The Queensland Winter Carnival travels up to the Sunshine Coast this Saturday with the Listed $175,000 Caloundra Cup (2400m) the main feature on the eight race program.
The showcase sprint race for the Open class gallopers is the Listed $175,000 Glasshouse Handicap (1300m) while the short course speedsters will line up in the Listed $100,000 Bribie Handicap (1000m).
The Group 3 $125,000 Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) has attracted a capacity field of eighteen plus one emergency and has some smart three year olds heading towards bigger goals later in the Carnival while the two year olds are catered for in the Listed $100,000 Bruce McLachlan Classic (1200m).
Feature Races
Race 6 – 3:22pm Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m)
The Robert Heathcote trained Volkhere comes to the Sunshine Coast on the back of a second in the Toowoomba Cup (2150m) with the form out of that race looking exceptional with the winner, Pornichet, going on to win the Group 1 $650,000 Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben last Saturday. Volkhere had been placed third at his previous start in the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap (2200m) at the Gold Coast and is shaping up as one of the main chances in the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m). Index Linked from the Chris Waller stable beat Volkhere home at the Gold Coast while Perplexity (4th), Tremec (6th) and Sir John Hawkwood (7th) all finished behind that pair.
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Race 7 – 4:02pm Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1300m)
Kiwi sprinter Allez Eagle has some strong New Zealand form heading into the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1300m). The Tony Pike trained four year old was a winner at Te Aroha two starts back in a 1400m Open Handicap and then performed creditably when fourth in the Group 1 Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie on April 18. If the form out of the Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba stands up then second, third and fourth placegetters Pillar Of Creation, Choice Bro and Mount Nebo all have each way chances again. Dances With Stars ran an improved race when third in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at the Gold Coast but has been lumped with 58kg as well as drawing the outside gate in the seventeen horse field. Three year old Time For War produced a good first up performance for second in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) and Sunshine Coast trainer Stuart Kendrick isn’t frightened to take on the older horses here.
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Race 8 – 4:37pm Listed Bribie Handicap (1000m)
Local sprinters Rocky King and Facile Tigre are both multiple winners over this course and distance and they also have winning first up records which will help their chances in the Listed Bribie Handicap (1000m). Mr Favulous is looking for his second win on the trot after leading all of the way to win the Listed Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba last start. Top Sydney trainer Joe Pride is bringing his speedy Diamond Oasis to the Sunshine Coast and Peter Moody will saddle up Office Bearer.
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Race 5 – 2:42pm Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m)
Several of the three year olds going around in the Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas are aiming for higher goals over the next few week of the Winter Carnival. The Chris Waller trained Winx and John Sargent’s Swift Lady are being set for the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben on May 30 while Merion from the Mike Moroney stable and local three year old Worthy Cause are heading towards the Group 1 $600,000 Channel 7 Queensland Derby (2200m) at Doomben the following week. Gai Waterhouse has a high opinion of her Flying Spur colt Skylimit but he will have to keep on improving to be in finish after running second to Jumbo Prince over 1600m at Toowoomba on May 2.
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Race 4 – 2:02pm Bruce McLachlan Memorial Classic (1200m)
The John O’Shea trained Handfast gets his chance to carry the Godolphin royal blue colours to victory here in the Bruce McLachlan Memorial Classic (1200m). The Street Cry colt must have shown plenty of ability at home before being sent out the short price favourite in a Wyong maiden at the end of April and even though he missed a place on the heavy track, he will have gained valuable experience from the outing. Frequendly is resuming and showed plenty of promise last campaign with three wins from five starts and Jam Toast ran a gutsy race when third in the Listed Dalrello Stakes (1200m) at Toowoomba.
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Supporting Races
Race 1 – 12:12pm BenchMark 95 Handicap (1800m)
The first race on the Caloundra Cup program looks a hard task for punters with no less than six last start winners to contest the BenchMark 95 Handicap (1800m). Darci Be Good was back in the winner’s stall over 1600m at the Sunshine Coast last start with 58.5kg and will drop to 57kg with Geoffery Goold’s 2kg claim. The Joe Cleary trained Landlocked wrapped up a Country Cups hat trick with his win in the Listed Wagga Wagga Gold Cup (2000m) and looks well placed here. Eight’s A Party is also searching for a hat trick of wins after victories at the Gold Coast and Toowoomba and Noisy Ocean was a last start winner here over 1400m. Local four year old Fast Arrow is a winner at two of his last three starts and has each way claims here if he can repeat his last start win at Ipswich.
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Race 2 – 12:47pm Fillies And Mares Handicap (1400m)
The Chris Waller trained Champagne Cath looks the class runner in the Fillies And Mares Handicap (1400m) but will have to overcome barrier thirteen in the sixteen horse field to claim the major prize. The Street Sense mare was well beaten at her latest run when tenth in the Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Randwick but looks to be back on track with a Warwick Farm barrier trial win on May 1. Little Brown Horse is a winner over this course and distance and is one to keep safe after she just missed a place when fourth in the Listed Silk Stocking (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Anzac Day. Write Cheek looks like she has found some good form again with a last win over 1350m at Doomben.
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Race 3 – 1:22pm Three Year Old Handicap (1000m)
Beau Jet never threatened last start at the Gold Coast when ninth in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) but should be given another chance here in the Three Year Old Handicap (1000m). The Steven O’Dea trained Beau Jet was a winner at his two previous starts and a two time winner over this course and distance. Kiwi three year old Huka Eagle arrived in Australia with Group 1 form but finished down the track in the Gold Coast Guineas but has to be given another chance here. I Am Boss is finding it very tough to find the winner’s stall and has been runner up at his last six outings, his latest in a 1000m BenchMark 75 at Toowoomba. Girls Command is in line for a hat trick following wins at Dalby and Toowoomba and She’s Miss Devine showed plenty of ability during her last campaign.
Click here for our full Three Year Old Handicap betting market