Looking for Saturday’s Best Bets? The Ladbrokes form analysts have you covered with the horses to back across the nation this weekend!
It’s the crown jewel in the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival each year, and we’re set for a terrific day of Group 1 racing on Stradbroke Day at Eagle Farm!
Further south, there are 10 winners to be found at Rosehill on Winter Cup Day, while we’re off and racing at Sandown in Victoria and Bunbury in Western Australia for Raconteur Stakes Day.
Saturday’s Previews
Saturday’s Best Bets Multi
Craig Sheppard
Saturday’s Best Bet – Eagle Farm Race 9 No. 1 Fawkner Park
Fawkner Park can send us home as winners on Stradbroke Handicap Day and win back-to-back Group 2 The Q22 titles.
The Annabel & Rob Archibald-trained gelding produced a devastating turn of foot in last year’s edition to brain his rivals including Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice by 3.8 lengths.
He has been building to something similar this preparation after chasing home the mighty Antino in his past two races when finishing second in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes and Group 1 Doomben Cup.
There’s no Antino here and he’s in peak condition so he should take a power of beating.
Best Roughie – Sandown Race 1 No. 10 Jesters Award ($51 at time of publish)
The opening race at Sandown is a perfect race to have a throw at the stumps.
These two-year-olds are mostly lightly raced or on debut and to top it off, they have come from all over with different form lines.
Jesters Award is the rank outsider of the field and comes from the New South Wales border, so isn’t here for a haircut.
She’s had a jump out and two trials leading into her debut and has shown good speed in winning her two most recent pieces of work.
From the good gate she should go forward and hopefully give a sight.
Ladbrokes J.J. Atkins Best Bet – Eagle Farm Race 6 No. 8 Hidden Achievement
Hidden Achievement ventures north from Sydney in good form and looks primed for the Group 1 Ladbrokes J.J. Atkins.
The Chris Waller-trained I Am Invincible colt was excellent two starts ago when winning over 1200m at Gosford with something in hand.
He was doing his best work late last start over 1300m at Rosehill where he ran through the line for a neck third.
Blinkers looked like they would improve him greatly and they go on here for the first time as does James McDonald who will give him an economical run.
Stradbroke Handicap Best Bet – Eagle Farm Race 8 No. 7 War Machine
I’ve been with War Machine every run this preparation and I don’t intend to jump off now that he’s reached his grand final, the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.
Sometimes we get so caught up trying to find an upset that we overlook the obvious choice.
I won’t be doing that with War Machine and I’m happy to stick with the favourite who gives me very similar vibes to Think About It when he won this race two years ago.
Unlike many of his rivals, everything has moved perfectly towards this target.
For instance, runners that come through the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup should be two weeks between runs but are now on the quick back-up.
The Lindsay Park gelding was unlucky not to win the Listed Hareeba Stakes first-up but made up for it with a strong win over 1400m at Caulfield second-up.
He was awesome last start in the Group 3 BRC Sprint when letting down powerfully and drawing clear late to win by 2.6 lengths.
While Tim Clark replaces the injured Blake Shinn, ‘TC’ is no slouch and will give his mount who is at peak fitness every chance.
Dane Ripper Stakes Best Bet – Eagle Farm Race 7 No. 4 Firestorm
Ryan, aka The Rizzler, requested a tip for The Q22 but with Fawkner Park being my best bet of the day, I thought I’d give you another feature race tip so I’m not just repeating myself.
Firestorm returns to the races for the first time since finishing tenth in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile.
The Chris Waller-trained mare flies fresh having won four of five first-up races including last preparation when she returned with a bang, storming home to win the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes over this distance.
She’s warmed up for the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes with two trials with the most recent producing a nice piece of work behind Private Eye.
There doesn’t look to be a great deal of speed in the race, but we get the services of James McDonald who I’ll trust to settle in a decent position and give her every chance.
Same Race Multi – Eagle Farm Race 8 ($17.00 at time of publish)
- Top 4 – No. 6 Golden Mile
- Top 4 – No. 7 War Machine
- Top 4 – No. 13 Rise At Dawn
It’s Queensland’s greatest race so it feels rude not to turn my Same Race Multi attention to the Stradbroke Handicap.
I’m a huge fan of War Machine and like him to win the race.
I can’t see him not running well given his red hot form and where he maps, so I wouldn’t be against you putting him to win or even Top 2 but I’ll take some cover and go Top 4.
I think his stablemate Rise At Dawn is peaking at the right time and looks a good Top 4 selection.
I’ll round out my SRM with Golden Mile who finished third in both the Victory Stakes and Kingsford Smith Cup which are the key lead up races.
I know Bec ‘Big Dog’ Hill is keen on his chances which also gives me confidence.
Rebecca Hill
Saturday’s Best Bet – Eagle Farm Race 9 No. 1 Fawkner Park
Fawkner Park looks on track to make it back to back successes in the Q22 after proving too good in last year’s edition of this race.
The former Irish galloper didn’t have the best of luck when stepping out in the Queen Elizabeth but found the line well in his first two runs prior, behind star mare Via Sistina.
In testing conditions he turned out a top performance to finish the runner up to Antino in in the Hollindale Stakes and was equally as impressive last start in the Doomben Cup as he again chased home the local hero into second.
He presents in peak order, the rise in trip suits and he draws to enjoy a soft run throughout.
