Another big Sunday meeting and whilst scratchings will play a role I will stick with leading trainers and riders.
There has been rain and with the rail out seven metres riders will be coming to crown in the straight looking for the fast lanes.
BEST BET: COURS VITE (Race 4 No 6)
NEXT BEST: AWE (Race 9 No 6)
VALUE BET: GLORIOUS RUBY (Race 3 No 1)
Quaddie numbers are:
Race 7: 7,11,15
Race 8: 2,3,9
Race 9: 4,6
Race 10: 1,7,8,10
72 combinations
Race 1- Maiden Plate 1200m
Looking for those with least convictions. Adam Campton has high strike rate and PANGAEA (8) has looked useful at his trials. His dam was a smart racemare and the full-brother has won twice in Japan. A tongue-tie goes on and with Jim Orman from a good gate that is enough for me.
WEALDSTONE (10) brings Victorian form and won’t find a much weaker Maiden. He has been freshened since his last outing and placed on debut over this trip at Pakenham. He is awkwardly drawn but a positive ride from Ryan Wiggins can have him in the frame.
CHANCE AT MIDNIGHT (2) has convictions and is yet to place in five outings here but hit the line strongly at Ipswich last start. He must be taken on trust but this not a strong race and he could launch late.
Blinkers go on MASTER’N’COMMANDER (3) which is making his debut as a four-year-old and hasn’t been seen since winning a trial at Deagon almost a year ago. He looked a promising type when younger and Damien Thornton will test him out.
Verdict- Not a race to excite but I am on PANGAEA (8).
Race 2- Two-Year-Old Handicap 1000m
Sydney form is always hard to ignore and the Annabel Neasham-trained MIAMI VICE (7) has won two of three trials in NSW. A Sunday provincial meeting in Queensland looks a good place to kick him off and with plenty of speed in this Jag Guthmann-Chester can sit off the pace to round them up late.
Blinkers go back on NAZORIAN (1) which was never involved when resuming at Ipswich. He won second-up last preparation and with a positive ride from a good gate by Ryan Maloney can do so again.
BOSSED UP (2) led throughout to win on debut at Gatton. A bad gate makes this harder but Jim Orman knows what to do.
The stablemate HINATA (10) had support at Ipswich but barely gave a yelp in a race won by subsequent Group 2 winner Cifrado. She has trialled since, Ben Thompson stays on and the Gollan stable rarely get it wrong. Look for improvement,
Verdict- Watching the market on MIAMI VICE (7).
Race 3- Class 5 Handicap 1000m
Saturday grade horses at provincial level always have my interest and whilst GLORIOUS RUBY (1) usually needs one to get going she has a better record than any of these. She has won here previously, this is her optimum trip and with Bailey Wheeler’s 2kg claim will be hard to hold out.
The cross-over noseband comes off UNCLE RUSS (7) which is now under the care of Jack Bruce and trained on this track. He is unbeaten first-up, has had two trials and with Samantha Collett will be ready to fire.
RELIABLE RUBY (10) beat her own sex here last start and has trialled since, She rarely runs poorly, has a good record at this track and will get the gun run off the speed with Damien Thornton.
CARIBBEAN KING (8) drops back to his preferred trip and saves his best efforts for here. From a good gate with Jake Bayliss he can give a sight.
Verdict- GLORIOUS RUBY (1) has the Class edge.
Race 4- Class 1 Handicap 1800m
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have brought COURS VITE (6) across the Tasman for a purpose and he took the first step winning his maiden comfortably at Ipswich last start. Taking on Class 1 is always a challenge but this distance on a big track should be right up his alley and he has upside.
AMOKURA (5) was entered for The Roses but didn’t get a run. She bolted in when winning her Maiden at Newcastle and whilst this is harder is a filly of potential. A big track is what she needs and Andrew Mallyon will be testing them late.
COLLEAGUES (3) is fitter for two outings and his only win came when third-up. This trip will suit and whilst David Vandyke and Ryan Maloney are not the lethal force of yore they are still formidable.
TEXAS HOLD’EM (9) ran out of puff here last start but now having his second start for the stable Brian Smith will have him much fitter. Marnu Potgeiter stays on and will have him well placed throughout,
Verdict- COURS VITE (6) and AMOKURA (5) have futures,
Race 5- Three-Year-Old Benchmark 68 Handicap 1400m
Chris Waller brings then North to win and SORGENTE (4) was only found out late at Ipswich. Fitter for three outings he will get all the favours from gate one with Ryan Wiggins and be hard to run down.
RED TOP (1) was racing in better company than this last preparation and has benefited from a recent trial. He goes best on bigger tracks and with Bailey Wheeler’s claim will test these.
