The Caulfield Cup and The Everest might be grabbing the headlines, but the Ladbrokes Spring Carnival rolls on in Brisbane with a strong Saturday card at Eagle Farm.
There’s depth across the board, a few smart types on the rise, and plenty of betting angles to explore.
It’s a cracking support act with form relevance heading into the summer.
I’ve delved deep into the form and provided my best plays for each race on the nine-race card.
CONNECTICUT (6) is racing in great form and deserves to win one of these Saturday metro Brisbane distance races.
The Corey & Kylie Geran-trained gelding unfortunately was hampered out of the gates and lost ground, and it proved costly, as he found the line strongly to finish 2.67 lengths second to subsequent Queensland Cup runner-up, So You Are.
Two starts back, the six-year-old son of Written Tycoon impressed when winning by 2.5 lengths over 2110m at Lismore.
He’s rock hard fit and should land in a prominent position for Jake Bayliss.
| 6. Connecticut (8) 55.5kg26412 |
DUSHENKA (2) looks ready for the rise to this distance following two strong runs to start this preparation.
The Stu Kendrick-trained filly found the line from near the tail when resuming over 1400m at the Gold Coast to miss the win by a head.
She stepped up to a mile at Doomben last start and should have finished closer than 2.13 lengths fourth after being held up in the straight.
Ben Thompson replaces the apprentice.
| 2. Dushenka (6) 59kg18×24 |
MAZIS (4) returned in magnificent order last start with a win over 1400m here.
The Annabel & Rob Archibald-trained gelding let rip with a dazzling turn of foot from worse than midfield to blow by his rivals and win by just under a length.
He’ll strip fitter and will enjoy the rise in distance just as he did last preparation when rising from 1350m to 1800m second-up at the Sunshine Coast where he easily won by 1.8 lengths.
Ryan Maloney retains the ride and should be able to settle in a prominent position from the good draw given there doesn’t look to be a great deal of speed in the race.
| 4. Mazis (3) 60kg101×1 |
PARTY FOR TWO (3) is racing in great form and is looking for her third win in a row.
The Tony Gollan-trained mare proved too speedy over 1110m at Doomben last start when leading from start to finish for a two-length win.
That was a month ago, so she’s been back to the trials where she turned in a slick piece of work that would have tuned her up nicely.
She races well over this course and distance having won over it just two starts ago.
Emily Lang can use her mount’s early speed to counter the wide gate and take up the running.
| 3. Party For Two (7) 57kg6×511 |
PRE EMINENCE (3) looked a class above his rivals when kicking off this preparation with a win over 1000m at Toowoomba.
The Barry Lockwood & Emma-Jane Vincent-trained gelding enjoyed a nice run before letting down powerfully to put the opposition away comfortably by 2.5 lengths.
He’ll strip fitter and was beaten a combined margin of a head in his two previous second-up races.
Corey Sutherland, who claims 3kg, should land in a gun position from barrier 4.
| 3. Pre Eminence (4) 60kg213×1 |
MOULIN MISS (9) returns to the races for the first time since finishing near the tail in the Sunlight Consolation in January.
The Tony Gollan-trained mare races well fresh and looks primed for a bold showing following three trials with the two most recent pieces of work seeing her lead comfortably and win.
While she’s been well beaten in her most recent races, it’s fair to say that this is a considerably easier assignment than those.
There is plenty of speed engaged which should see Daniel Moor play a stalking role just off it.
| 9. Moulin Miss (3) 57kg6x60x |
LITTLE JEANIE (14) hasn’t run a bad race since joining Jack Bruce’s stable.
The daughter of Savabeel was a touch stiff not to win last start over 1350m at Doomben when held up in the straight and forced to take an inside run when finishing a neck second.
While that was a Class 2, rising to a Class 3 Plate won’t faze her given she missed by a whisker three starts ago in this class over 1350m at Doomben.
Ben Thompson takes the ride and should give her every chance from an inside gate.
| 14. Little Jeanie (1) 56.5kg13242 |
EPIC PROPORTIONS (2) drifted back after a good start over this distance at Doomben last start before finding the line well to finish 1.71 lengths fourth.
The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding brought excellent southern form with him including a win at Kensington five starts ago as well as a Caulfield victory three races back.
He won his only previous start over this course and distance which was just under 12 months ago and coincidently Ryan Maloney was in the saddle as he is again here.
The wide draw isn’t ideal, but he should be able to find cover midfield with a couple of speedsters engaged.
| 2. Epic Proportions (9) 59.5kg17164 |
EXCEED SPEED (6) was brave last start when finishing just under a length third over 1625m at Toowoomba where despite racing three-wide on speed, he fought gamely to the line when entitled to weaken.
That continued a great run of form for the Tony Gollan-trained gelding.
Two and three starts ago, he won over 1400m here before winning over this distance at Doomben.
He maps to get a great run with Ben Thompson piloting.
| 6. Exceed Speed (8) 55kg42113 |