Black type racing continues in Brisbane this Saturday with the running of the Group 2 Queensland Guineas over the mile.
With the Doomben 10,000 only a week away, now is the perfect time to build a bank before the Brisbane Winter Carnival well and truly gets underway.
To help you out, we’ve run the rule over Saturday’s entire card below.
Race 1 – 11:30am AEDT – Treasury Brisbane Benchmark 75 Handicap (1400m)
Big fan of Westlink in the first coming off a narrow second to Enterprise Keren last time out over the same track and trip.
The son of Casino Prince strips fitter for three runs back now and is no doubt on the verge of winning another race very soon.
He looked well on his way to greeting the judge first at this venue two weeks ago before being pipped right on the line, but with some added fitness on his side now, I’m confident he’ll finish this race off.
Darren Hyde’s six-year-old has also ran well on rain-affected tracks in the past, so if we do get a few showers on Friday, the track should bet to his liking.
Race 2 – 12:09pm AEDT – Treasury Brisbane Benchmark 78 Handicap (2212m)
Joymaker rarely runs a bad race at Eagle Farm and there’s no question she’ll relish stepping out over the 2200m for a fourth consecutive time.
The Casino Prince mare was seen doing her best work late here a fortnight ago getting up from well-back in the field to run third to Traduce and Bold Executive.
She meets her rivals a little worse off at the weights this time around, but considering she’s found the money in all of her last five starts, I can’t knock her on consistency.
The fact she also handles soft tracks is a big plus, and with Alex Patis’ apprentice claim put to good use, she should be doing her best work late.
Race 3 – 12:44pm AEDT – Treasury Brisbane Open Handicap (1815m)
Bit of a two-horse race it seems between Get Stuck In and So You Win.
I’m with the latter after the son of So You Think resumed to run third to Get Stuck In two weeks ago over the 1400m.
Chris Waller’s six-year-old flew home from midfield to find the money, while the champion trainer is also well known for training his horses to improve two or three runs into their prep.
With three wins on the board second-up, the rise in distance looks ideal for him now.
Race 4 – 1:19pm AEDT – Treasury Brisbane 3YO Quality Handicap (1300m)
Hard to look past Desligh Forster’s impressive young filly Georgie’s Pride.
The three-year-old by Better Than Ready gets another crack at a hat-trick after winning her last two starts by a combined seven lengths here at Eagle Farm.
She was enormous two weeks ago in her all-the-way win over 1200m, and if she can manage to get to the front against Tony Gollan’s strong contingent, her turn of foot should do most of the talking.
Race 5 – 1:54pm AEDT – Treasury Brisbane Class 6 Handicap (1600m)
Slow Hands very rarely runs a bad race over the mile and I think he’ll be right in the finish again after chasing home Guise two weeks ago to finish a length second over this track and trip.
The gelding by Reliable Man comes in rock-hard fit now with five runs under his belt, while he could also be helped out with the added chance of a soft track on Saturday.
Stephanie Thornton has made three starts on him so far this prep, and if she can make full use of the soft draw and settle off the speed nice and early, I expect the pair to be running on late.
Race 6 – 2:29pm AEDT – Listed Treasury Brisbane Dalrello Stakes (1000m)
Pretty interesting sprint race here with a case to be made for most.
Miss Hipstar resumes from a three month spell looking to claim her first win at Eagle Farm.
The Star Turn filly was enormous on debut at Doomben last November winning by half a length over the 1100m, before going on to win by 3.5L a month later at Ipswich over shorter.
She failed to produce in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic to wrap up her summer prep, but is probably worth forgiving on that run after drawing the car park.
Larry Cassidy will need some luck again from a potentially sticky draw, but after winning her trial well at Doomben a few weeks ago, I think she’ll prove tough to hold out with only 55kg on her back.
Race 7 – 3:09pm AEDT – Group 2 Brisbane Queensland Guineas (1600m)
Looks to be a two-horse race in the feature with Mass Destruction coming out.
Apache Chase comes off an impressive win the Listed Daybreak Lover two weeks ago where he went all-the-way to beat home Mass Destruction by nearly three lengths.
He’ll likely have a bit more to contend with on-speed this time around though, and it’s safe to say this is a much tougher field.
Private Eye is the one to beat I think making the journey up from Sydney.
Joseph Pride’s three-year-old struggled to make up ground first-up in the Listed Darby Munro at Rosehill last month, but he did show real improvement with the blinkers on for second to Ellbserg in the South Pacific.
Plenty about that run suggested he’s looking for further now, and with some added fitness on his side, he should be tough to beat.
Race 8 – 3:49pm AEDT – Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m)
There’s no doubt Trekking has a class edge over most of this field and I really can’t see anything beating him.
The Godolphin sprinter was unlucky not to land a win during the spring, but there was still lots to like about him finishing runner-up to Pippie in the Moir and second to Hey Doc in the Manikato.
Having found the money in five of his nine starts first-up, it goes without saying that he tends to do his best work fresh.
It will be interesting to see where he settles, but after two very impressive trials at Rosehill and Hawkesbury leading in, he’ll no doubt be in the finish under the steering of Hugh Bowman.
Race 9 – 4:29pm AEDT – Treasury Brisbane Class 6 Plate (1200m)
Fender was enormous three weeks ago in his two-length win over Tardis over this same trip at Doomben.
The son of Toranado has won second-up in the past, while he’s also missed out on the money just once over this trip.
Barrier 6 should give Hugh Bowman plenty of time to get to the front as the pair look to make a claim for a spot in the Stradbroke.
