Caloundra Cup Day finally gets underway on the Sunshine Coast this Sunday after last week’s meeting was washed out. More rain throughout the week currently has the track rated
a Heavy 8, making this another tough program for punters to navigate.
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Race 1 – 12:35PM – Reed Racing Class 6 Handicap, (1600m)
Indispensable really hasn’t put a foot wrong this time in work as he gets back to his home track looking to break a run of recent placings.
Gary Duncan’s four-year-old won over the mile at Ballarat earlier in his prep and is also proven on wet tracks with a win and a placing to his name from two starts.
I Could Do Better resumes and was last seen winning over further on a heavy track at the Gold Coast back in May.
The Chris Waller-trained five-year-old absolutely loves it wet and could be worth a look coming off an impressive trial win a few weeks ago.
Race 2 – 1:10PM – QTIS 3YO Handicap, (1000m)
Goldsborough has been super impressive this prep winning two of his three starts at the Sunshine Coast.
Gary Duncan’s lightly raced three-year-old won well over this track and trip close to a month ago and tends to do some of his best work coming off a break.
The son of Headwater finished just over a length to a good horse in Kisukano two back at Doomben before going on to win at his latest by close to a length. He’s drawn to get a lovely run off the speed and should prove tough to beat.
Race 3 – 1:45pm – QTIS 2YO Handicap, (1000m)
Miss Hipstar’s recent form in the Spirit Of Boom Classic and the Sires’ Produce has left a lot to be desired, but this does look a nice bounce-back race for her down in trip and also in grade.
The filly out of Star Turn won over this trip on a soft track at Eagle Farm to begin her prep and I like the fact she’s been kept fresh for the run.
With a class edge over some of these, she should take some beating.
Race 4 – 2:20pm – Martin Collins Australia Open Handicap, (1000m)
Jami Lady finished off only fairly first-up at Doomben over a touch further, but she should take improvement into this race getting back to her preferred trip.
The Spirit Of Boom mare is a 1000m specialist with three wins on the board, two of which have come here at the Sunshine Coast.
She also loves racing on a wet track and the 2.5kg weight drop is a massive plus.
Race 5 – 2:59pm – Listed Caloundra Cup, (2400m)
This looks a very winnable race for proven mudlark Wu Gok with a handful of horses pulling out.
Chris Waller’s seven-year-old ventures back to QLD after last running sixth in the Listed McKell Cup at Rosehill, and he can certainly improve on that performance with eight wins to his name on the heavy.
We know he’ll set the tempo up front, and with very little speed on offer, he might just go all the way in this year’s Caloundra Cup results.
Race 6 – 3:38pm – Benchmark 80 Handicap, (1200m)
Happy to have L’Cosmo on top following her brave win a few weeks ago over this track and trip.
The mare by Lonhro finished off well that day after racing just behind the speed, and I think she can go on with it now if Ryan Maloney decides to settle further back.
Fitter for two runs back and racing on her home track again, she should be fighting out the finish.
Race 7 – 4:19pm – Group 3 Winx Guineas, (1600m)
Glitter Strip was far from disgraced over the mile when fourth to Ayrton in the Gunsynd at Eagle Farm, a form line that reads extremely well for this contest.
The filly by Street Boss owns a couple of wins on soft going and barrier 7 does leave Ben Thompson with plenty of options now.
She’s been as genuine as they come this time in work and rates well in the Winx Guineas.
Race 8 – 4:55pm – Listed Glasshouse Handicap, (1400m)
You could argue that the Glasshouse is the race of the day with a capacity field stepping out.
There’s a case to be made for most, but this does look a nice race for Niccanova, who drops back in grade following two luckless outings in both the Kingsford Smith Cup and the Stradbroke at Eagle Farm.
The top weight makes him a slight query, but the fact he’s placed in two starts over this track and trip previously more than makes him a contender.
He’s also proven on the heavy, so if James Orman can save his best for late, he should be tough to beat.
Race 9 – 5:30pm – Sunshine Coast Business Solutions Benchmark 75 Handicap, (1400m)
Shijin looks a nice little value play here with four wins to her name on heavy going.
She’s coming off a narrow second to the favourite East Asia at Doomben last start, and while she’s drawn a little awkwardly, she does look capable of winning this race with a couple of wins to her name over 1400m.
Maddie Wishart has also ridden her two three of her seven wins in the past and I can’t find any reason why they won’t add another.