2024 Queensland Jewel Day Preview 

The $2 million QTIS Jewel Raceday returns to Aquis Park Gold Coast this Saturday where Queensland bred horses will take centre stage.  

The challenging ten-race card is highlighted by the $500,000 2YO QTIS Jewel and the $500,000 3YO QTIS Jewel.   

We’ve provided our best bets in each race below! 

This is a seriously tough way to start the Gold Coast meeting and it would not surprise if a rank outsider saluted. 

I’m going with the Bryan Dais-trained Flash Prince (5) who has been building to a win. 

The four-year-old gelding worked home well when finishing third by 0.7L over 2020m at Doomben in a significantly stronger grade race last start. 

Two starts back he did well to finish second on a bottomless Sunshine Coast track over this distance. 

He should be at peak fitness now and can fight out the finish if the breaks go his way in the straight. 

1 Unit Each Way – Flash Prince (5)   

Goldeel (12) has improved with racing throughout this preparation and can continue her upward trajectory. 

The Tony and Maddy Sears-trained Dundeel mare was picked off in the shadows of the post when finishing third over 1350m at Doomben two starts ago.  

Last start it all came together when she rose to 1640m at Doomben and stormed home for a half-length win.  

She won her only previous start at the track and maps to get a lovely run for Angela Jones with the light weight. 

1 Unit Each Way – Goldeel (12) 

Whisky Dream (11) is racing in a purple patch of form and is looking for his fourth win in a row. 

The Kevin Kemp-trained gelding has stepped up through the grades nicely, winning his maiden three starts back before proving too strong despite working early to find the front over 1690m at Ipswich. 

He needs to climb another step of the ladder, but he drops significantly in weight and will carry just 54kg after Cejay Graham’s claim. 

From barrier 7 he should lob into a prominent position in running.  

1 Unit Each Way – Whisky Dream (11)  

Daytona Bay (1) has been racing well since joining Kelly Schweida’s stable and finally draws a decent barrier. 

The five-year-old gelding found the line strongly first-up to finish second over 1200m at Eagle Farm before leading all the way over 1400m at headquarters to win by a length.  

Last start he stepped up to a mile at Doomben and ran well but just couldn’t catch Sea Raider who was advantaged by a favourable race shape. 

He should be at peak fitness now and will enjoy the rise to 1800m which is a distance he won over at Flemington. 

3 Units – Daytona Bay (1)  

Plundering (1) is a consistent galloper who has only been out of the top three on three occasions in 15 starts. 

Following two placings in stronger races at Randwick, the Annabel Neasham-trained son of Shooting To Win returned to Queensland where nothing went right before and during the race over 1200m at Doomben. 

I’m prepared to put a line through that run as he bounced back last start when running on strongly to finish second to Millane by a neck over 1200m at Eagle Farm. 

He won his only previous race over this course and distance when loving the wet conditions at his second race start. 

1 Unit Each Way – Plundering (1) 

Boom Torque (3) endured a tough run two starts back but bounced back to winning form last start over 1350m at Doomben. 

The Matt Dunn-trained gelding enjoyed a nice run just behind the leaders before working to the line strongly to win by just under a length.  

He returns to the Gold Coast where he was brilliant three starts back when winning the Magic Millions QTIS race. 

Jimmy Orman has won four of six rides on him and should be able to settle in a prominent position. 

1 Unit – Boom Torque (3)  

Chinny Boom (3) was last seen running a great race to finish third to Boom Torque in the Magic Millions QTIS race. 

The Rockhampton sprinter opened this campaign with a 5.3 length win on her home deck before finishing just under a length second to Lady Laguna in the Listed Nudgee Stakes second-up. 

She races well fresh and given it’s been eight weeks since her Magic Millions run, she has had a trial where she looked slick winning under double wraps.  

She maps to get the run of the race for Justin Stanley. 

3 Units – Chinny Boom (3)   

Estrondo (6) is the least experienced runner in the QTIS 2YO Jewel with just the one race start but it did result in a win.  

The Rob Heathcote-trained Spirit Of Boom colt worked early from a wide gate to settle outside the lead when debuting at the Sunshine Coast over 1200m. 

He let down powerfully in the heavy conditions to take the lead in the straight before condition gave out late to cut the margin of his win to half a length. 

He’ll strip fitter second-up and should land in a forward position for Kyle Wilson-Taylor. 

1 Unit Each Way – Estrondo (6)  

Highbar (5) is yet to run a bad race in his five start career, boasting three wins and two placings. 

The Josh King-trained son of Spieth impressed two starts ago when despite sitting three deep outside the lead in the run, he powered home to win at the Sunshine Coast over 1000m by 1.8 lengths. 

In the QTIS 3YO Jewel Prelude last start, he found himself three deep for the first half of the race before Mark Du Plessis eased him back and slotted in the second pair. 

Despite that he still found the line strongly to finish second by 1.8 lengths with the winner enjoying a cleaner journey to the winning post. 

He won his only previous start over this distance and if he gets luck in running, he’ll be fighting out the finish. 

1 Unit Each Way – Highbar (5)   

Muschialli (2) warmed up for his return from a 26-week break with a nice trial where he worked home nicely down the outside. 

The Tony Gollan-trained gelding was last seen easily winning over 1110m at Doomben. 

He drew barrier 1 that day with the jockey showing what a positive ride could do and I think we’ll see similar tactics here from the inside gate. 

He’s won two of four first-up races including last preparation over a similar distance at Doomben. 

1 Unit Each Way – Muschialli (2)