While it’s Golden Slipper Day in Sydney and that understandably has the racing world’s attention, as a Queensland racing aficionado it’s my duty to remind you that there’s also winners to be found in Brisbane this Saturday and the best place to start trying to find them is in my Eagle Farm preview.
Nine races are scheduled to be run and won on a track with the rail out 6.5m the entire course and a Soft racing surface thanks to showers throughout the end of the week
My Eagle Farm best bet comes up in race 2 so hopefully we can build a bank early and play from in front.
Continue reading to find out all my Eagle Farm selections.
Race 1 - 1:13pm AEDT
BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (1830 METRES)
Free Carry (1) has returned this preparation in fine style with back-to-back wins and can get our Eagle Farm preview off to the right start.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding defied a big price when resuming over 1350m at Ipswich to lead and draw clear for a 1.6 length win.
He then overcame the outside gate and 61kg to power home and win by just under a length over 1650m at Doomben last start.
The rise in distance should suit with increased fitness third-up and this race looks no harder than what faced last time out.
1 Unit – Free Carry (1)
Race 2 - 1:48pm AEDT
BENCHMARK 90 Handicap (2200 METRES)
Arizona Dreaming (6) is racing in great form and is looking for his third win in a row.
The Maureen Harry-trained gelding controlled proceedings beautifully two starts back over 2200m at Doomben to win by just under a length.
He backed that up last start when showing plenty of fight to fend off subsequent winner El Jasor to win over this course and distance.
There doesn’t look to be a great deal of speed in the race which should see Damien Thornton either lead or box seat.
1 Unit – Arizona Dreaming (6)
Race 3 - 2:23pm AEDT
Class 1 Plate (1400 METRES)
Jacob’s Ladder (6) ventures north from Sydney and looks well placed in this Class 1 Plate.
The John Thompson-trained son of Written By had finished close thirds in his first two starts with four subsequent winners including him coming from his second race.
Last start he was a well-supported favourite over 1300m at Canberra on Cup Day and didn’t let his supporters down, finishing strongly to win by just under a length.
He’s drawn a touch sticky here, but Bailey Wheeler should be able to find a forward position.
1 Unit – Jacob’s Ladder (6)
Race 4 - 2:58pm AEDT
OPEN Handicap (1600 METRES)
Queensland’s leading trainer Tony Gollan has a stranglehold on this Open Handicap with four of the seven runners.
I wouldn’t put it past ‘Big Tone’ to claim the first four here and I’m with one of his Rising Pacific (2) on top.
The son of Preferment has won two of his past three starts this preparation including last time out when producing a powerful finish to win over this course and distance by 1.7 lengths.
Andrew Mallyon can play a stalking role in the small field before letting his mount loose in the straight.
1 Unit – Rising Pacific (2)
Race 5 - 3:33pm AEDT
Class 6 Plate (1000 METRES)
Blue Spinel (4) looks close to a win following two very good efforts over this course and distance.
The Tony Gollan-trained Hellbent mare endured a wide run two starts back but still found the line well to finish a length third before again not being helped by a wide gate but still charging home to finish just over half a length third.
She’s at peak fitness now and looks hard to beat now that Ouroboros has been scratched.
Angela Jones has a great record on her and she should be able to settle just off what looks a hot speed.
1 Unit – Blue Spinel (4)
Race 6 - 4:08pm AEDT
QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1000 METRES)
Speedy One (3) is looking to keep his unbeaten record intact as he lines up for start number four.
The Luke Pepper-trained gelding led all the way when resuming over 1000m at Sapphire Coast.
He wears the same colours as Takeover Target and produced a similarly tough effort to the Canberra sprinting sensation last start to lead and fend off his rivals to win by just over a half-length at Albury.
There looks to be an abundance of speed in the race which so him drawing barrier 1 is gold.
1 Unit – Speedy One (3)
Race 7 - 4:47pm AEDT
Fillies and Mares BENCHMARK 78 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Anavinci (6) looks well placed here given she brings solid Sydney form in stronger races.
The Neasham & Archibald-trained I Am Invincible mare was last seen working to the line well to finish 4.3 lengths third to Imperial Force who franked the form by winning again at Wyong on Wednesday.
The rise to 1200m looks ideal and she did win the Listed Gosford Guineas over it prior to a massive break.
Angela Jones can settle in a prominent position and hopefully her class will do the rest.
1 Unit – Anavinci (6)
Race 8 - 5:27pm AEDT
Colts, Geldings & Entires BENCHMARK 78 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Ouroboros (8) impressed in his first start for Matt Hoysted after previously racing in Victoria.
The son of Harry Angel controlled proceedings in front before drawing away to win over 1000m here by 1.5 lengths.
He rises in class, but he did finish a nose second in the G3 Vain Stakes earlier in his career.
He was a year between runs so will have come big time and over 1200m Boris Thornton should be able to dictate the race.
Hoysted’s decision to scratch from an earlier race, gives me confidence that this guy is one of the better bets in my Eagle Farm preview.
2 Units – Ouroboros (8)
Race 9 - 6:10pm AEDT
VALE ASH PEDLER BENCHMARK 85 Handicap (1400 METRES)
Warby (5) returned in good order last start over this course and distance where he worked to the line well to finish a length fourth to Termagant.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding will appreciate the rise to 1400m given he has won two of five starts over the course and distance.
Both those wins have come when he was having his second run back from a spell.
Ryan Maloney is back in the saddle and has a terrific association with him having won three and place second twice from five rides.
2 Units – Warby (5)