lugging bit and Andrew Forsman has already enjoyed success at the Winter Carnival.
Verdict – Staying with GERIATRIX (9).
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Race 6 – Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m)
Hard to go past BROADSIDING (1) which came from a wide gate and rounded up a similar field here last start over 1400m. Out of a Street Cry mare, the extra distance won’t bother him and from a good gate with James McDonald is the one to beat.
ZOUNA (2) just keeps turning up and running good races. He put in a bold effort from a wide gate to beat all but BROADSIDING (1) last start and from the better draw can run a cheeky race again.
IMPERIALIST (6) was too strong last week over 1500m and Chris Waller has had no hesitation in backing him up. He gives a start but the extra 100m suits and he will be strong late.
CAN’T RECALL ONE (5) got too far back when resuming but this is his Grand Final and he showed a lot of promise last preparation. The extra distance will be right up his alley and he can motor late.
Verdict – BROADSIDING (1) gets all the favours.
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Race 7 – Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m)
Giving another chance to COEUR VOLANTE (6) which gave too much start when resuming but finished off better than anything behind CHINNY BOOM (9) last start. She has an excellent second-up record, the firmer ground suits and Blake Shinn can round them up.
COCO JAMBOO (4) looked the goods when winning at her first Australian start at Hawkesbury. This is harder but the Snowden’s know what it takes to win here and Tom Sherry will have her hitting the line.
ROOTS (1) found Group 1 too hard last start but has a good third-up record and will enjoy this trip. She is gearing up for another tilt at the Tatts Tiara but from a good gate can make her presence felt.
ABOUNDING (14) drops back to her optimum trip and will appreciate getting on to firmer ground. From the good gate with a positive ride from Martin Harley she can get in the money.
Verdict – COEUR VOLANTE (6) improves second-up
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Race 8 – Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m)
This race has been ANTINO (3)’s target since missing out on a run last year and he hasn’t done much wrong in his preparation wining a Group2 when resuming and not being disgraced under weight-for-age conditions last start. He drops 4.5kg, has won five of seven starts here and if Vlad Duric has him close enough on straightening will finish all over them.
HERE TO SHOCK (7) hasn’t run a bad race this preparation and got the job done at Doomben last start. A five-time winner at this trip, he draws to do no work and won’t get a better chance to win a Group 1.
NUGGET (8)’s optimum trip is 1600m but the Ciaron Maher stable is in such fine form he cannot be discounted. He could never get clear at Scone last start but was beaten less than a length in the Group1 Doncaster at his previous outing. With Jason Collet he will run the journey out better than any.
STEFI MAGNETICA (17) found herself stuck in the worst part of the track last start but put the writing on the wall when beaten just over a length in the Doomben Ten Thousand. Her win strike rate is some concern but rarely runs poorly and with 50kg Zac Lloyd can find a way.
Verdict – ANTINO (3) to get it done for Tony Gollan.
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Race 9 – Group 2 Q22 Stakes (2200m)
Annabel Neasham has had a good Winter Carnival and FAWKNER PARK (15) hasn’t run a bad race this preparation and was strong through the line when just missing in a three-way finish of the Doomben Cup. Tyler Schiller stays on and with a tempo to suit will be hard to hold out.
LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (3) brings strong European form and was narrowly beaten in a Group 1 in France over 1850m. He got going late at Scone when resuming over 1600m and while yet to be tried at this trip it may not be beyond him.
ADELAIDE RIVER (6) is another with strong European Group being runner-up in an Irish Derby and Grand Prix De Paris. He had veterinary excuses at Eagle Farm when resuming but with James McDonald can turn things around.
HUETOR (2) was making ground behind at Doomben finishing just off the placegetters in the Cup. He will get back but keep coming and fitter for four outings is at his peak.
Verdict – FAWKNER PARK (15) has the form on the board.