The Listed Goldmarket Quality shapes as a fascinating betting race on Friday’s eight-race card at Aquis Park.
All eyes will be on the Billey Healey-trained Alligator Blood as he kicks off his spring campaign, but he looks to have his work cut out against Gold Coast specialist Racecourse Road, and the always consistent Totally Charmed in the feature.
We’ve cast our eye over the entire program and offer our best bets below!
Race 1 – 12:52pm – Burleigh Bowls Maiden Plate (2200m)
Burn the Boats likes to get back and run on, just like he did two weeks ago at Ipswich where he made up ground to run third over the same distance.
He has been up for a while, but his last three starts have been good and he does look up to this.
Big Hitter is next best for mine down in the weights and back on his home track.
The son of Criterion finished two lengths off Burn the Boats in that same race at Ipswich, but has a little more experience with the tight turns at the Gold Coast.
Race 2 – 1:27pm – Tony Gollan 20/21 Premier Trainer QTIS 3YO Maiden Handicap (900m)
A few on debut here, so it’s not a race I’m overly keen to dive into.
That said, Whistling Loren showed plenty last Friday at Ipswich where she finished only half a length off the winner after basically missing the start.
The lightly-raced filly out of Vancouver placed second-up in her maiden prep during the spring and has also done some racing at Doomben and the Sunshine Coast.
There’s no doubt she’s an experience edge over a few of these and she should prove very tough to hold out in the late stages.
Race 3 – 2:04pm – Travis Wolfgram 20/21 Premier Jockey Class 3 Handicap (1800m)
Cheers To All stuck on well to grab a place at Doomben last time out and should appreciate getting out over further at this stage of his prep.
The five-year-old has picked up where he left off over the summer with a win and two placings from three starts, while I also like the fact he gets some relief at the weights with Michael Cahill retaining the ride.
Fitter for three runs back, he looks a nice value bet in what is a very wide-open race.
Race 4 – 2:42pm – Jaden Lloyd 20/21 Premier Apprentice Class 1 Handicap (1800m)
This is a tricky race to try and line up, but I do think it’s a winnable one for Wealth’n’power, who was unlucky to be denied on the line at Ipswich two weeks ago over the mile.
The son of Tycoon Ruler did all the hard work in the run home and should appreciate getting out to 1800m now in his fifth run back.
He finished only four lengths fifth over this track and trip back in December and has shown plenty of strong form recently to suggest a win is right around the corner. With Stephanie Thornton retaining the ride, he should get every chance.
Race 5 – 3:17pm – GCTC Hall of Fame – The Heinrich Family Maiden Plate (1200m)
Vital Source strips fitter for her first-up assignment that saw her charge the line to finish a narrow second over the same distance at Doomben two weeks ago.
The four-year-old found the money in her second run back last time in work and appears to be a promising young mare in the making out of the Chris Munce yard.
She does have some work to do from the awkward barrier, but with fitness now on her side, she does look a leading chance in what is a very wide-open contest.
Race 6 – 3:57pm – GCTC Hall of Fame – Might and Power Ratings Band 0-70 Handicap (1400m)
Jetty was last seen running half-a-length second to Boom Spender at Eagle Farm and now looks ready to win coming off a freshen-up.
The four-year-old son of Jet Spur has won and placed in two starts on the Gold Coast and is also a proven commodity over 1400m having missed the money only once. in five attempts
The inside alley only strengthens his claims and he looks very tough to fault with Andrew Mallyon on top.
Race 7 – 4:34pm – Listed Martin Collins Goldmarket Quality (1200m)
This is a very strong edition of the Listed Goldmarket with several big names looking to kick-start their spring in style.
Alligator Blood is yet to find success at this track, but he’s tough to knock with an unbeaten 4:4-0 record over 1400m and an equally impressive fresh record to match.
The five-year-old out of All Too Hard ran well without winning during the spring, most notably running half-a-length third to Flit in the Silver Eagle before failing to fire in his grand final two weeks later.
His trial win at the Gold Coast last week though suggested he might be back to his best, and although he’ll carry the top weight around, I really can’t find any reason why he won’t be winning with James Orman on board.
Race 8 – 5:05pm – GCTC Member of the Year – Jim Frank Ratings Band 0-65 Handicap (1200m)
Contessa blew her rivals away first-up at Eagle Farm earlier in the month where she won by a length over 1300m.
The Chris Waller-trained mare has so far found the money in five of her 10 starts to date, and while this is her toughest assignment, I’m keen to have a crack with the light weight of James Orman steering from an ideal gate.
The four-year-old placed in her second run back at Ipswich last time in work and I like the fact she’s coming in off a freshen-up here. This is another wide-open race, but if she can tuck in behind the speed she should be fighting out the finish.