The Queensland Summer Racing Carnival rolls on this Saturday at Doomben for George Moore Stakes Day.
Highlights on the ten-race card include the Group 3 Ladbrokes George Moore Stakes, the Listed Mode Stakes and Phelan Ready Plate.
The country also comes to the city for the Country Cups and the Country Stampede Finals.
Unfortunately, showers are forecast for most of the week in Brisbane which will likely see racing take place on a rain-affected surface.
Our full George Moore Stakes Day preview can be found below.
Race 1 - 1:08PM AEDT
BENCHMARK 85 Handicap (1350 METRES)
Metalart (7) was scratched from a winnable race on Wednesday here in preference of this where he draws beautifully.
The Kelly Schweida-trained son of Better Than Ready worked early last start over this course and distance from the outside barrier to find the front before fighting strongly to finish a length second.
He’s at peak fitness now and did win fourth-up last preparation.
Champion jockey Michael Rodd is back in the saddle and is undefeated in four previous rides on him.
2 Units – Metalart (7)
Race 2 - 1:53PM AEDT
OPEN Handicap (2030 METRES)
Kerchak (2) steps up to this distance for the first time but looks more than capable of running it out strongly.
The Ben Ahrens-trained son of Tarzino drew the outside barrier last in the Mooloolaba Cup, as he does here, and despite enduring a three-wide run he let down powerfully to win easily by 1.5 lengths.
Two starts back he was a dominant 2.8 length winner over 1805m at Eagle Farm.
Cody Collis is undefeated on him and his 2kg claim comes in handy.
1 Unit – Kerchak (2)
Race 3 - 2:28PM AEDT
COUNTRY STAMPEDE FINAL (1110 METRES)
The Hanger Cat (3) has taken to Queensland country racing like a duck to water.
The Brett Cavanough-trained gelding qualified for the Country Stampede Final two weeks ago when storming home to win the Roma qualifier over 1000m.
That was his eighth win from his past 11 starts so there is no questioning his red-hot form.
Top jockey Jimmy Orman is a key booking and can give him a great run from barrier 3.
1 Unit – The Hanger Cat (3)
Race 4 - 3:03PM AEDT
LISTED PHELAN READY 2YO Plate (1110 METRES)
Hi Barbie (10) is a well-bred filly making her debut for Tony Gollan.
The daughter of I Am Invincible has had two trials with the most recent producing an impressive piece of work where she led over 1000m here before putting seven lengths on her rivals in the straight with ease.
Angela Jones has been aboard in both trials and should be able to settle in a prominent position.
1 Unit – Hi Barbie (10)
Race 5 - 3:38PM AEDT
COUNTRY CUPS CHALLENGE FINAL (1630 METRES)
Starsonic (2) enters the Country Cups Challenge Final in terrific form having won the Home Hill Qualifier last start.
The Mark Cochrane-trained gelding went straight to the front and gave nothing else a chance, dashing strongly to win the 1460m race by two lengths.
Three starts back he bolted in by 10 lengths to win the Twin Hills Cup.
He hasn’t raced over this distance for some time, but he does boast a good record of two wins and a third from three starts over it.
Queensland’s best jockey Jimmy Orman takes the ride and will drive forward to either lead or settle in a prominent position.
1 Unit – Starsonic (2)
Race 6 - 4:17PM AEDT
Class 6 Handicap (1630 METRES)
Brookhaven (2) returned in great order over 1400m at Eagle Farm two starts ago where despite not having the clearest path in the straight, he let down strongly to finish a length second.
The Chris & Corey Munce-trained son of Spieth settled last over 1600m after drawing an outside barrier in the Mooloolaba Cup last start before running on strongly in the quickest final 600m of the race to finish two lengths third.
He’ll strip fitter third-up and is a previous winner over the course and distance.
G1 winning jockey Damien Thornton replaces the apprentice.
1 Unit Each Way – Brookhaven (2)
Race 7 - 4:53PM AEDT
LISTED MODE STAKES (1200 METRES)
Overfull (2) returns to Queensland following a terrific Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival campaign.
The Peter Robl-trained filly was eased out of the race with EIPH first-up but bounced back second-up when finishing 1.5 lengths second over 1000m at Moonee Valley.
She produced a brilliant performance last start in the Schweppervescence Plate over 1000m down the Flemington straight where she raced on speed and fought bravely for a length third.
She’s ideally drawn in barrier 1 and should enjoy a gun run for Jag Guthmann-Chester.
1 Unit Each Way – Overfull (2)
Race 8 - 5:32PM AEDT
G3 LADBROKES GEORGE MOORE STAKES (1200 METRES)
Hidden Wealth (7) suffered from poor recovery when resuming last preparation over 1000m at Eagle Farm but still ran well to finish 2.2 lengths fifth.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding bounced back second-up when leading all the way to win the Listed Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba.
That was two months ago and he returns here on the back of an impressive trial where he cruised around in front for a six length win in slick time.
Kyle Wilson-Taylor can use his speed and drive forward and cross.
1 Unit – Hidden Wealth (7)
Race 9 - 6:12PM AEDT
PIERATA PLATE (1200 METRES)
Give Me Space (4) was backed as if unbeatable first-up at Eagle Farm and so it turned out with the Barry Lockwood-trained gelding bolting in by 4.8 lengths.
The son of Cosmic Force handled the rise from Maiden company to an Open 3YO Handicap with aplomb last start but it wasn’t smooth sailing.
He was badly held up and had to fight to get clear, but once he did, he exploded to the line to win by a neck.
He’s a promising galloper that now gets Jimmy Orman in the saddle and will be advantaged by the strong speed.
2 Units – Give Me Space (4)
Race 10 - 6:48PM AEDT
LADBROKES CITY TO SURF QTIS 3YO (1630 METRES)
This is a tough way to end the day at Doomben so I’m going with the consistent Apuntar (2).
The Kevin Kemp-trained gelding settled closer than usual last start over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast and it paid dividends with him proving too strong for a 1.5 length win.
Prior to that he won over 1400m at Eagle Farm three starts back before finishing second over 1500m at that track.
There doesn’t look to be a great deal of speed which should see Taylor Marshall settle handy.
1 Unit – Apuntar (2)