Ballot-free entry into next year’s Stradbroke Handicap goes on the line in Saturday’s Ladbrokes Gateway at Eagle Farm.
The rail will be set out just one metre around the entire course for the ten-race program and at publish, we’re faced with a racing surface rated in the Soft (5) range.
You can find my Ladbrokes Gateway Day Preview & Tips along with my Eagle Farm best bets below.
SMEXY is second up and open to improvement at Eagle Farm.
She was great during her three-start debut preparation, breaking her maiden at this point of her preparation most notably, while she returned to action to fill the minors behind the likes of Fabulates on the Sunshine Coast a fortnight ago.
Stripping fitter, she can fight out the finish of something like this.
| 5. Smexy (6) J: Damien Thornton 56kg 214×3T: Natalie McCall |
TOMMY THUG takes winning form into another winnable race.
He’s been racing in consistent form this time in, and Tommy Thug has won two of his last three starts, mustering an eye-catching turn of speed to get up at Doomben last time out.
He does face a reasonable rise in class this week, but the 2200m looks to suit at this point of his preparation, and he does get into the race well under the conditions.
| 10. Tommy Thug (3) J: Damien Thornton 54kg 42141T: Ciaron Maher |
ONE DAY AT A TIME steps out for just the second time on The Gateway Day.
Having shown ability at the trials prior to debuting, One Day At A Time produced a smart performance in the Maribyrnong Trial at Flemington in October, hitting the line to finish a half-length third.
She’s trialled up nicely again ahead of this assignment, and any improvement would see her extremely difficult to beat.
| 7. One Day At A Time (5) J: Ryan Maloney 55.5kg 3xT: Tony & Calvin McEvoy |
I thought that this looked a nice race for MOULIN MISS.
She’s improved noticeably with each of three runs back from a spell, and Moulin Miss proved far too good for her rivals in BM68 grade at Doomben last time out.
There’s no doubt that this is a harder race, but she’s got the runs on the board now and the fitness to boot, and in with a case to be made for a few of them, we can have an each way play.
| 6. Moulin Miss (5) J: Angela Jones 59kg 0x521T: Tony Gollan |
BALANCE THE BOOKS puts an unbeaten record on the line and is a deserved favourite in the market.
Having stamped herself as one to watch with a sharp win on debut at Doomben back in May, Balance The Books was immediately tipped out and has since returned this time for consecutive victories in BM68 grade and BM70 grade respectively.
From a perfect barrier and with only 52kgs in tow, I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.
| 16. Balance The Books (5) J: Angela Jones 52kg 1×11T: Tony Gollan |
Joe Pride has THE BLACK CLOUD in Brisbane to contest the Bribie Handicap, and I think it’s a perfect race for her.
She hasn’t won a race for more than a year, but The Black Cloud has continued to race in strong and consistent form in Sydney and Melbourne in 2025, and she returned to action to only just miss in the Group 3 The Warra at Kembla Grange three weeks ago.
She boasts a competitive second up record and an ability edge over a lot of these rivals.
| 12. The Black Cloud (2) J: Daniel Moor 53kg 220×2T: Joseph Pride |
VICTORY WIN is the one for me in the Tails Stakes.
He was settled at the tail of the field in the Mooloolaba Cup last time and made up good ground to finish just over a length behind the winner, while Victory Win strung together a couple of nice wins over a mile at Doomben at his two starts prior.
In peak order this week, the small drop in trip shouldn’t be anything of a problem, and he can settle a little closer in the run from an inside draw.
| 6. Victory Win (2) J: Martin Harley 55kg x4115T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
BOOMTOWN BOSS can gain ballot-free entry into next year’s Stradbroke Handicap by winning the Ladbrokes Gateway.
Having returned to action with a sharp effort to strike in BM85 company, the talented gelding was only just denied in the Recognition Stakes most recently.
He steps out a fit horse this week and has drawn perfectly under Ryan Maloney.
| 1. Boomtown Boss (5) J: Ryan Maloney 59kg 79×12T: Tony Gollan |
MIDNIGHT IN TOKYO takes winning form into the Just Now Quality.
She mixed her form last time in and went to the paddock after finishing midfield in the Ramornie Handicap, but Midnight In Tokyo has undoubtedly returned an improved horse this time, and she was only denied by an impressive Epic Proportions fresh in the Keith Noud Quality.
Having taken plenty of improvement into a sharp win in the Tatts Classic over 1200m at Doomben last time out, the extra 100m this week suits and I think she’ll only improve further.
| 2. Midnight In Tokyo (9) J: Ryan Maloney 59kg 68×21T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
SILVER WEDDING has been charged with overcoming a wide draw but carries the right kind of form into the last on Ladbrokes Gateway Day.
She stripped fitter via a couple of credible performances in Sydney metro company before arriving in Queensland to win in Class 1 company at Doomben late last month.
In peak order, something like this looks the next logical step.
| 10. Silver Wedding (17) Scratched: | |||