Stradbroke Season kicks off at Eagle Farm on Saturday, with Queensland Guineas Day marking the official start of Brisbane’s winter carnival. The opening meeting sets the tone for the weeks ahead, and this year’s edition shapes as a compelling one with three black-type contests headlining the program.
Feature billing goes to the Group 2 Queensland Guineas, supported by the Group 2 Ladbrokes Victory Stakes for the sprinters and the Listed Dalrello Stakes for the two-year-olds, offering an early glimpse at some of the carnival’s key players across multiple divisions.
Conditions are likely to play a major role, with showers forecast throughout the week and the track already rated a Soft 7. That should ensure testing ground on race day, bringing wet-track credentials and fitness to the fore as runners look to make an early statement in Stradbroke Season.
With that in mind, we’ve done the form to help you find a few winners on the Eagle Farm Saturday racing program.
MERCURIAL LADY (3) was a touch stiff not to win last start over 1200m at Doomben.
The Desleigh Forster-trained gelding enjoyed a nice run but was held up on the fence and didn’t get out until late, but once he did, he found the line strongly to finish third by just under a half-length.
He’ll strip fitter third-up and gets blinkers on for the first time.
From barrier 2, Vlad Duric can stalk what looks like a decent speed.
Selections: 3-4-8-11
| 3. Mercurial Lady (2) 60kg17×33 |
AUTUMN WINTER (2) is an import that has hit his straps and is looking for his third win in a row.
The Matthew Smith-trained gelding stepped up to 2100m from a mile two starts ago at Wyong where he overcame a number of difficulties to win by just under half a length.
He impressed last start over 2400m at Warwick Farm when letting down strongly to put his rivals away for a 2.2 length victory.
Sydney form always holds up well in these types of races and I expect top jockey Ryan Maloney to give him an economic run from the low draw.
Selections: 2-5-9-4
| 2. Autumn Winter (2) 59kgx4611 |
ALL ADORE (9) ventured north last start and gave her rivals a galloping lesson over this course and distance.
The Nick Olive-trained filly settled in the box seat before sprinting powerfully in the straight to salute by 1.95 lengths.
Before coming to Brisbane, she bolted in at the Sapphire Coast by 4.42 lengths with a further 5.5 lengths to third.
She keeps stepping up to the mark and will carry just 51.5kg after the claim.
Selections: 9-5-3-2
| 9. All Adore (7) 54.5kg15311 |
They say you should back mares in form, and there’s none in better form than JENNI MOREESE (8), who is looking to win her fifth race in a row.
The Corey & Kylie Geran-trained mare won at the Sunshine Coast four starts ago before winning her next three races over this course and distance.
On each occasion, she has circled the field turning for home before letting down powerfully.
Corey Sutherland remains the pilot, and with his claim, she’ll carry just 54kg.
Selections: 8-13-1-10
| 8. Jenni Moreese (5) 56kg21111 |
ICARIAN DREAM (2) gets in extremely well with just 54kg thanks to the acceptance of stablemate State Visit who will likely go to the Queensland Guineas.
The Ciaron Maher-trained filly possesses a class edge over her rivals and just needs to get some luck from the outside barrier.
She had no luck in a stronger race at Warwick Farm two starts ago when caught wide throughout, yet she still only weakened late to finish 1.71 lengths behind the winner.
Last start over 1350m at Doomben she worked to the line well only for Smexy to do it better, forcing her to settle for a 1.11 lengths second.
The bigger Eagle Farm track is more to her liking given she won the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes here as a two-year-old.
While the outside barrier is far from ideal, she’ll likely get back in the run anyway.
Selections: 2-3-7-8
| 2. Icarian Dream (11) 54kg33762 |
THE NEXT EPISODE (3) was found to be lame when debuting in the Golden Gift and was immediately sent for a spell.
The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding resumed two starts ago at Warwick Farm where after being held up, he let down powerfully to win with something in hand.
He was stiff not to win the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes last start when bombing the start and settling a long way back before storming home to finish a head second.
A recent Doomben trial where he put his rivals away with contempt will have tuned him up nicely.
There looks to be good speed in the race which will aid his cause given he’ll likely get back from the outside barrier.
Selections: 3-7-1-4
| 3. The Next Episode (10) 57kg0x12 |
BRAVE MONARCH (2) could not have been more impressive in winning the Listed Daybreak Lover last start.
The Chris & Corey Munce-trained gelding raced three-wide for most of the race yet still produced the quickest closing splits to win by 2.24 lengths.
He’ll appreciate the rise to a mile and won third-up last preparation.
Martin Harley, who has won four of five rides on him, will give him a beautiful run from barrier 3.
Selections: 2-3-4-1
| 2. Brave Monarch (3) 57kg11×41 |
LADY OF CAMELOT (10) returns to the races for the first time in over a year but looks ready for a bold showing.
The Waterhouse & Bott-trained mare raced consistently well last preparation without winning, starting off with a fast finishing second to Private Harry in the Sunlight Plate.
She then had the misfortune of running into Lady Shenandoah three times in a row where she finished 1.18 lengths second in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes over this distance, a head second in the Group 1 Flight Stakes and three-quarters of a length third in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic.
She’s had two trials leading into this with the most recent seeing her given a good hit out to win from an on speed position.
Tim Clark can land in a stalking position behind a decent speed from the good draw.
Selections: 10-4-8-3
| 10. Lady Of Camelot (4) 56.5kg2223x |
GRAMMAR LAD (19) is racing in fine fettle and is chasing his third straight win.
The Kelly Schweida-trained gelding was last seen rocketing home to run down subsequent winner Savagery Vibe to salute by 1.11 lengths over 1350m at Doomben.
That followed a similar effort at Doomben to win after encountering traffic.
This is another rise in class, but he has handled everything thrown at him and he’s a stylish galloper.
Michael Rodd can be trusted to give him every chance.
Selections: 19-14-5-15
| 19. Grammar Lad (6) 55.5kgx4311 |