While Day 1 of The Championships will dominate the national spotlight, there’s still plenty to like about Saturday’s competitive program at Eagle Farm.
With the Queensland Racing Carnival now just under a month away, this is a perfect opportunity for punters to tune up and get a feel for the tracks.
It may not grab the same headlines, but there’s still nine winners to be found for those willing to dive in.
I’ve gone through the meeting in detail and mapped out my best plays across the nine-race Eagle Farm card.
BODMIN MOOR (4) debuts for the Chris & Corey Munce stable.
The son of Cool Azza Beel started life with the O’Shea & Charlton team where he had two pleasing trials in Sydney.
He’s settled in well at Eagle Farm based on a recent Doomben jump out where he wasn’t asked for an effort but cruised to an easy win.
Martin Harley remains in the saddle for the race ride and will give the youngster every chance.
Selections: 4-1-2-5
| 4. Bodmin Moor (4) J: Martin Harley 57.5kg T: Chris & Corey Munce |
DAGGERS (5) is a new addition to the Tony Gollan stable and resumes here.
The I Am Invincible gelding previously raced with the Busuttin & Young team in Melbourne where he competed in stronger races than this and was placed at Listed level in the Exford Plate.
He looks set to continue his excellent first-up record following two trials of which he won the first easily before being held up while full of running in the most recent.
The four-year-old gets in well under the set weight conditions of the race and should enjoy a nice run on speed for Ben Thompson from the low gate.
Selections: 5-2-10-1
| 5. Daggers (2) J: Ben Thompson 58.5kg 5x35xT: Tony Gollan |
PLACID PEARL (2) ventures north with the right Sydney form to give this a shake.
The Matthew Smith-trained mare was last seen finding the line well for a 1.95 length third in the Group 3 Epona Stakes at Rosehill.
She’ll strip fitter third-up and will appreciate the rise in distance given she’s won over this trip previously.
Gun jockey Ben Thompson will be able to land in a prominent position.
Selections: 2-1-8-9
| 2. Placid Pearl (5) J: Ben Thompson 57.5kg 17303T: Matthew Smith |
BUNKER HUT (4) returns to Queensland for the first time since winning over this distance at Doomben in September.
The Michael Freedman-trained gelding has come back this preparation in good style with a head third first-up at Rosehill before trying hard for fourth last start at Kembla Grange.
He looked good in a recent Gold Coast trial where he ran through the line strongly.
Jace McMurray, who claims 2kg and won on him previously, will drive forward from the good draw.
Selections: 4-1-3-5
| 4. Bunker Hut (3) J: Jace Mcmurray 58.5kg 31×34T: Michael Freedman |
MAKE A CALL (2) will appreciate the drop in class after chasing home the flying Jenni Moreese for a close third over this course and distance last start.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding’s form has been solid throughout this preparation and includes a first-up win and a 1.25 lengths second in a stronger mile race at Doomben.
He’s been unable to get to the outside in recent runs but he should get his chance here.
Chelsea Baker’s 3kg claim is a big plus.
Selections: 2-5-7-3
| 2. Make A Call (1) J: Chelsea Baker 62.5kg x1253T: Tony Gollan |
SCAMPI (3) returned in magnificent order at the Gold Coast last start and looks well placed to go back-to-back.
The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding enjoyed a nice run before letting down strongly to win by just under a length.
He’ll have come on since that run and loves this distance, having won four of eight starts.
With just 54kg on his back thanks to Jace McMurray’s claim and a good draw, he should prove hard to hold out.
Selections: 3-6-1-5
| 3. Scampi (4) J: Jace Mcmurray 56kg 24531T: Ciaron Maher |
CHO OYU (2) is only lightly raced and has an abundance of upside as he takes on a mile for just the second time.
The Lockwood & Vincent-trained gelding enters this race off a strong win over 1400m here where he stormed home in the quickest final 600m of the race.
He’ll strip fitter and won his only previous third-up race.
Martin Harley will enjoy stalking what looks to be a decent speed before getting off their backs in the straight.
Selections: 2-4-1-9
| 2. Cho Oyu (5) J: Martin Harley 59.5kg x1x31T: Barry Lockwood & Emma-Jane Vincent |
TEN DEEP (1) has settled in nicely at Tony Gollan’s stable after previously racing in Victoria with Moody & Coleman.
The five-year-old mare has won two of three starts this preparation in Brisbane including last start over 1200m here where she never went around a horse, charging along the fence to win by a half-length.
She was six weeks between runs so she will have come on nicely.
Chelsea Baker, who claims 3kg, will give her every chance with an on speed run from the good gate.
Selections: 1-4-12-14
| 1. Ten Deep (2) J: Chelsea Baker 61.5kg 9×131T: Tony Gollan |
SPANISH TREASURE (1) returns to the races for the first time since running a massive race in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas to finish just over a length third.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding was brilliant when easily claiming the Magic Millions Maiden Plate with an all the way performance.
While he only has the one win to his name, he’s never run a bad race and went within a neck of defeating Group 3 winning filly Alpha Sofie on two occasions.
He should enjoy a nice run on speed from the low draw.
Selections: 1-9-3-2
| 1. Spanish Treasure (3) J: Ryan Maloney 59kg x413xT: Tony Gollan |