Another quality nine-race card is on offer at Doomben on Saturday headlined by the Group 3 George Moore Stakes between the sprinters.
Comfortable last start winner Jonker has been installed as the short-priced favourite, but there’s certainly plenty to be said for the likes of Hard Empire, Deep Image, and the always brave Scallopini.
We’ve cast our eyes across every race and offer our best bets for Doomben below.
Ready Mister Music went all-the-way to win his maiden last start at the Gold Coast in a brilliant front-running performance.
He was challenged over the final 200m but showed a real second kick to pull away from the field to win by a length. Considering a few of these are facing the starter for the first time, there’s no reason he can’t make it a double.
It’s All Talk won her trial well on Tuesday at Doomben and looks ready for her debut under Stephanie Thornton.
The two-year-old daughter of Sebring has also accepted at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, but does look a decent each-way chance after drawing barrier 4.
1 Unit It’s All Talk
Raiden is one of the few horses in this field with Doomben form to his name where he’s won and placed twice in the past.
The son of Foxwedge won at Yepoon three starts back over the 1000m and hasn’t been far off the winner in two runs at Mackay since.
He’s 1300m back to 1100m on the short backup carrying 3.5kg less this time around.
The seven-year-old doesn’t win out of turn, but if Brad Stewart can get back early he might be able to sneak another win here.
1 Unit Raiden
Pleased finished two lengths third first-up at Grafton and looks ready for the step up to his preferred distance.
The seven-year-old son of Street Cry is a three-time winner over the mile and maps to get a lovely run in transit carrying only 55kg on his back.
He’s won second-up in the past, while jockey Jim Byrne spent some time riding him in earlier in his career.
Comes into this fitter and should be finishing over the top of some of these late.
1 Unit Pleased
Paniagua is shooting for eight in a row and it’s tough to come up with a reason as to why she can’t win.
The son of Tycoon Ruler was basically untouchable up north winning the Townsville Guineas and the Cairns Cup leading into this race before he was sent back to the paddock for a freshen up.
He returned to win a fortnight ago at Cairns over the 1400m only narrowly and seems to be crying out for the mile now second-up.
With Robert Thompson carrying only 57kg from the soft draw, the pair should be storming home late with a big run.
3 Units Paniagua
This shapes up to be a very exciting edition of the Winning Rupert Plate and you could easily make a case for most of these.
Thunder Mania really stands out at odds after winning his maiden on debut over this track and distance last year.
He’s since gone on to win twice more at the Sunshine Coast and is resuming off a five-month spell after running sixth in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins behind Rothfire during the winter.
The son of Snitzel wound up with a big run to finish second in his trial last week and he should be hitting the line strongly with the light weight of Ron Stewart on his back.
1 Unit E/W Thunder Mania
Free Fly Too appeared to be making real headway towards another win before he ran into some trouble from the wide gate in the Mooloolaba Cup.
He’s worth forgiving on that run though and is certain to take improvement into this race from a much better barrier.
Ben Thompson rode him to a string of placings earlier in his prep and the pair look a much better chance than the current market price suggests.
1 Unit Free Fly Too
Happy to have Starvirgo on top after finding the placings in each of his last three runs.
The gelding by Zoustar has placed twice previously over the track and distance and didn’t finish far off Desert Lord two runs back carrying a similar weight under Ben Thompson, who again retains the ride.
The gate suits him perfectly, and with a few of these likely to roll forward, he should be able to do his best work late.
2 Units Starvirgo
Quality field here from top to bottom and it really wouldn’t surprise to see any come out and win this.
I’m with Jonker on top having his second run under new trainer Tony Gollan following his outstanding four length win in the Listed Keith Noud Quality a fortnight ago over the track and distance.
He’ll need to produce an even bigger effort this time around with plenty of speed rolling forward, but if he gets clear running room in the straight, he should prove tough to hold out.
The Odyssey also stands out off a freshen-up.
He trialled beautifully on Monday under Stephanie Thornton and he’ll likely make his own luck up in front. Wasn’t far off last start over the track and distance and is also a six-time winner over the 1200m.
2 Units Jonker
1 Unit The Oddysey
Isotope should be winning this if she jumps cleanly on Saturday.
A slow start cost her first-up over a little shorter, but the good news is she’s drawn the inside and gets in light at the weights with Ryan Maloney now in the saddle.
Even after missing the start, the filly by Deep Field still showed her usual turn of foot in the late stages when resuming and she should be able to end the day on a high-note as the favourite.
2 Units Isotope