The Brisbane Racing Club will host a nine-race metropolitan card this Saturday.
The rail is in the true position, and we should be racing on a good surface with mostly fine weather forecast.
Our top selections for the meeting can be found below.
Race 1 - 1:02pm AEDT
QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap (1110 METRES)
Rupert’s House (4) ventures north for Bjorn Baker to make his debut.
The son of Winning Rupert was gelded after his last preparation, and it appears to have worked wonders for him. He has won two trials leading into this.
The most recent trial saw him show good speed to lead before dashing clear to win by nearly three-lengths. That early speed will come in handy here as Jimmy Orman will need to use it to cross from the awkward gate.
1 unit – Rupert’s House (4)
Race 2 - 1:38pm AEDT
No Metro Wins Handicap (2000 METRES)
Ashgrove (1) continues to race in great form after winning a BM70 at Eagle three starts ago.
Since then, the Tony Gollan-trained has finished a close second in The Wave before going down by the narrowest of margins to Military Gambler over this course and distance last start. Jockey Ryan Maloney protested against Military Gambler but was unsuccessful.
The son of Dundeel has the top weight and needs to overcome a tricky draw but he brings the best form into the race.
1 unit – Ashgrove (1)
Race 3 - 2:13pm AEDT
Class 3 Handicap (1600 METRES)
Tidal Creek (1) had been racing well in Sydney for Annabel Neasham prior to coming north last start.
The Snitzel gelding has taken to life at Neasham’s Eagle Farm stable well if his win over this course and distance last time out is anything to go by. He went forward and proved too strong in the run home winning by 2.7 lengths.
He stays at the same weight with Angela Jones in the saddle and should settle on speed before dashing clear in the run home.
2 units – Tidal Creek (1)
Race 4 - 2:52pm AEDT
QTIS Class 6 Plate (1600 METRES)
Major Artie (3) was nailed on the line by Banju two starts back over 1500m at Rosehill. Banju won the Drinkwise Mile last Saturday in impressive fashion to frank the form.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained five-year-old fought valiantly to finish third to Bold Mac last start. He now steps up to 1600m which is a distance he is undefeated over in three starts.
He’ll be able to control the speed from in front and is well weighted under set weight conditions. It’s a sign of intent from the Waterhouse and Bott to sign Queensland’s top jockey Jimmy Orman to ride.
2 units – Major Artie (3)
Race 5 - 3:32pm AEDT
Fillies and Mares BENCHMARK 80 Handicap (1350 METRES)
Petunia (5) has come back this preparation in terrific form. The Kelly Schweida-trained mare caused a boilover at big odds first-up before winning at Eagle Farm over 1400m two starts back.
Last start the daughter of Sebring ran on strongly to finish fourth to Rock Amore over this course and distance. She was only 1.19 lengths behind the winner and around half a length from Tilianam.
She now meets Tilianam 3.5kg better at the weights. There should be good speed which will help her rocket home.
1 unit – Petunia (5)
Race 6 - 4:12pm AEDT
QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1200 METRES)
Helluva Barty (5) is a gelding from the Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted stable that has an abundance of ability.
That was evident last start when the son of Hellbent broke his maiden status in emphatic style. He settled back and came with a powerful finish, clocking one of the quickest last 400m times of the meeting to win over this course and distance by 3.25 lengths.
He draws horribly here so Brodie Loy will need to produce a 10 out of 10 ride. However, there looks to be plenty of speed in the race which hopefully can see Loy slide across and find a spot. With an ounce of luck, there can be a Barty party in the winner’s enclosure.
1 unit – Helluva Barty (5)
Race 7 - 4:52pm AEDT
BENCHMARK 75 Handicap (1110 METRES)
Deepour (15) has been racing well since joining Adam Campton’s Gold Coast stable. He’s improved with each run he’s had.
Last start he settled at the back of the small field at the Sunshine Coast before finishing powerfully to win easily by 2.8 lengths over 1000m. His closing 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m were the quickest of the day.
There looks to be good speed here which suits. Elione Chaves can settle just off the speed from barrier 4 before letting rip in the straight.
1 unit – Deepour (15)
Race 8 - 5:32pm AEDT
OPEN Handicap (1200 METRES)
The Big Goodbye (9) is one of the toughest horses around and he displayed all his courage two starts back when winning here over this distance.
The Rob Heathcote-trained gelding dropped back to 1110m last start where he was caught deep. He had a hard run but that trip is too short for him. He’ll appreciate stepping back up to 1200m which is his pet distance.
He will carry just 52kg with Angela Jones’ claim and looks to be able to dictate the speed. If that’s the case, he’ll be very hard to get past in the straight.
2 units – The Big Goodbye (9)
Race 9 - 6:12pm AEDT
Colts, Geldings and Entires BENCHMARK 80 Handicap (1350 METRES)
Rathlin (8) has never been a first-up horse but he changed that thinking with a super effort when resuming with a close second to Rubamos at Toowoomba last preparation.
The O’Dea Hoysted gelding went on to finish third again to Rubamos over 1350m before another third, this time at the Gold Coast.
He races well here and has the early speed to find a forward position.
2 units – Rathlin (8)