The Brisbane Racing Club will host a nine-race card this Easter Saturday.
The forecast for Saturday suggests Summer-like conditions with a sunny day and the temperature reaching 32 degrees Celsius. It will pay to monitor the situation regarding the storm that is predicted for Friday. The rail is out 5.5m the entire course.
We’ve provided our thoughts on each race below.
Race 1 - 11:48am
QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap (1350 METRES)
Spicy Legend (3) can provide Peter Robl with his first win following his move to the Gold Coast.
The Justify colt was doing his best work late when finishing 4.75 lengths sixth at Randwick-Kensington over 1200m. That suggests the rise to 1350m will suit.
There doesn’t look a great deal of speed which should see Ryan Wiggins settle in a forward position.
1 Unit – Spicy Legend (3)
Race 2 - 12:23pm
QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (2040 METRES)
Compass Rose (3) broke her maiden in fine style over 1600m at Eagle Farm two starts back.
The Tony Gollan-trained filly cost herself victory last start when hanging out badly in the concluding stages, again over 1600m at Eagle Farm. She was also found to be suffering from heat stress following the run so there was plenty of merit to it.
The rise to 2040m looks well within her capabilities and the blinkers going on for the first time should help.
1 Unit – Compass Rose (3)
Race 3 - 12:58pm
BENCHMARK 78 Handicap (2040 METRES)
Pharoah’s Reign (3) ventures north to Queensland in good form. She survived a protest to dead-heat first-up at Wyong over 1350m before being thrown in the deep end at Flemington in the Group 3 Matron Stakes.
The Richard and Will Freedman-trained four-year-old then went to Hawkesbury last start and won with ease over 1800m.
This looks a good race for her to continue her winning ways. Ben Thompson can take advantage of a lack of speed and dictate terms.
1 Unit – Pharoah’s Reign (3)
Race 4 - 1:33pm
BENCHMARK 85 Handicap (1640 METRES)
Swanston (8) wasn’t a great watch last start if you backed the Grafton galloper. The Greg Kilner-trained five-year-old raced three-wide the trip at Doomben over 1350m but still had the audacity to pick up strongly late to finish 2.1 lengths fifth to Patton.
The Smart Missile gelding is on the quick back-up. He has a history of racing well under these circumstances including two years ago when going from 1400m to 1615m and winning. He won his only other previous start over the course and distance.
Senior jockey Taylor Marshall replaces apprentice Melea Castle and should be able to settle in a prominent position.
1 Unit Each Way – Swanston (8)
Race 5 - 2:08pm
Class 3 Plate (1640 METRES)
Sea Ripple (12) suffered endless amounts of bad luck in the early stages of this preparation before breaking through for a well-deserved win two starts back over this course and distance.
The Chris Munce-trained mare proved it was no fluke by leading and dashing clear to win by 2.55 lengths, again over this course and distance.
She draws beautifully in barrier 1 which should see Kyle Wilson-Taylor go forward and give them something to chase. The daughter of Sebring can continue her good form and remain undefeated over this course and distance.
1 Unit Each Way – Sea Ripple (12)
Race 6 - 2:47pm
QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1050 METRES)
‘The Rocky Rocket’ Chinny Boom (2) resumes here on the back of an easy 8.75 lengths trial win where he didn’t get out of second gear.
The Clinton Taylor-trained filly could be undefeated in her six starts if not for a whisker second to Stroll in Listed Mode Plate in December where she lost no admirers. She looks well placed over the 1050m at Doomben given she’s won all five starts over the trip.
From barrier 1, Ben Thompson can drive forward and either lead or box seat. Either way, she’ll get the run of the race.
3 Units – Chinny Boom (2)
Race 7 - 3:27pm
BENCHMARK 75 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Amore Veloce (15) resumes here looking to keep her unbeaten first-up record intact.
The Rob Heathcote-trained four-year-old mare warmed up for this with a really nice trial win where she led and cruised to the line. She kicked off last campaign with an on-pace win at the Sunshine Coast over 1200m. She then ran well for a close third at Eagle Farm before having issues last start.
Mark Du Plessis takes the ride and has been combining well with Heathcote’s horses. The pair should be able to settle in a prominent position.
1 Unit Each Way – Amore Veloce (15)
Race 8 - 4:07pm
OPEN QUALITY Handicap (1350 METRES)
Hilal (1) should be reaching peak fitness at his third run for Tony Gollan. He was ordinary first-up but hit back hard last start over 1200m at Eagle Farm.
He settled handy before hitting the line hard despite running about to finish a head second to The Big Goodbye. The son of Fastnet Rock was strong through the line and was actually in front past the post.
That suggests the rise to 1350m now suits. He’s drawn a touch awkwardly but there doesn’t look to be a great deal of early speed which should see Jimmy Orman go forward.
1 Unit – Hilal (1)
Race 9 - 4:43pm
Class 6 Plate (1350 METRES)
Astero (5) makes the trek north as a horse in great form. After finding the line strongly to finish runner-up in back-to-back races, the Matt Smith-trained gelding broke through in emphatic style last start.
The five-year-old burst into the clear just after straightening to run away for a 1.91 length win. The way he has been finding the line, the rise to 1350m looks ideal.
Smith has a good record when he brings horses to Brisbane. There isn’t a lot of speed drawn to Astero’s inside so he should find himself in a good position during the run.
1 Unit – Astero (5)