ON HOLD (11) was ridden off the speed at Ipswich and hit the line. The step up in trip poses some questions but her only win was here and Ben Thompson stays on.
PAIENBARA (5) finally broke though to win his Maiden last start but did it in style. This is harder but now he has a taste could go on with it.
Verdict- SORGENTE (4) is due.
Race 6- Benchmark 62 Handicap 1200m
The bigger track and 1200m will help IN THE BLINK (12) which has improved since joining Adam Campton. She was too good against her own sex in this Class at Beaudesert and whilst this is harder will get all the favours with Ryan Maloney.
CRAZY BRAVE (8) was too good when resuming in three-year-old company at Eagle Farm. By Zoustar out of a sister to Brazen Beau he has a pedigree to live up to and with Jim Orman can go on with it.
QUEEN ASSASSIN (9) is another promising three-year-old which got the job done at Kilcoy when resuming. This is harder but she has won two of three starts and will box seat for Jaden Lloyd.
MAGIC ON ICE (3) got too far back at Ipswich but chased some sharp ones home and was hitting the line. This is easier, the bigger track and longer trip suits and Andrew Mallyon knows how to strike late.
Verdict- IN THE BLINK (12) is more seasoned than the three-year-olds.
Race 7- Benchmark 62 Handicap 1200m
A soft track suits O’MISS BEHAVING (11) which wasn’t beaten far in higher grade here two starts back and chased home a smart one at Eagle Farm last outing. Ben Thompson stays on and with a positive ride from a good gate will be hard to hold out.
MICROWAVE JENNY (15) has struggled on tighter tracks at her past two starts but is at peak fitness now and won her only previous start here. She will find this easier than a Class 3 Plate and is well-placed with Cejay Graham’s 1.5kg claim.
LOST IN TRANSIT (7) got the Maiden out of the way last start and hasn’t done much wrong in four career outings. He will find this harder but has more upside than most in this field.
GOLDSCHLAGER (10 has plenty of convictions but races well here and improves second-up. The gate may test but her recent trial was strong and with a 2kg claim for Tahlia Fenton is well placed in this class.
Verdict- O’MISS BEHAVING to behave,
Race 8- 0-58 Handicap 1400m
This class suits SEA COMMITS (9) which has only won one of thirteen but was held up at a critical stage at Kilcoy last start. She has been around the mark all preparation and with a good ride from Georgina Cartwright gets her chance to break through.
ATLANTIC ROYAL (3) got a long way back at Ipswich but ran on to be beaten less than a length. He hasn’t placed here in eleven starts but this is his home track and could surprise.
Stuart Kendrick has had PALATIAL PRINCE (2) for only the one outing which was on the poly track at the Gold Coast. He has been hard to follow during his career but his best Victorian form is up to this class.
AFRICAN STORM (13) has been improved by two outings off a long break and only faded late at Beaudesert. Her only win was at this trip and Tegan Harrison can go forward and take no prisoners.
Verdict- SEA COMMITS (9) maps to win.
Race 9- Class 4 Handicap 1400m
Annabel Neasham won with AWE (6) first-up here last preparation over this trip and can do again. He has had one quiet trial but comes to hand quickly and with Jim Orman will get all the favours from an inside gate.
Three wins and 12 placings from 22 starts say it all about RATIONS (4) but she is an honest mare and rarely out of the money. She has had an eight week break since just missing in Saturday grade and will be in the finish again.
MISTER YU SHU (2) isn’t the easiest to follow but brings good Melbourne form and has won three times at this trip. He enjoys big tracks, gets a crossover nose band and with Ryan Maloney will be hitting the line.
DO WELL LEGEND (17) over-raced and couldn’t get clear at Ipswich. He gets plenty of racing but won here over this trip two starts back and drops 4.5kg on that run.
Verdict- Having something on AWE (6).
Race 10- Class 2 Handicap 1000m
It took a while but AMBITIOUS SPIRIT (1) has now discovered how to win mowing them down from a wide gate to score impressively at Toowoomba last start, This is harder but from the better draw Ryan Maloney can ride positively and get the job done.
SMASHING PLATES (10) likes this trip and invariably runs well here. A good gate helps and Tiff Brooker will have her on the speed throughout.
KING’S EXPRESS (7) was found out late at Beaudesert when resuming but has won here previously and will strip fitter. He has speed and with Michael Cahill back aboard will be given every chance.
The gear comes off POCKET FULL (8) which won first-up over this trip last preparation, His recent trial was sound and from a good gate will be prominent for a long way.
Verdict- AMBITIOUS SPIRIT (1) can go on with it.