The 2024/25 Queensland Summer Racing Carnival rolls on this Saturday at Eagle Farm with the running of Ladbrokes Grand Prix Stakes Day.
Ten races will be run and won with the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes, Listed Gold Edition Plate and Lough Neagh Stakes the highlights.
We’ve run the rule over the form and provided our top selections in each race.
Bedford Square (1) is deep into her preparation but shows no signs of having had enough.
The Jack Bruce-trained mare wasn’t suited by a slow speed last start when settling towards the tail over this distance at Doomben but let down strongly to win comfortably by 1.8 lengths.
That followed back-to-back placings over 2400m at this track.
She will appreciate the drop in class but does rise in weight so Emily Lang’s 2kg claim comes in handy.
1 Unit Each Way – Bedford Square (1)
Aerial Dancer (7) has been in terrific form this preparation with three wins from five starts.
The Matt Hoysted-trained mare won first-up before two luckless runs at Doomben but has certainly bounced back in a big way.
Two starts back she let down powerfully to win over this course and distance by 1.5 lengths before going to the Sunshine Coast last start where she took bad luck out of the equation to lead all the way on the heavy track.
She draws beautifully for Ronnie Stewart who will settle either in the lead or handy.
1 Unit – Aerial Dancer (7)
Cherry Rose (7) had been racing in magnificent fashion in Central Queensland with four wins from six starts prior to coming to town last start.
One of those victories for the Jamie McConachey-trained mare came first-up when she put them away easily at Yeppoon over 1000m.
It was hard not to be impressed with what she did last start over 1110m at Doomben when powering to the line from the back to win by 2.3 lengths.
She remains in the same class and given how strong through the line she was, the rise in distance will suit third-up.
2 Units – Cherry Rose (7)
Find Your Own (9) returns to the races for the first time since leading all the way over this course and distance.
The form from that race has been excellent with the second horse, The Inflictor, winning The Gateway on Saturday and Payline, who was third, subsequently winning.
The Scott Morrisey-trained gelding has won two from two over this course and distance and looks ready for a bold first-up performance following a 4.5 length trial win where he cruised around.
Noel Callow, who has been in the saddle for his past two wins, can go forward and give them something to catch.
1 Unit – Find Your Own (9)
Golden Decade (1) was last seen overcoming a wide barrier and a big weight to win over 1350m at Ipswich.
The Matt Dunn-trained gelding kicked off last preparation with a strong win over 1300m at this track and he looks set for another bold first-up showing given how good he looked in two recent trials.
While he needs to carry the top weight of 60kg, he actually gets in well given the set weight conditions of the race.
Barrier 2 gives Andrew Mallyon options given the likely strong speed in the race.
1 Unit Each Way – Golden Decade (1)
She Ours (8) turned in an eye-catching performance last start when resuming in the Listed Mode Stakes on a Heavy 10 at Doomben.
The Lawrie Mayfield-Smith-trained daughter of Merchant Navy raced three-deep and back after drawing wide yet still had the audacity to finish off powerfully in the quickest final 600m of the race to finish 3.3 lengths third.
She’ll have come on since that run and I suspect she’ll settle closer in the run with increased fitness second-up.
1 Unit Each Way – She Ours (8)
Moon Sweeper (5) has started his career in great fashion with two wins from his three races.
The Matt Dunn-trained gelding won on debut at Lismore before a wide barrier put pay to his winning chances second-up at the Sunshine Coast.
He was heavily backed last start when rising to this 1630m at Doomben and he didn’t let his supporters down, striding clear late to win in dominant fashion by 2.7 lengths.
He’s at peak fitness and drawn to get the run of the race.
2 Units – Moon Sweeper (5)
Abounding (10) returned in super fashion in the Listed Tattersall’s Classic last start at Doomben.
The Rob Heathcote-trained mare with the distinctive baldy face, let down strongly through the ruck to win by just over half a length.
She’ll strip fitter second-up and finished close thirds in both her previous races over this course and distance in the G2 Dane Ripper Stakes and the Listed Oxlade Stakes.
There looks to be good speed in the race which will aid her chances.
2 Units – Abounding (10)
This looks like a real lottery, so we’ll be doing well if we find the winner!
Boom Shot (6) was luckless last start when held up badly in the straight over 2.2 lengths fifth over 1200m at Doomben.
It was a similar story second-up for the Tony Gollan-trained gelding when after struggling for clear air, he let down strongly to finish 1.4 lengths fourth at Doomben.
He will be at peak fitness fourth-up and will enjoy the rise in trip given he finish a length second over this course and distance the only previous time he raced over it.
1 Unit Each Way – Boom Shot (6)
Exotique Miss (11) has finished in the placings in four of her five starts this preparation and looks close to a win.
The Michael Nolan-trained mare led over 2030m at Doomben last start and fought gamely but couldn’t hold off the red-hot Kerchak, finishing second.
Two starts back she found the line well over 1600m at the Sunshine Coast despite being in the inferior going to finish just under a length second.
With just 52kg on her back, she can give plenty of cheek in front and hopefully get the cash.
1 Unit – Exotique Miss (11)