Saturday’s Eagle Farm meeting has a bit of a throwback feel, with a compact eight-race card set to greet punters.
While the program may be shorter than usual, it still shapes as a competitive afternoon with plenty of depth across the grades.
The weather could play a role, with showers in the vicinity and the track currently rated a Soft 5.
Let’s get stuck in and hopefully land on a few winners.
NIGHT MARKET (8) set the world on fire ahead of his debut when showing great speed to lead all the way in a 5.34 length 840m Doomben trial win where she ran quicker time than stablemate and Group 3 Magic Night Stakes winner Pembrey.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go to plan in her first race start over 1000m here where she faced a heavy track and suffered from slow recovery.
The Tony Gollan-trained filly can bounce back second-up.
Angela Jones can use her mount’s natural speed to cross from the wide barrier.
Selections: 8-2-1-3
| 8. Night Market (7) 55.5kg5 |
JENNI MOREESE (5) is a mare in great form having won three of her past five races.
The Corey & Kylie Geran-trained daughter of Maurice could not have been more impressive last start over this course and distance thanks to a peach of a ride by Corey Sutherland who swept around the field on the home turn before she dashed clear to win by 1.79 lengths.
That followed a comprehensive 4.21 length victory over this same distance at the Sunshine Coast.
Sutherland is undefeated aboard her and should give her every chance settling just off the lead in the small field.
Selections: 5-2-3-1
| 5. Jenni Moreese (6) 56.5kg14211 |
LAST COMMAND (5) has been racing in super form since coming north to Michael Freedman’s Gold Coast stable from Sydney.
The four-year-old gelding settled handy and clocked the fastest closing sectionals to comfortably win his only previous race over this course and distance last start.
Gun apprentice Jace McMurray is again in the saddle and will make use of his 2kg claim.
He maps to get close to the same run as last start which should make him awfully hard to beat.
Selections: 5-4-1-6
| 5. Last Command (2) 58kg72131 |
BRERETON (5) produced an eye-catching performance two starts ago at Ipswich where he charged home to miss the win by a head.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding backed that up with another fine effort last start over this course and distance when powering through the heavy conditions to finish 1.88 lengths third.
While he rises significantly in weight, he will appreciate the decent drop in class.
He’s rock-hard fit and with a lack of speed in the race, Cejay Graham should be able to use barrier 1 to advantage and settle in a prominent position.
Selections: 5-6-7-1
| 5. Brereton (1) 58.5kgx7423 |
ZOUFANI (8) looks primed for a bold third-up showing but will need some luck from the draw.
The Tony Gollan-trained mare was excellent last start over 1200m at Doomben where she flew home to finish a head second to stablemate Dominant Darcy who subsequently won at the Gold Coast to make it three wins on the trot.
She enjoys racing over this course and distance having won and placed second in two previous races.
The outside barrier isn’t ideal, but she has the necessary early speed to cross and find a prominent position.
Selections: 8-12-6-3
| 8. Zoufani (8) 57.5kg33×82 |
ANGEL LADDER (4) ran a super race last start over this course and distance.
The Ciaron Maher-trained mare led and gave a good kick but was picked off late to finish just over a half-length third.
She meets the winner 3kg better at the weights and will strip fitter given it was a month between runs since she finished a half-length second at Sandown first-up.
Tahlia Fenlon, who claims 1.5kg, can make full use of barrier 1 and race on speed.
Selections: 4-1-5-2
| 4. Angel Ladder (1) 57kg03×23 |
TRUE TO FORM (3) returned in superb order last start over 1250m at Canterbury with a strong win.
In his first start for Kris Lees, he let down powerfully from near the tail of the small field to win by a neck.
The former import does his best racing early in his preparation and has won two from three when second-up.
There doesn’t look to be a great deal of speed in the race, so Kyle Wilson-Taylor should look to go forward and settle in a prominent position.
Selections: 3-5-11-12
| 3. True To Form (6) 60.5kg207×1 |
CELESTIAL BLAZE (2) has come back this preparation an improved horse, winning both his races.
The Rob Heathcote-trained gelding picked up strongly in the final furlong to win over 1350m at Doomben first-up.
He then raced on speed last start over 1400m here, before proving too strong in the run home to win by just over half a length.
With increased fitness third-up, a likely strong speed and given the way he’s been finding the line, the rise to a mile looks ideal.
He remains in the same class and will carry just 0.5kg more thanks to Jasper Franklin’s claim.
Selections: 2-6-11-10
| 2. Celestial Blaze (3) 61kg23×11 |