The Brisbane Winter Carnival is really heating up now as Eagle Farm is set host its first major meeting of the year.
Not one but two Group One events will be run and won this Satruday with the Queensland Derby and Kingsford Smith Cup to headline a brilliant nine race program.
As a warm favourite for the Derby, Autumn Angel will look to become the first filly to take out the three year old staying feature since Dariana was successful back in 2010.
Run over 1300m, the Kingsford Smith Cup will see a hot field line up, as last year’s winner Think About It returns hoping to retain his crown, but can he upstage I Wish I Win and Bella Nipotina, who are in hot form after quinellaing the Ladbrokes Doomben 10000 a fortnight ago?
Both features are very open affairs and we’ve had a good, hard look at all nine events on the program and our thoughts can be found below.
The track is currently rated a soft 5 but with rain expected on Friday and Saturday, we could be looking at a downgrade.
Race 1 - 11:43am AEST
THE STAR BM85 HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
Poison Chalice is building a very tidy record.
A winner of four of his nine starts, he progressing through the grades nicely and looks to have plenty of upside.
He resumed with an eye catching run at Flemington in the Listed Straight Six a fortnight ago, charging through late to grab fourth, just missing the place.
A son of Savabeel, he will have taken plenty of benefit from that run and will appreciate getting out to the mile here.
Michael Dee goes aboard and the wide gate shouldn’t prove too much of a hindrance as he does possess that sharp turn of foot, so he can get back and be doing his best work late.
1 unit – POISON CHALICE
Race 2 - 12:18am AEST
HKJC BM78 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
Party For One drops back in grade after competing at stakes level.
The Rubick mare looked to be struggling in the Hareeba Stakes when resuming off an eight week let up but really found the line well over the final 200m once she balanced up.
Last start, she contested the Listed Silk Stocking at the Sunshine Coast but failed to let down in the very heavy conditions.
She strips fitter, she’ll find this much easier than what she’s been contesting and with any luck from the tricky draw, she should be right in this.
1 unit – PARTY FOR ONE
Race 3 - 12:53pm AEST
LIVING TURF PREMIER'S CUP GROUP 3 (2400 METRES)
Hezashocka is on the quick back up after contesting the Doomben Cup last Saturday.
The former Kiwi broke a long run of outs two starts back when taking out the Listed Gosford Cup and he certainly wasn’t disgraced last time at the elite level, when switching back to the inside to finish less than three lengths from Bois D’Argent.
He’ll appreciate the drop back in grade and will carry 2kgs less under the race conditions.
The rise to 2400m will suit and he’s drawn to receive all the favours from gate three under Jamie Kah, who goes onboard for the Price / Kent team.
1 unit – HEZASHOCKA
Race 4 - 1:28pm AEST
SKY RACING LORD MAYOR'S CUP GROUP 3 (1800 METRES)
Shock ‘Em Ova could not have been more impressive when resuming over 1400m at Caulfield three weeks ago.
After settling back at the tail, the son of Shocking swooped around the field at the point of the turn and stormed down to outside to score easily.
Only lightly raced, he has shown plenty of talent from day one and has worked though his grades with relative ease.
He boasts a terrific second up record, and with a 650m jump out since that first up outing, he looks ready for the 1800m at his second run back.
Craig Williams knows him well and goes back in the saddle for Cranbourne trainer Alex Rae.
1 unit – SHOCK ‘EM OVA
Race 5 - 2:03pm AEST
AQUIS STALLIONS SIRES' PRODUCE STAKES 2YO GROUP 2 (1400 METRES)
Broadsiding has made a sharp rise through the grades and brings the strongest CV into this race, with a group one win already to his name.
The Godolphin galloper made his debut back in February where he was narrowly beaten in a Ballarat maiden, he then recorded his first black type placing at his third start when finishing third in the Group Three Ballieu.
Back to back wins followed, as he saluted in the Listed Fernhill stakes before proving too strong in the Group One Champagne Stakes.
Given a six week freshen up, he’s since trialled well and the drop to 1400m looks ideal.
He does have the wide draw to contend with but gets Jamie Kah in the saddle and he’ll be doing his best work late.
1 unit – BROADSIDING
Race 6 - 2:38pm AEST
MULLINS LAWYERS FRED BEST CLASSIC 3YO SW GROUP 3(1400 METRES)
Stefi Magnetica drops back in grade after a terrific performance in the Ladbrokes Doomben 10000.
The daughter of All Too Hard was shuffled back to last and charged through late along the inside to finish only 1.5 lengths off Bella Nipotina.
Prepared by Bjorn Baker, the filly has really come of age in recent months, bouncing from a BM58 win at Orange to a narrow defeat in the Group One Surround Stakes.
The rise to 1400m will certainly suit and barrier two will see her settle within striking distance under Tommy Berry.
1 unit – STEFI MAGNETICA
Race 7 - 3:13pm AEST
EVA AIR KINGSFORD SMITH CUP WFA GROUP 1 (1300 METRES)
Bella Nipotina comes off a superb win in the Ladbrokes Doomben 10000.
Despite a slow getaway she enjoyed a lovely passage thorughout and proved too strong over the final part, relishing the soft 7 conditions.
It was a well deserved win for the Pride of Dubai mare, who has continued to race consistently at the top level.
She’s always thereabouts and just seems to find that little bit extra with some moisture in the ground.
In her 49 start career, she has only stepped out past 1200m on one occasion, which was in the $3m Winners Stakes back in November and she jumped out of the ground to take out the 1300m feature.
With rain expected Friday and Saturday, she’ll get conditions to suit and I think she can make it back to back group one wins.
Craig Williams has formed a great affinity with the mare and he’ll again do the steering for Ciaron Maher.
1 unit – BELLA NIPOTINA
Race 8 - 3:52pm AEST
LADBROKES QUEENSLAND DERBY 3YO SW GROUP 1 (2400 METRES)
Autumn Angel comes off a terrific performance in the Rough Habit Plate where she was powering home late over the 2000m and she looks primed for the mile and a half journey here.
Already a Group One winner, having taken out the Australian Oaks, she’s raced consistently throughout her ten start career and has continued to improve as she’s stepped out over more ground.
She’s hard fit, she handles all conditions and gets in beautifully here at the set weights.
From the inside she’s set to enjoy a cosy run under Mark Zahra, who goes back in the saddle for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.
1 unit – AUTUMN ANGEL
Race 9 - 4:28pm AEST
MAGIC MILLIONS HELEN COUGHLAN STAKES F&M LISTED (1200 METRES)
Coeur Volante resumes.
A winner of three of five starts, two of which have been at stakes level, she’s already established herself as a quality filly.
Sent for a break after recording her maiden win on the Hillside, the daughter of Proisir returned in the spring to salute in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes and then the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude before lining up in the Thousand Guineas, where she just didn’t quite see out a strong mile.
Given two jump outs, she looks to have returned in top order as she was strong to line in her most recent heat over 800m at Flemington.
Blake Shinn partnered her in all three runs last campaign, he’ll again do the steering and she’s sure to receive every chance from the good draw.
1 unit – COEUR VOLANTE