Nine races will be run and won on the Gold Coast this Saturday, headlined by the Pink Ribbon Cup over 1300m.
We’ve analysed the entire program and our best bets can be found below.
We’ve cast our eye over the entire program and offer our best bets below!
Race 1 – 11:47am – Class 3 Plate (1100m)
A River Somewhere unleashed a huge turn of foot to score by over three lengths upon resuming at Doomben last month. She’s been kept fresh for this run, and with improvement to come, she’s going to be tough to beat if she finds daylight again.
Ruuca has returned a place in two of his three starts at the Gold Coast and is another one that possesses a big finish. He overcame a wide run first-up to just miss out on a place and should be a threat if Jaden Lloyd can keep him closer to the speed.
Master Red has returned a treat this time in work winning back-to-back starts at this venue. Up to 1200m now, but is worth something small each way.
Race 2 – 12:22pm – Simmons Livingstone & Associates Benchmark 80 Handicap (2200m)
Perfect Deal has an unblemished record at the Gold Coast after winning both starts by an impressive margins here last spring.
She’s since returned to win first-up on the Sunshine Coast, followed by two wins in succession over further at Grafton.
The mare by Dundeel gave away a big start in her latest at Doomben, but the way she finished off for third suggests makes me think she can atone despite the top weight.
Race 3 – 12:58pm – APG Workforce 3YO Quality Handicap (1100m)
Wide-open race this, but it looks a winnable one for Mister Larrabee in his second run back.
The lightly-raced gelding looked as though he might score first-up at Eagle Farm before he just weakened late to run second to the leader Rubiquitous, who he now meets better off at the weights.
The son of Smart Missile won by an impressive 4.5L margin second-up on the Sunshine Coast back in April, so I’m happy to have him on top.
Race 4 – 1:33pm – Quinn Family Law Open Quality Handicap (900m)
The Move claimed his hat-trick in his first run back at Doomben last month with a huge 3.5L win, and if he’s held his form, I think he’ll prove very tough to beat.
Tony Gollan’s five-year-old clearly has an extra gear or two under the hood when something’s asked of him, meaning Stephanie Thornton should have plenty to work with if she can park somewhere just off the speed.
Having combined to win his last three starts by over seven lengths, I’m happy to jump in at the short price.
Race 5 – 2:08pm – Sci-Fleet Hino Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m)
Fortified is racing on the short backup after coming to hand quickly last week to win at Doomben over the mile.
James Orman rode him a treat that day off the speed, and the they went on to win by nearly a length suggests the rise in trip will suit.
I suspect he’ll settle a little closer this time from the wide gate, but with some fitness now on his side, he looks capable of going on with it.
Race 6 – 2:48pm – Birkbecks Jewellers Class 6 Handicap (1200m)
This isn’t a race I’m overly keen to dive into with Weona Smartone as the unbackable $1.40 favourite.
David Vandyke’s lightly-raced five-year-old resumed three weeks ago at Doomben to win by a narrow margin over the same trip, extending his winning streak to six on the trot.
Ryan Maloney has some work to do here from the awkward gate, but I’m not about to take him on.
Race 7 – 3:28pm – Sky Racing Pink Ribbon Cup (1300m)
Tough to argue with Miami Fleiss, who is another unbackable favourite in the feature of the day.
The four-year-old by Spirit Of Boom has hardly put a foot wrong since debuting for Tony Gollan, adding to her impressive resume three weeks ago with a cruisy win at Doomben over 1200m.
She’s rock-hard fit now for two runs back and looks very likely to go all the way in this small field.
Champagne Aunty is the logical danger if you’re looking to take her on.
The wide gate should see her roll forward and her recent form (three wins on the trot at Eagle Farm) reads well for this.
Race 8 – 4:07pm – Crown Miller Litigation Class 3 Plate (1400m)
Neutron is a lightly-raced gelding out of the Kacy Fogden yard that comes into this race with some strong form first-up.
The son of Starcraft was last seen winning by two lengths at Doomben back in May where he settled just off the speed before unleashing with 400m to go.
He trialled on this track last week and won well, so I think he can measure up in his first run back.
Race 9 – 4:43pm – South Coast Radiology Benchmark 85 Handicap (1400m)
Run For Glory comes into this poised to strike third-up from a spell.
He’s found the money in his last two starts and wasn’t far off Ballistic Boy in his latest over a similar distance at Doomben.
The form out of that race has since been franked with Ballistic Boy going on to win again last week, and with fitness now on Run For Glory’s side, I think he’ll be hard to hold out.