Spring racing kicks off in Brisbane this Saturday with Queensland Cup Day launching the Brisbane Racing Club’s Ladbrokes Spring Racing Carnival at Eagle Farm.
This year’s Listed Queensland Cup has drawn a deep line-up of seasoned stayers and emerging threats.
Nikau Spur returns to defend his crown after claiming the feature last year, while Walsh Bay arrives in red-hot form, chasing her fifth straight win following a dominant Toowoomba Cup victory.
Saturday’s 10-race card also gives punters their first look at this season’s two-year-olds, and the Listed Tattersall Members Cup will close the day.
The work’s been done, now it’s about landing a few Eagle Farm winners and making it count.
LADY OF FIVE (4) has demonstrated that she’s blessed with excellent speed which always places these early two-year-olds in good stead.
The Peter & Will Hulbert raced Lady Of Five’s mother, Oh Five Glory, who won nearly $400k and was a Listed placegetter.
She looks well prepared for her debut having won her first trial over 840m at Doomben by a whopping 11.8 lengths before leading all the way in her most recent piece of work to win by 4.5 lengths.
The outside barrier isn’t ideal, but Adin Thompson will use her early speed to cross and hopefully lead in the first on Queensland Cup Day.
| 4. Lady Of Five (8) 54.5kg |
OUROBOROS (4) was stiff not to win when resuming in a strong Class 3 Plate over 1200m at Doomben.
As was expected by strong market support, the Matt Hoysted-trained gelding bounced back in a big way second-up when leading all the way over this course and distance for a 2.3 length win.
He’ll appreciate the drop in class and has been freshened since finishing 2.02 lengths second at Doomben last start.
From barrier 2, he should find the front and enjoy a sweet run.
| 4. Ouroboros (2) 60kgqx212 |
ARABIAN ROSE (12) put a luckless first-up run behind her and now looks to win her third race in a row.
The James Healy-trained mare was never on the track second-up over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast but proved too strong, dashing clear to win by three lengths.
It was the same winning margin last start over 1400m where she charged home in the quickest closing splits of the race which suggests the rise to a mile here suits.
Tiff Brooker can settle in a prominent position from the good draw and give her mount every chance.
| 12. Arabian Rose (1) 57kg1×011 |
HA’PENNY HATCH (1) got too far back after drawing the outside barrier when resuming over 1110m at Doomben before working to the line well.
The Paul Shailer-trained filly didn’t have the best of luck last start in the Toowoomba Guineas where she was caught wide early and then chopped out in the final furlong to lose momentum and finish 3.39 lengths fifth.
She’ll strip fitter and finished a close second in the Listed Calaway Gal the last time she was third-up.
Michael Rodd should be able land in a nice position to stalk the speed.
| 1. Ha’penny Hatch (4) 59kg40×45 |
FORGOTTEN SPIRIT (3) returns to the races for the first time since finishing 11th in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
The daughter of Spirit Of Boom is still a maiden but raced well as a two-year-old, kicking off with a hard-fought 1.7 length third in the Magic Millions Debut.
She then worked to the line well second-up in The Gold Pearl where she finished 2.45 lengths second.
This is her first start for Tony Gollan, and she looked good in a recent trial where she worked home nicely under her own steam to finish second to Metal Man.
There looks to be good speed in the race which should see Emily Lang settle just off it before launching in the straight.
| 3. Forgotten Spirit (4) 56.5kg320x |
LADY LUCIFER (8) settled just off the speed in her first two starts this preparation and she ran well to place in both.
However, with an outside barrier to contend with over 1350m at Doomben two starts ago, it was a case of letting fast horses be fast and it paid dividends with the David Vandyke-trained mare easily winning by 2.8 lengths.
Emily Lang adopted similar tactics at the Gold Coast last start, and it again worked perfectly, this time a 2.5 length win was the result.
While this is a rise in class, she’s low flying and should be able to find the lead again.
| 8. Lady Lucifer (4) 56.5kgx2311 |
VALIMI (3) has enjoyed his time in Brisbane after plying his trade in Sydney, winning both his races.
The Kris Lees-trained gelding made it a one act affair two starts ago at Ipswich when leading all the way for an easy 2.3 length victory.
It was rinse and repeat last start over this course and distance where he controlled the race in front before comfortably holding off the late charge of Second Sun to win by just under a length.
Those horses meet again and thanks to Jace McMurray’s 3kg claim, there will only be 0.5kg between the pair.
McMurray will roll forward and look to dictate proceedings.
| 3. Valimi (2) 59kg04711 |
WALSH BAY (6) is racing in a purple patch of form and is looking for her fifth win in a row.
The Chris & Corey Munce-trained mare’s victory two starts ago over 1800m at the Gold Coast was emphatic with the daughter of Deep Field settling handy before putting her rivals to the sword to salute by 2.8 lengths.
She was ultra-impressive last start in the Toowoomba Cup where she bolted in by 3.3 lengths despite having a wide barrier and taking on 2000m for the first time.
Damien Thornton is riding this girl a treat and will give her another peach from a good draw as she steps up to this distance for the first time in the feature race on the Queensland Cup Day card.
| 6. Walsh Bay (3) 54.5kg21111 |
FUKUBANA (10) resumes here and is very well weighted under the set weight conditions of the race.
The Matt Dunn-trained gelding looks set for a bold showing following two trials where he was given a soft time of it before stylishly winning his second piece of work.
He races well fresh and is a Listed placegetter having finished third in Spear Chief over 1500m here to end last preparation.
There’s an abundance of speed engaged in the race which will aid his cause given he’ll settle off them before charging late.
| 10. Fukubana (3) 57kg3213x |
TAVS (6) was unbelievable when resuming in the Listed Weetwood at Toowoomba last start.
The Mark Currie-trained gelding looked like he was fired out of a cannon with a furlong to go as he quickly a decent field away with contempt for a 4.5 length win in track record time.
Obviously, the concern is that he could be a touch flat after such a big run but I’m happy to risk that given how emphatic the win was and that he boasts a perfect three from three record over this course and distance.
A wide barrier isn’t ideal but if Justin Huxtable can get some cover, then he should be hard to beat again.
| 6. Tavs (12) 56kg144×1 |