Here is a race-by-race preview for Sunday’s meeting at the Sunshine Coast.
On the big track with little rain forecast and the rail out four metres all horses should get their chance to run to form.
BEST BET: HYDE PARK (Race 6 No 3)
NEXT BEST: RIDEAU (Race 1 No 3)
VALUE BET: BLOOMIN’ RIPPER (Race 2 No 3)
Quaddie numbers are:
Race 7: 1,2,3
Race 8: 2,3,8
Race 9: 5,8
Race 10: 1,7,14,15
72 combinations
Race 1- Three-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Maiden Handicap 1000m
Manners cost RIDEAU (3) dearly on debut but he has paid the ultimate price and returns as a gelding after two trials. By I Am Invincible out of a high class racemare he has a bit to live up to and with Ryan Maloney from the ace draw gets his chance to put a score on the board.
CONNELLY (1) fought on well at debut over 800m behind subsequent winners Liquor and Bauhinia Rock. He has been kept fresh since and this bigger track and longer trip will suit. The Edmonds have put Jim Orman on and he strikes at better than 25% here.
OSTERBERG (6) was caught wide and ran a brave race at Toowoomba when resuming. This bigger track will be more to his liking and Andrew Mallyon can have the last crack.
ENTERPRISE LEGEND (4) had support but was slowly away and found trouble when resuming here over this trip. Jake Bayliss has been given another chance and a more positive ride can deliver a result.
Verdict- RIDEAU (3) to live up to his pedigree.
Race 2- Three-Year-Old Fillies Maiden Handicap 1000m
First starters make this interesting and I am watching the market on the Spirit Of Boom filly BLOOMIN’ RIPPER (3) which is out of a tough racemare that won 14 races, four at the Sunshine Coast including the last start of her career. Her trial was sound and Jack Duncan’s horses go best here. With Nikita Beriman from a good gate she will get every chance to emulate her dam on Mother’s Day.
Experience counts and HELIKEDEMPRETTY (2) has been in the money at both outings and Mark Du Plessis stays on. She has speed and from gate one will be the one to run down.
Its pays to be wary of Daryl Hansen’s runners first-up on their home track and REMANDED (6) has been readied with jumpouts. With Jim Orman from gate two there will be no excuses.
WHAT’S UP HONEY (7) wasn’t beaten far on debut and has benefited from a recent trial. She might want longer but David Vandyke has a high strike rate at these Sunday meetings and with Kyle Wilson-Taylor will get every chance.
Verdict- Having a small investment on BLOOMIN’ RIPPER (3).
Race 3- Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate 1000m
Another mystery race with none of the acceptors having had more than two outings. SHEEZALITTLETORQUE (12) is a sister to two smart ones in Lyrical Girl and Hollaback Girl. She trials strongly and is well placed with a good gate and 3kg claim for Montana Philpot. Stuart Kendrick is leading trainer at the Sunshine Coast and can show why here.
BOHEMIAN LAD (1) looked sharp at his most recent trial and the David Vandyke/Ryan Maloney combination has always been formidable. The Better Than Ready gelding is bred for speed and from a good gate can make his own luck.
Tony Gollan can never be ignored at these Sunday meetings and RISE ANGELOU (11) is a sister to Houtzen and recent winner Set To Shine. The earlier siblings won on debut and with Angela Jones a hat-trick is on the table.
The stablemate HEARTS ARE RACING (8) is out of a good producing mare. She has had two trials and can show up fresh for Damien Thornton.
Verdict- A lottery but my ticket is with SHEEZALITTLETORQUE (12).
Race 4- Maiden Handicap 1400m
Chris Waller brings them here for a purpose and RANGATIRA (7) was never likely at Ipswich where the smart Ring Of Steel ran them off their legs. Fitter for two outings he is better suited at this trip and Jim Orman doesn’t make mistakes.
FREDDIE (5) missed the start, over-raced, was held up and the rider dropped the whip yet still managed to place when having his first outing for Jack Bruce. He meets a similar crew here, will be better for the experience and from a wide gate Samantha Collett can avoid trouble.
JANE HIS WIFE (10) showed potential last preparation and was hitting the line at Ipswich when resuming. Paul Jenkins likes to bring them along slowly and back on her home track with Jaden Lloyd she will be rounding them up late.
CALDANTE (4) has been finding it hard to break through but a bigger track may be more to his liking. He drops 1kg, a good gate helps will get every chance with Tiff Brooker,
Verdict- RANGATIRA (7) finds a winnable race.
Race 5- Maiden Handicap 1400m
A field of moderate quality has me taking a chance on NICE WATER (11) which is a work-in-progress but after multiple gear changes showed improved tractability at Ipswich last start. This trip suits and from a good alley on his home track Corey Bayliss will give him every chance.
HOW YA BEEN ANYWAY (2) is another from the Paul Jenkins stable that made his debut at Ipswich and was hitting the line late. He is bred to stay but with the run under his belt this trip on his home track should be right up his alley. Mark Du Plessis stays on and he will be running on over the final part.
