Last week’s Doomben Cup meeting was cancelled due to inclement weather so we have a stacked card of nine races on the program at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Our full 2022 QLD Derby Day Preview can be found below.
Race 1 - 11:08am AEDT
Group 2 The Roses (2100m)
Stalking broke her maiden duck at Kembla Grange two back when scoring by 3.8 lengths on the heavy 10 over 1500m.
James Orman ducked back to the inside upon straightening in the Gold Coast Bracelet and the filly picked up and chased well, finishing 2.4 lengths behind Dynasties and Gypsy Goddess who head QLD Oaks betting.
Chilko Lake has won her last two in a row in NSW by a combined 3.7 lengths on heavy tracks and can progress to a new level here in The Roses.
She’s drawn perfectly in barrier two and represents good each way value at $14.
1 Unit E/W Stalking
1/2 Unit E/W Chilko Lake
Race 2 - 11:43am AEDT
Group 3 Premier's Cup (2400m)
This is one of the toughest races of the day to assess with many unproven at the distance or failing to handle rain effected tracks.
Soprano Supreme put together two wins in a row in New Zealand to earn a trip over the dirth and she was excellent when finishing second behind Stardome on the Gold Coast last start on the heavy track.
I loved the way she ran right through the line and unlike many of these runners, she has a tonne of upside.
1 Unit E/W Soprano Supreme
Race 3 - 12:18pm AEDT
Group 3 Lord Mayor's Cup (1800m)
Hungry Heart is going far better than her form suggests on paper.
The four year old mare has been competitive at Group 1 level in the past but she simply doesn’t handle the rain effected track.
With the weather in Brisbane improving during the week allowing it to dry out, she looks a good chance in a race of this quality that lacks a whole heap of depth.
Drawn well in barrier two with William Pike steering in the Lord Mayor’s Cup.
1 Unit Hungry Heart
Race 4 - 12:53pm AEDT
Group
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Resonator has won both his starts so far this prep in NSW which has earned him a trip north to Queensland.
The son of Brazen Beau beat home Political Debate by 2.86 lengths at Canterbury and that horse ran on really well for third in the Champagne Classic behind Swiss Exile (and is 4th emergency in this event).
He then narrowly beat the very smart Zou Tiger when stepping up in class at Gosford last time out and with natural improvement, he will be right in this year’s edition of the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes.
2 Units Resonator
Race 5 - 1:52pm AEDT
Group 1 Doomben Cup (2100m)
This is not a vintage edition of the Group 1 Doomben Cup and the likely answer is because Zaaki has scared his rivals away with his dominance.
The three time Group 1 winner was too good in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast and although he is probably not at his best on the bottomless heavy track, he is still too classy for this field.
I also don’t think the extra 100m that has been added to the race because it is being run at Eagle Farm helps his chances.
Polly Grey got to within a length of Zaaki on the Gold Coast and was closing quickly in the concluding stages and while Zaaki was entitled to knock up late having done a lot of the work early, I don’t want to be backing him at $1.50.
1 Unit Win 2 Units Place Polly Grey
Race 6 - 2:03pm AEDT
Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1400m)
Minsk Moment was cramped for room at the top of the straight two back at Eagle Farm but he showed an excellent turn of foot to win on the line.
He was again well back rounding for home last time out at Eagle Farm but made up plenty of ground late to finished second behind Ranch Hand.
1400m suits as does the drying track in the Fred Best Classic.
Startantes rocketed home from near last in the Group 2 Victory Stakes to get within 1.7 lengths of Count De Rupee and she had no luck when needed late behind Ranch Hand last start.
She is a very talented filly with a quick turn of foot and not only do I think she will be tough to beat here, she is a live chance in the Stradbroke if connections decide to go that way.
3 Units Startantes
1/2 E/W Minsk Moment
Race 7 - 2:38pm AEDT
Group 3 BRC Sprint (1300m)
Emerald Kingdom has been a beauty for Robert Heathcote and he has a really good winning strike rate of 12 wins from 20 career race starts.
The seven year old gelding weaved a passage through the field to win The Archer in Rockhampton last start and the better weather in Brisbane this week only favours him.
He represents good value in this season’s BRC Sprint.
1 Unit E/W Emerald Kingdom
Race 8 - 3:18pm AEDT
Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m)
I’ve been with Southern Stock right the way through this prep and it is impossible to jump off now.
The son of Tavistock finally gets out to his preferred distance and I loved the way he finished off the last 300m in the Rough Habit Plate.
The wide barrier in the Queensland Derby field is of some concern but I am confident this horse can take the necessary leap forward to be winning this race with some luck in running.
Dark Destroyer is a classy individual who is racing really well right at the minute and I don’t want to be losing on the race should he win.
1 Unit E/W Southern Stock
1 Unit Dark Destroyer
Race 9 - 3:58pm AEDT
Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m)
It’s easy to look very deep into this field searching for one at a big price but after doing exactly that I think the answer may be staring us right in the face.
The Doomben 10,000 form always stack up in this event and the two that finished in behind Mazu look the hardest to beat in this event.
Paulele has been a very consistent colt for Godolphin having won six of 15 overall and been unplaced just four times.
He showed an excellent turn of foot when asked for an effort in the 10,000 and looked the winner until Mazu kicked back on the inside.
Should get a nice run in transit from barrier eight in the Kingsford-Smith Cup field and is proven on all surfaces.
2 Units E/W Paulele
Race 10 - 4:34pm AEDT
Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m)
Juan Diva returned from a spell with a 1.5 length win at Caulfield over 1100m before heading north to Queensland.
The daughter of Snitzel took the short way home at Eagle Farm last start in the blistering rain and she made up considerable ground in the straight to finish fourth.
She should be ready to peak at her third run this campaign and has drawn well in barrier eight.
Salateen will benefit returning to her own sex in this event having finished third first up behind Soxagon on the Gold Coast.
She won a Listed race at Doomben on New Year’s Day over 1200m on a heavy 10 so the rain effected track is not an issue.
1 Unit E/W Juan Diva
1/2 Unit E/W Salateen