Eagle Farm Preview – Saturday 31st January 

COMPEL (2) debuts here for the red-hot Chris & Corey Munce stable. 

The Spirit Of Boom filly has had the one public trial leading into this, and it was a pleasing piece of work. 

She jumped well and settled handy before working to the line beside her stablemate Star Of Jamaica to finish for a half-length third. 

Martin Harley has a good record when teaming up with the Munces and should be able to settle in a forward position. 

Selections: 2-5-3-1 

LARADO (9) returned in top order last start over this distance at the Sunshine Coast. 

The Matt Hoysted-trained gelding settled back before unleashing a powerful finishing burst to charge past his rivals and win comfortably by 1.8 lengths. 

He’ll strip fitter and finished a half-length second over this course and distance second-up last preparation in his only career defeat. 

While he settled back last start, he drew wide and he should settle much closer from the inside gate here.  

Selections: 9-11-10-12 

BRINDAVAN (2) was thrown in the deep end when having his first Australian start in The Gateway.  

Now with Tony Gollan, the four-year-old gelding settled back before working home well until fitness gave out late to finish five lengths ninth.   

The former UK galloper appreciated dropping in class last start at Doomben where he let down powerfully from near the tail to win by three-quarters of a length. 

Given how strong he was late over a mile, the rise in distance suits and he’s a previous third-up winner. 

Selections: 2-8-1-7 

MICKEY’S MEDAL (7) looks ready to rise to a mile now that he’s rock hard fit. 

The Annabel & Rob Archibald-trained gelding settled a long way back in the Magic Millions Cup over 1400m last start before picking up strongly in the final furlong to finish 2.12 lengths eighth. 

While he’s never won over this distance, all five of his wins have come over 1500m. 

With just 52kg on his back and the advantage of the inside barrier, Ben Thompson should give him every chance. 

Selections: 7-4-8-5 

Earn To Burn (3) returned as a gelding in magnificent order over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast.  

The Jack Bruce-trained gelding raced outside the lead before dashing clear in the straight to win by 4.6 lengths.  

He’s a month between runs but he’ll have been kept up to the mark and easily won second-up last preparation.  

With the benefit of barrier 3, Ben Thompson can settle close to the action. 

Selections: 3-2-8-4 

REZONE (6) has settled in well at Mark Currie’s stable after previously racing in Victoria with Price & Kent Jnr. 

The Dundeel gelding kicked off his preparation with a comprehensive 3.44 length victory over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast.  

He went back-to-back last start over that same course and distance where he was heavily backed and proved his backer correct with a strong win. 

He’ll strip fitter third-up, is drawn beautifully and looks ready for a mile. 

Selections: 6-2-14-3 

CRASH THE PARTY (3) maybe still a maiden but she brings the strongest form into the race. 

The Toby Edmonds-trained filly produced an eye-catching performance last start in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas when savaging the line from a long way back to finish 1.38 lengths fourth. 

She hit the line after a poor start two races ago before running on so the rise to 1600m looks like it will be in her wheelhouse. 

She’s rock hard fit and there looks to be decent speed in the race which will aid her cause. 

Selections: 3-2-4-10 

CASTILLIAN (6) returns to the races for the first time since finishing third in the Murwillumbah Cup in August. 

The Tony Gollan-trained gelding looks ready to produce a bold showing first-up following a nice piece of work in a recent trial where he went across the line with Battlefield who he meets here. 

His fresh form doesn’t read well on paper, but it is misleading as he’s only had two first-up races with Gollan after moving from Sydney and they’ve been very good including last preparation when finishing 1.5 lengths second over a similar distance at Doomben. 

Barrier 1 is a big positive and should see Ryan Maloney settle in a prominent position. 

Selections: 6-2-1-5 

VODKA MARTINI (1) has been burdened with wide barriers throughout this preparation but finally draws a decent gate. 

The Kelly Schweida-trained gelding worked overtime and understandably weakened last start in the Listed Falvelon but he was incredibly tough two starts back in the Listed Bribie when despite racing three-wide, he fought gamely to finish 1.07 lengths fourth. 

He’s at peak fitness and has won two from five over this course and distance. 

Corey Sutherland, who claims 3kg, can settle in a forward position from barrier 1. 

Selections: 1-9-2-12 

TRUE AMOR (11) is a new addition to the Munce stable after previously racing in Sydney with the O’Shea & Charlton operation. 

The son of I Am Invincible led all the way first-up at Beaumont to salute by just under five lengths before being run down in the final stages to finish a half-length second at Gosford. 

He was excellent last start in the Magic Millions Rising Stars where he crossed from barrier 17 and gave a great sight to miss the win by a whisker. 

Martin Harley will give him every chance from an inside draw. 

Selections: 11-7-8-5