IVANOV (7) has come up from Victoria with Jim Conlan where he placed at Moe at his second outing. He never threatened on the poly when resuming but is much better suited here. Winkers replace blinkers, a tongue-tie goes on and with Ben Thompson to ride will be ready to go.
I AM REAL (13) is another that has been racing on the poly at the Gold Coast placing at his past two outings. He hasn’t lived up to his pedigree in six starts to date but Chris Waller brings them North to win a race and this may be weak enough.
Verdict- No real confidence but tempted by NICE WATER (11).
Race 6- Two-Year-Old Handicap 1400m
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott may have higher goals in mind for HYDE PARK (3) which has had just the one outing but that was in strong Saturday company at Rosehill. He has speed and with Ryan Maloney might have an edge in class.
RINGER’S REWARD (1) is a two-time winner and won a Saturday race two starts back at Doomben. She found Group 3 company too much last week but this is easier. She has been up a while but fitness and experience count.
PURVEYOR (2) did plenty wrong but got the job done on debut at Beaudesert and whilst this harder he does have upside.
Lee Freedman has put the blinkers on ENCODER (6) which has run on well at both Ipswich outings. This trip on a big track is what he has been looking for and may be strongest late.
Verdict- Class to tell with HYDE PARK (3).
Race 7- Benchmark 62 Handicap 1800m
He is a seven-year-old but KAIBERRY (1) didn’t begin until he was four and has had several long injury breaks resulting in only 18 starts to date. A five-time winner he hung on to get the result at Ipswich last start and has two wins at this trip. He carried this weight to just miss here two starts back and with Casey Waddell will be hard to run down.
MASTER MARKO (2) had a long last preparation but raced consistently throughout. He will be improved by his first-up outing at Eagle Farm and this extra distance will suit. Jaden Lloyd knows him well and will have him close enough if good enough.
OUR CASTAWAY (3) is a lightly-raced six-year-old stepping up in trip. This is harder than Grafton but he has won twice and not missed a place in his past seven starts with one of those placings being a narrow defeat here. A good gate helps and the in-form Bailey Wheeler will have him in a prominent spot.
YANGARI (4) struggled at Toowoomba but all three wins have been here two at this trip. He can give them a start but a positive ride from 1.5kg claimer Cejay Graham can have him in the finish.
Verdict- KAIBERRY (1) will be hard to run down.
Race 8- Three-Year-Old Benchmark 68 Handicap 1200m
There is upside with HONKYTONK DIVA (3) which just missed when resuming at Toowoomba. She was racing in blacktype company last preparation against the likes of Yellow Brick and that form is good enough to account for these.
EN POINTE (2) has had a freshen-up since three moderate efforts in strong Saturday grade. She was a Saturday winner at her first preparation and only has to bring that to be in the finish.
GREAT ASPIRATIONS (8) is a promising type bred for longer, He was too strong here in Maiden company over 1000m and whilst this is harder will relish the extra distance. Ryan Maloney stays on and will look to round them up late.
INVINOVICH (4) was outclassed in the Gold Coast Guineas but has a good record here and with Nikita Beriman will be well-placed throughout,
Verdict- Fitness edge with HONKYTONK DIVA (3) over EN POINTE (2).
Race 9- Open Handicap 1200m
Brett Cavanough has brought DUBAI TYCOON (8) back to a track where he has won previously and he has a better record over this trip than most of the field. He goes best fresh, has been trialling well and Jake Bayliss will make his own luck.
KAVAK (5) sat wide and kept coming to share the prize at Ipswich last start. He has won twice here previously and Bailey Wheeler isn’t afraid to go forward. With only 52.5kg he will be hard to run down.
LINTHORPE LAD (2) was racing in stronger company than this last preparation. He is yet to win first-up and hasn’t placed here in two previous outings but has been readied by a trial and has the best recent form in the race.
It has been nearly 3 years between drinks for BANDIPUR (1) but he has been racing in far stronger company than this and is proven at the trip. He has won second-up and with Yvette Lewis’ 2kg claim and a good gate gets a chance to show whether anything is left.
Verdict- Track and distance suit a fresh DUBAI TYCOON (8).
Race 10- Class 1 Handicap 1200m
As a two-year-old INVINSIBLE TEARS (1) looked a real talent but is now a four-year-old and has only won the one race. This is easier company than she has faced for a long time and with one trial under her belt gets an opportunity to show if she has what it takes.
ISRAELITE BAY (14) only battled when having her first outing for Tony Gollan but her trial was better than that and this bigger track will suit. Her Victorian form is up to this, she drops 2kg with Cejay Graham’s claim and with blinkers going back on can improve.
ZOUMETEOR (7) got job done when resuming and is now a gelding. Class 1 is always a big step from a Maiden but he drops 1.5kg and has Jim Orman.
ON HOLD (15) was ridden back last start and made ground late. Ben Thompson stays on and ridden with cover off the speed may be the way to go.
Verdict- When in doubt go with the best horse – INVINSIBLE TEARS (1).