The Brisbane Racing Club will host the $2 million QTIS Jewel Raceday for the first time this Saturday at Doomben. Queensland bred horses will take centre stage across a nine-race card that is highlighted by the QTIS Jewels for two and three-year-olds.
We’ve provided our best bets in each race below!
Race 1 - 12:53pm AEDT
BENCHMARK 78 Handicap (1050 METRES)
Hold On Honey (6) resumed over this course and distance with a strong effort to finish second by a length. The Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted-trained gelding sat outside the lead and only fitness cost him the win.
He’ll strip fitter second-up and did win well over 1100m here when having his second run back last preparation.
From barrier 1, Boris Thornton will be able to go forward and lead. He looks well placed here.
2 units – Hold On Honey (6)
Race 2 - 1:33pm AEDT
MAGIC MILLIONS GOLD COAST PLATE (2000 METRES)
New South Wales visitor Navajo Peak (7) brings good form north for this staying test. The David Payne-trained gelding finished fourth to Lindemann first-up over 1400m at Rosehill. That horse ran a great race at its next start to finish second in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas.
Last start Navajo Peak fought bravely with 61kg and was strong through the line when getting within 0.4 of a length of Luvoir over 1600m. He won’t know himself dropping to 54kg.
The rise to 2000m suits third-up and he won his only other start over the trip. Ben Thompson can offset the outside gate to either lead or box seat.
1 unit – Navajo Peak (7)
Race 3 - 2:08pm AEDT
Class 6 Handicap (1600 METRES)
Secret Tales (10) weaved her way through traffic to finish off strongly and win over 1350m here second-up.
The O’Dea Hoysted-trained four-year-old mare follows a similar race plan to last preparation that saw her win second-up over 1350m at the Sunshine Coast before rising to this distance third-up and dominating with a 3.8 length win.
She gets in with just 52kg and with limited go forward horses in the race, Taylor Marshall can take advantage of the light weight and settle in a prominent position.
1 unit – Secret Tales (10)
Race 4 - 2:48pm AEDT
Class 3 Plate (1200 METRES)
Buying Time (4) bolted in by three-lengths when resuming over 1050m here before racing wide second-up.
The son of Deep Field, who wears the same colours as his O’Dea Hoysted stablemate Uncommon James, was no match for Situation Room but clearly beat the rest when finishing second over this course and distance last start.
He will be close to peak fitness fourth-up and maps to get a great run for regular Boris Thornton who replaces Taylor Marshall.
1 unit – Buying Time (4)
Race 5 - 3:28pm AEDT
THE GOLD JEWEL (1350 METRES)
Birriecart (9) finished fourth to Deepour by 3.62 lengths when resuming over 1200m at Eagle Farm.
The four-year-old gelding will appreciate returning to Doomben where he has won all four career starts. All three of his failures have come at Eagle Farm or the Gold Coast so I’m expecting an improved performance given he can get his toe in at Doomben.
He drops from 59kg to just 52kg with Ben Thompson in the saddle who should be able to take advantage of the light weight and settle in a forward position.
2 units – Birriecart (9)
Race 6 - 4:10pm AEDT
MILITARY ROSE PLATE (1110 METRES)
Tony Gollan’s mighty mare Isotope (1) returns to racing following a Spring Carnival campaign and is right up to the mark to fire fresh after several nice jump outs and a trial.
She is clearly the best performed horse in the race and is throw in at the weights under the Plate conditions. The Black Soil Bloodstock-owned mare loves Doomben having won three of four starts here.
The outside gate is a concern but I’m expecting the cream to rise to the top and her to be too good.
2 units – Isotope (1)
Race 7 - 4:53pm AEDT
QTIS TWO-YEARS-OLD JEWEL (1200 METRES)
Bjorn Baker brings Rupert’s House (4) back to Queensland looking to repeat the hit and run mission he successfully pulled off last month.
The son of Winning Rupert was forced to work to avoid being trapped wide when on debut here over 1110m. He proved a class above, defying the tough run to win comfortably by a length.
He has since had a tick over trial to keep him up to the mark. He maps to get a great run from barrier 3 for Jimmy Orman and I expect him to fight out the finish.
2 units each way – Rupert’s House (4)
Race 8 - 5:30pm AEDT
QTIS THREE-YEARS-OLD JEWEL (1200 METRES)
She’sgottheboom (11) won the QTIS Two-Years-Old Jewel last year and is looking to join The Odyssey as a winner of dual Jewels.
The Desleigh Forster-trained filly endured a torrid run first-up over 1110m here where she was forced to work early from the outside gate and then raced three-deep outside the lead. It was little wonder that she tired in the run home.
She won her only other previous second-up run so we can expect improvement here. Unlike last start, she draws to get a super run on speed from the inside gate. Jimmy Orman riding at 55kg is a good sign that she’s a top chance.
1 unit each way – She’sgottheboom (11)
Race 9 - 6:05pm AEDT
BENCHMARK 78 Handicap (1350 METRES)
Da Party Gal (15) didn’t have a lot go right when resuming over 1200m here. She was slow away and then was held up in the straight.
The Tony Gollan-trained four-year-old mare will strip fitter second-up and will enjoy the rise to 1350m. She has a terrific record over the trip but is undefeated in two starts over the course and distance.
There looks to be good speed in the race with such a big field and that will play into her hands. Watch for her storming home with just 53.5kg on her back after Angela Jones’ claim.
1 unit each way – Da Party Gal (15)