The ‘Moonee Valley Of the North’ hosts the Sunday meeting and the tricky track with its 130 metre straight is one for the specialists.
With big fields in most races it will pay to be on those that can take a forward position.
BEST BET: GAMBOA (Race 6 No 2)
NEXT BEST: PIXIE ANN (Race 2 No 5)
VALUE BET: SUPER LEAGUE (Race 4 No 4)
Quaddie numbers are:
Race 5: 1,2,5
Race 6: 2,5,6
Race 7: 5,9
Race 8: 2,4,10
54 combinations
Race 1- Maiden Plate 1200m
Most of these have been trying for a while. CRYPTO TYCOON (2) has had his chances but has been meeting better company than this and Georgina Cartwright knows how to ride this track. He gets his chance to break through.
ONE IN ALL (3) has a terrible gate but showed speed on the poly when resuming and Montana Philpot could take luck out of the equation.
MUIRLEA MAGIC (6) was unwanted in the betting and tired after showing speed at debut. With the prized number one gate and a good rider in Justin Stanley he can make his presence felt.
ORO (7) is another drawn poorly but is resuming and possesses speed. Chris Munce brings them here for a purpose and he could show up fresh.
Verdict- Market moves important but CRYPTO TYCOON (2) finds a winnable one.
Race 2- 2YO and 3YO Fillies Maiden Plate 1200m
Always wary of Daryl Hansen at these meetings and PIXIE ANN (5) has a sharp horse’s pedigree. She will have had jumpouts, there are no stars in this field and with blinkers and a tongue-tie will be all dressed up and ready to go. Montana Philpot claims 1.5kg and if she jumps may be too good.
MSHANI MYSTIQUE (10) is having her 13th start as a two-year-old and that is lucky for some. She has a Saturday placing to her credit and with only 53kg and a good gate can worry these.
HEARTONHERSLEEVE (3) has put in solid efforts at big odds at her past two outings. With gate one and a 1.5kg claim for Emily Lang she can run well again.
BETTER BELIEVE IT (2) has been trying for a while but placed at Ipswich three starts back and with a positive ride from 4kg claimer Corey Sutherland can get in the frame.
Verdict- Big watch on PIXIE ANN (5).
Race 3- Three-Year-Old Benchmark 58 Handicap 1200m
Bevan Laming has found a better race for POET’S DAY (1) which was a beaten favourite at Gatton when resuming over 860m. This trip is far more suitable and from gate one Craig Robertson can box seat.
SPRIT OF MILAN (5) has speed, won her recent trial at Beaudesert and Danny Peisley will take advantage of a good gate.
GERRYMANDER (7) took a long time to break through but got the job done at the Sunshine Coast last start. She has speed and Bailey Wheeler rides these tight tracks perfectly.
SECRET QUALITY (8) doesn’t win out of turn but placed here two starts back and Jason Taylor stays on.
Verdict- It’s POET’S DAY (1).
Race 4- Class 1 Handicap 1200m
Mark Currie brings them here for a reason and SUPER LEAGUE (4) has been knocking on the door at Toowoomba. Winkers come off and with Jai Williams 2kg claim he has the speed to overcome the awkward gate.
LITTLE VISTA (5) was well beaten at Gatton when resuming after a freshen-up but has won a trial since. Dale Smith knows how to ride these tracks and with winkers off can make his presence felt.
SIAN STAR (3) disappointed on the poly at the Gold Coast but is better than that and will appreciate getting onto turf. She goes best with a positive ride and Montana Philpot likes to send them forward.
CANNY BE BETTER (1) took a long time to win a Maiden but has spent his career in better company than this. His recent trial was sound and with the in-form Bailey Wheeler can give these some hurry-up.
Verdict- Take your pick but I like SUPER LEAGUE (4).
Race 5- Class 1 Handicap 1200m
It is hard to go from a Maiden to a Class 1 and up in weight, class and distance is a terrible trifecta but the well-bred SHIPS AHOY (1) showed he may have a future when too speedy for them at the Sunshine Coast. A good gate helps and with Dale Smith staying on he may have too much class.
BETTER THAN BOOZE (2) has been racing soundly on the Gold Coast poly track and placed at his only previous outing here. With Danny Peisley and a good gate he will be hard to toss.
SEA COMMITS (5) has been finding it hard to win but is rarely far away and was runner-up here two starts back. She has drawn poorly again but Georgina Cartwright knows what to do.
Blinkers go on AURORA DANCER (6) which only battled at Gatton when resuming but has run well at his past two outings here and can get in the frame.
Verdict- SHIPS AHOY (1) is a bit better than these.
Race 6- Benchmark 70 Handicap 1200m
Lindsay Hatch has stepped GAMBOA (2) up to 1200m after two solid runner-up efforts over shorter trips at Toowoomba. This trip will suit, blinkers go back on and with Jai Williams 2kg claim and gate one he is in the box seat to succeed.
MISHANI FRAUDSTER (6) hasn’t won for a while but most of his racing has been in Saturday grade. He showed speed before tiring at the Sunshine Coast when resuming and with Lilli Barr’s 2kg claim can be prominent again.
SUILVEN (5) is a veteran but he likes this track and has a good first-up record. Georgina Cartwright won on him here last time and could do so again.
DE MANARA (14) will need some scratchings to get a start but has been knocking on the door for a long time and won’t get a better chance with Bailey Wheeler from gate two.
Verdict- GAMBOA (2) will be hard to beat.
Race 7- Benchmark 58 Handicap 1500m
One full lap of the course and ATLANTIC ROYAL (9) has come from well back to figure in the finish at his past two outings. He won over this trip in similar class last preparation when given a positive ride and a repeat can see the same result.
Annabel Neasham has brought EL ASTEROID (5) here after placings at Gatton and Dalby. He won his Maiden here, blinkers go back on and while he is likely to give them a start few ride this track better than Georgina Cartwright.
TOMBOY’S SPIRIT (6) is more a placegetter than a winner but got the job done here last start in a Class 1 over this trip and with 4kg Claimer Corey Sutherland will carry a similar impost. She goes forward and from gate one will be the one they have to run down.
FREEDOM AVENUE (4) doesn’t win out of turn but a good gate helps and a positive ride from Jai Williams can see him in contention.
Verdict- A positive ride will see ATLANTIC ROYAL (9) home.
Race 8- 0-58 Handicap 1900m
The tight turns here make it tricky for some but DAMREEL (2) has had no such problems winning two of three at this trip. He struggled on the Gold Coast poly last start but this is much more his thing and with Jai Williams back on will be hard to beat.
CLOUDY MISS (4) comes to Kilcoy for the first time but brings winning form from a similar tight track at Murwillumbah. She led all the way there and will look to do the same here.
SEERESS (10) came from a long way back and chased DAMREEL (2) home two starts back. She followed up with a solid effort on the Gold Coast poly and can get in the money again.
BARTALUMBA (6) has been racing soundly and has placed twice here previously, The gate tests but he has the speed to go forward and find a position.
Verdict- DAMREEL (2) is the track and distance specialist.