Best Roughie – Sandown Race 5 No. 13 Our Red Morning ($41 at time of publish)
Her form doesn’t read well so the big price is warranted but I think this mare will relish getting her hooves into the soft ground on Saturday.
Making her arrival in Australia after just two starts in New Zealand the daughter of Redwood was quick to make an impact, scoring three straight wins.
She’s yet to see the winner’s stall since and has a few setbacks along the way but she just doesn’t perform on dry tracks.
She’s fit, she wasn’t beaten far last start and if the track stays in that soft range, I think she can run a big race.
JJ Atkins Best Bet – Eagle Farm Race 6 No. 1 Cool Archie
It’s hard to go against Cool Archie as he just keeps getting the job done and he’s been afforded no favours.
Scoring a strong win off a wide run when resuming over 1200m in heavy conditions, the colt then overcame trouble to salute second up when dropping back to 1000m on a firm track.
He powered through once clear after being held up in the Champagne Classic and showed plenty of determination to get his head down on the line.
His latest victory in the Sires Produce Stakes has been his most impressive yet and the way he extended over the final part suggests he will relish getting out to the mile.
Stradbroke Best Bet – Eagle Farm Race 8 No. 6 Golden Mile
Golden Mile is on the quick back up but I’m happy to be on him here as he’s been terrific at his past two starts.
Returning this campaign as a gelding, the Godolphin galloper was ultra impressive winning a trial back in February but just took a couple of runs to build his fitness.
He caught the eye in the Victory Stakes as he powered home from the back to claim third, just peaking on his run late.
With five weeks between starts, he was given another trial and when settling up on speed in the Kingsford Smith, he fought gamely over the final stages, just going down by a head to Joliestar.
Dropping 5.5kgs on his Kingsford Smith run and with the low draw, I think he’s a top chance.
Q22 Best Bet – Eagle Farm Race 9 No. 1 Fawkner Park
As above
Same Race Multi – Rosehill Race 5 ($21 at time of publish)
- Top 3 – Codetta
- Top 4 – King’s Secret
- Top 4 – Overfull
Codetta kicked off her campaign with a very encouraging effort over this course and distance and she strips fitter for it.
Slowly away, she settled back in the second half of the field and hit the strongly to claim second behind King’s Secret, beaten less than length.
She gets in beautifully here with the 3kg claim and is unbeaten in two second up appearances.
King’s Secret got her the better of last time but he did have race fitness on his side and he goes up 3kgs.
Overfull was beaten less than a less when resuming in the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes, she boasts an impressive second up record and looks a great chance at a decent price.
Ryan Cook
Saturday’s Best Bet – Eagle Farm Race 1 No. 2 Just Party
Just Party deserves another chance after his run in the Fred Best, where he found himself in an unfavorable position on the track.
The son of Justify was expected to finish about three lengths behind in the wet conditions.
However his performance when resuming in the Hawkesbury Guineas was impressive, charging home for second and only narrowly missing victory, thanks to a brilliant ride from Nash Rawiller.
The duo reunites here in the Gunsynd Classic, and with the inside gate, they should get an ideal trail into the race coming off the speed.
Best Roughie – Bunbury Race 9 No. 3 Hell I Am ($27 at time of publish)
Hell I Am is expected to improve second-up for Team Williams.
The Hellbent five-year-old resumed at Pinjarra, fading down the straight to finish a distant seventh.
He still commands respect though, having finished within 2.5 lengths of Belmont Sprint winner The Boss Lady on Boxing Day last year.
His second-up record isn’t outstanding, but with Jarrad Noske in top form, he’ll be looking to settle around midfield and unleash a strong late run from barrier 4.
JJ Atkins Best Bet – Eagle Farm Race 6 No. 1 Cool Archie
I agree with Bec here on Cool Archie.
He’s flying for Chris and Corey Munce, maintaining an unbeaten record this prep.
I thought he was outstanding when taking out the Sires Produce on a heavy track two weeks ago—arguably his best performance to date.
Another wide draw means Martin Harley will have his work cut out, but the rise to the mile looks ideal as he continues his impressive climb through the ranks.
Stradbroke Handicap Best Bet – Eagle Farm Race 8 No. 7 War Machine
War Machine rightly holds favouritism in the Stradbroke following his dominant victory in the BRC Sprint two weeks ago.
The Lindsay Park-trained four-year-old unleashed a powerful turn of foot at the top of the straight, drawing clear to win by more than 2.5 lengths with plenty in reserve.
While some of his main rivals are backing up quickly from last week’s Kingsford Smith Cup, he remains the one to beat—despite the challenge of a tricky gate.
Q22 Best Bet – Eagle Farm Race 9 No. 1 Fawkner Park
The reigning Q22 champion looks primed for a big performance with three weeks between runs.
He was never in a winning position in the Doomben Cup last start, but his Hollindale effort two runs back was full of merit—only undone by a superior horse in Antino.
Now benefiting from an inside draw and a strong fitness base, the extra 200m should suit him perfectly.
Same Race Multi – Bunbury Race 6 ($20.00 at time of publish)
- Win – No. 8 Mt Shirataku
- Top 3 – No. 9 Rally The Troops
- Top 4 – No. 3 Chollima
Mt Shirataku is one of the better bets going around in Perth on Saturday.
He goes around in search of his hat trick and should love the rise in trip after making every post a winner at Pinjarra last start.
Rally The Troops has been racing just as well and is another one searching for three in a row, while Chollima is third-up and ready to peak over her preferred trip.