This Saturday, the Brisbane Racing Club celebrates 160 years of racing excellence at Eagle Farm and what better way to honour its legacy than with a competitive nine-race card that blends tradition with top-tier talent.
The feature event, the Celebrating 160 Years of Eagle Farm Open Handicap over 1400m, pays tribute to the champions, characters, and unforgettable moments that have galloped through the gates since 1865.
With ideal conditions forecast and a fair rail position, expect a fitting showcase of speed, stamina, and strategy.
Time to sort the contenders from the pretenders. Here’s my look at Saturday’s Eagle Farm card.
VINDICTA (8) has come back this preparation in fantastic fashion.
The Jack Bruce-trained gelding opened this campaign with a 3.67 length win over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast.
That was a Class 1 so he still had to prove himself last start and he sure did that, charging home in the quickest 200m of the race to win by just under a length over this course and distance.
He’s been kept fresh for this and loves racing over 1000m, so I expect him to give three wins a row a big shout.
| 8. Vindicta (6) 60.5kg94×11 |
HYPE (1) has been freshened since impressively winning the Ladbrokes Mackay Cup last start.
The Aiden Nunn-trained Tasmanian galloper stormed home with this weight to win the 2000m feature by 1.1 lengths with third over three lengths away.
He put the writing on the wall the start prior in the Rockhampton Cup when running on strongly from the back in the quickest final 400m of the race on his way to finishing 2.5 lengths fifth.
He’s the class runner in the field and should enjoy a nice run for Ryan Maloney.
| 1. Hype (5) 60kgx0751 |
READY FOR THE TRIP (9) is, as his name suggests, ready for the rise to 1800m for the first time.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding easily won his maiden over 1400m here two starts back before stepping up to a mile last start where he let down powerfully to win by a half-length.
He has developed a real love affair with racing at Eagle Farm having won twice and finished second on one other occasion from three starts.
Ryan Maloney is undefeated on the five-year-old and should be able to settle in a prominent position.
| 9. Ready For The Trip (5) 58kg22711 |
WHISPERING ROGUE (1) is on the quick back-up after a gutsy effort last Saturday over 1200m here.
The Chris & Corey Munce-trained colt found the line well while giving his rivals plenty of weight to finish 1.3 lengths third.
That followed a strong maiden win over 1350m at Doomben so the rise in distance will be to his liking.
He gets blinkers for the first time which should see Martin Harley positive from the inside barrier.
| 1. Whispering Rogue (1) 60kg2×213 |
FREE CARRY (3) returned in magnificent order last start over 1400m here with an impressive win.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding had trialed up a storm and took that to the races when letting down powerfully to win by 2.35 lengths.
He’ll take plenty of benefit from the first-up run and boasts an outstanding second-up record, having won both of his last two starts in that stage of his prep.
The rise in distance is ideal and he maps to control the race for Emily Lang who claims 1.5kg.
GIVE GIGGLES (7) is racing in a rich vein of consistent form.
Tony Gollan’s War Decree mare won over this course and distance three starts ago before using a lot of gas early when swamped late and finishing a half-length third.
She returned to the winner’s circle last start over this course and distance when enjoying a great run on speed and dashing clear to win by 1.87 lengths.
From barrier 3, Ben Thompson has options of leading or taking a sit but regardless he’ll settle in a prominent position.
| 7. Give Giggles (3) 57kg36131 |
BULLION BOY (10) has returned this preparation in good order and looks primed for a big third-up performance.
The Lindsay Gough-trained evergreen gelding benefitted from a strong tempo first-up over 1200m here to storm home and win by a neck.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t suited by the way the race was run last start over this course and distance but still found the line powerfully to finish a neck second to Amur.
There looks to be much more speed in this race which will aid his cause.
| 10. Bullion Boy (4) 52kg46×12 |
KEITEL (7) will take improvement from his first-up run over 1350m at Doomben.
The grey gelding trained by David Vandyke was eased back from a wide barrier, surged home with determination, but his condition faded late, leaving him a length shy in third place.
He’ll be much better for the run and is a previous second-up winner last preparation.
Ryan Maloney has a good strike-rate when teaming up with DVD and I’d suggest he may settle closer from a nice draw.
| 7. Keitel (5)SCRATCHED: | |||
OURBOROS (4) was stiff not to win when resuming in a strong Class 3 Plate over 1200m at Doomben last start.
The Matt Hoysted-trained gelding led and kicked clear in the straight only to be nailed on the line by Spywire.
He’ll strip fitter and will appreciate the rise to 1200m.
While his official record doesn’t show a win over this course and distance, he did bolt in here in March only for the race to be taken from him due to a failed post-race urine sample.
He maps to get the run of the race for Damien Thornton.
| 4. Ouroboros (4) 59.5kgx1qx2 |