Expecting Petunia to take improvement away from her last start at Doomben where she made up a stack of ground from the rear of the field to run fourth.
I thought she gave up a little too much ground in the early stages that day and was entitled to finish much closer to the winner Dusty Tycoon.
The way she hit the line suggests she’ll handle the extra 200m just fine though and the fact Jim Byrne has retained the ride can only be seen as a positive.
2 Units Petunia
Betcha Baby is crying out for the 1400m now after finishing runner-up in back-to-back starts over the 1200m since debuting last month.
The filly by Starspangledbanner gave chase a fortnight ago at this same venue but was simply too far back to catch all-the-way winner Noble War down the straight.
There doesn’t appear to be a lot of speed in this race, which should leave Michael Cahill a good opportunity to stalk the likely leader Kandanga Miss.
Chris Waller is well known for training his horses to peak third-up and there’s a good chance this girl gets the win she deserves.
2 Units Betcha Baby
Sunrise Dancer won two starts back at the Sunshine Coast in a BM58 and wasn’t far off making it a double when half a length third two weeks ago over the same trip at the Gold Coast.
The five-year-old hit the line beautifully from the rear of the field and that may have been the hit-out she needed now rising in trip.
She should be able to get in just behind the speed under Ryan Maloney and take some serious running down over the final 200m.
1 Unit Sunrise Dancer
Come In Spinner is making real headway towards his maiden win having now found the placings in four of his five runs since resuming.
The New Zealand import went forward last start at Ipswich and battled home well for second over the 1200m and there is plenty to suggest he can replicate that performance from an identical draw.
He’ll likely follow a similar pattern in this race tucking in just off the speed and looks to be one of the main dangers with fitness on his side.
1 Unit E/W Come In Spinner
This is by far the most wide-open contest of the day with plenty resuming and a fair few racing for new stables.
The former Kris Lees-trained Apollo Prince was the one for mine, but after this morning’s scratchings, I’m with the favourite Kateru.
The former Godolphin runner has placed twice from two runs first-up and has been well-backed into favouritism ahead of his first race in Queensland.
The wide draw does make things a touch tricky for Larry Cassidy, but if he can slot across early, I’m confident the pair will be producing their best work late.
1 Unit Kateru
This is an interesting race now that Kiriana has been scratched.
North Afrika has been one of mine over his last few starts at Doomben, but it’s hard to look past the money for Divine Diva as she gets out past the mile.
The Sebring mare won comfortably by five lengths two starts back, but found the 1600m a little too short last start when third at Ipswich.
She won’t want to get too far back here with North Afrika capable of going all the way, but judging by the way she’s let down in her last two starts, she should prove tough to hold out late.
2 Units Divine Diva
Pinnacle Star hasn’t been seen at the races since June where he capped off his prep with a narrow second at Doomben over the same distance in a BM75.
The son of Starspangledbanner was unlucky not to win last time in work finding the placings in all three of his starts, but he does look a decent chance in this race sporting two wins from three first-up.
Ryan Maloney knows this horse inside out having ridden him in each of his last four starts, and from a very kind draw, the pair rate very highly.
2 Units Pinnacle Star
This looks another very winnable race for Sidekiss with a few of these drawn poorly.
Joel Pengilly’s four-year-old can make it three in a row with another win over the track and distance, and although he only won narrowly last start, it’s worth factoring in the amount of work he had to do from the wide gate.
He’s drawn much kinder this time around as Georgina Cartwright puts her apprentice claim to good effect.
With race fitness on his side and three wins over the track and distance, he’s the one to beat.
2 Units Sidekiss