The Winter Racing Carnival comes to a close this Saturday on the Sunshine Coast with the running of the Listed Caloundra Cup between the stayers.
Heavy rain throughout the week currently has the track rated a Heavy 8, making this a tough program for punters to navigate.
To help you out, we’ve analysed each race in our 2021 Caloundra Cup Day Preview below!
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – 12:53PM – 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 heavy going with a win and a placing to his name from two starts.
Prospectus is the obvious danger after beating Indispensable at Ipswich two weeks ago. He was very impressive once he found daylight down the straight and is capable of going on with it now.
The Chris Waller-trained four-year-old loves racing over this trip and he should be doing his best work late again.
Race 2 – 1:28PM – 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, so that’s an obvious plus.
Race 3 – 2:07pm – 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 has 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.
With a class edge over some of these, she should prove tough to beat.
Race 4 – 2:47pm – 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 – 3:23pm – QTIS 3YO Handicap, (1000m)
Goldsborough has been super impressive this prep winning two of his three starts at the Sunshine Coast and this does look a nice race for him to add to his record.
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 and he should be fighting out the finish here despite the awkward gate.
Race 6 – 3:58pm – 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 should be afforded a lovely run in transit under Ben Thompson along the rail.
She’s been as genuine as they come this time in work and rates well in the Winx Guineas.
Race 7 – 4:40pm – Listed Caloundra Cup, (2400m)
The feature looks to be a solid race with several talented stayers stepping out, but it is hard to go past proven mudlark Wu Gok at the current $6.00 quote.
Chris Waller’s seven-year-old ventures back to QLD after last running seventh 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.
Race 8 – 5:15pm – Listed Glasshouse Handicap, (1400m)
You could argue that the Glasshouse is the race of the day with a capacity field stepping out under lights.
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 – 5:50pm – TBA
Tricky race to wrap up the day, but happy to have L’Cosmo on top following her brave win a couple of 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.