Saturday’s Caloundra Cup meeting at the Sunshine Coast brings the curtain down on the Queensland Racing Carnival with a strong nine-race program and a trio of feature events headlining the card.
The meeting is highlighted by the Group 3 Winx Guineas, the Listed Caloundra Cup, and the Listed Glasshouse Handicap, giving punters one final quality winter carnival puzzle to solve before attention shifts elsewhere. Conditions will be a key talking point, with the track currently rated a Heavy 8, although fine weather in the lead-up should give the surface every chance to improve before race day. Late showers remain a possibility on Saturday, so monitoring track updates will be important.
With the rail in the true position, every runner should get their chance if the track plays evenly, but the early races may prove especially instructive. Should the inside begin to chop out, jockeys may look to scout wider in search of the crown of the track, making pattern and lane assessment crucial as the meeting unfolds. It shapes as a fitting finale to the carnival, with staying depth, sprinting quality, and testing conditions all combining for a competitive Sunshine Coast program.
Hellish way to start Caloundra Cup Day with a wide-open Benchmark 70 Handicap.
I’m going with TORNADO EXPRESS (16), who should be at peak fitness now following over a year in the paddock.
The Brent Gray-trained mare improved noticeably last start over this distance at Doomben, where she produced the quickest final 600m of the race to finish 1.92 lengths third.
She won her only previous fourth-up run when saluting by 4.44 lengths at Tamworth.
The low draw is a positive and should see Sean Cormack push forward and settle in a prominent position.
| 16. Tornado Express (2) 57kg5×683 |
BALANCE THE BOOKS (6) was excellent last start at Ipswich when winning against the pattern of the day.
The Tony Gollan-trained mare didn’t have the easiest run in transit, racing wide and back, but let down powerfully from well back to easily salute by 1.64 lengths.
She had been a touch unlucky in her two previous races when placing.
Once again she has a tricky barrier, but Ben Thompson is in the irons and can expertly pilot us through any difficulty.
| 6. Balance The Books (11) 57.5kgx4231 |
TENGUN TOMMY (4) resumed for new trainer Tony Gollan in fine style last start over 1110m at Doomben with a win.
The son of Flying Artie drew wide and was forced to work but still fought like a tiger to salute by a half-length, with 3.68 lengths back to third.
Cool Gent was fourth in that race and subsequently stormed home to win the Listed Oxlade Stakes.
He’ll strip fitter second-up and can stalk what looks like a fierce speed.
| 4. Tengun Tommy (5) 57kg6×1 |
HAND IN HAND (8) is a French import having her first start for Tony Gollan.
The chestnut filly was last seen in November bolting in to win her maiden at start number three by five lengths at Le Croise-Laroche.
She’s had two trials leading into this first-up assignment, where she has shown good early speed before finishing close thirds in both.
Daniel Moor can use barrier 2 to advantage and drive forward to settle in a prominent position.
| 8. Hand In Hand (2) 54kg2x21x |
WANDA ROX (14) resumes here looking to keep her magnificent first-up record of five wins from six races intact.
Now trained by Tony Gollan, the six-year-old mare has had two trials to prepare for this, with the first piece of work resulting in a win.
Front concussion plates come off for the first time, and she gets in extremely well under the set weight conditions of the race with just 54kg.
She’s drawn well for Emily Lang, who should be able to find the crown and unleash.
| 14. Wanda Rox (4) 54kg1513x |
WRITTEN IN LAW (10) is on the quick back-up after finding the line well to finish 3.26 lengths seventh in last weekend’s Tatt’s Tiara.
The Bjorn Baker-trained filly is well weighted under the set weight conditions of the race and arrives here at peak fitness fourth-up.
While she’s yet to win in four attempts at a mile, she has finished runner-up in three of those, including the Group 1 Flight Stakes and the Group 1 Champagne Stakes, where she missed by just a nose.
She hasn’t won since the 2025 Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes but looks well placed to finally break through.
| 10. Within The Law (10) 55kg5×327 |
THEBUDGIESMUGLA (5) ventures north for the Caloundra Cup in super form having won two of his past three races.
The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding had plenty on his rivals last start when winning the Listed Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Rosehill.
That kept his perfect record over this distance intact, with four wins from as many starts.
The outside barrier isn’t ideal, but Dylan Gibbons has plenty of time to find a handy position.
| 5. Thebudgiesmugla (13) 54kg05161 |
GERRINGONG (8) is on the quick back-up after an excellent, but slightly unlucky, third in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara.
The Chris & Corey Munce-trained mare jumped well but was shuffled back to midfield before being held up in the straight and finishing strongly late to end up 2.21 lengths behind Splash Back.
That followed a terrific first-up effort in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes, where she was beaten a head.
She’ll strip fitter and finished second to Manaal by less than a length in the Group 2 Golden Pendant the last time she was third-up.
Dylan Gibbons should give her every chance from barrier 2.
| 8. Gerringong (2) 56.5kg75×23 |
BENGAL DIAMOND (2) will appreciate the drop in class after finishing 3.74 lengths behind Surfin’ Bird in the Magic Millions National Classic.
The Adam Campton-trained mare showed plenty of fight two starts ago when proving too strong over this distance at Eagle Farm in the same class race as this.
She has a history of winning her fifth run in a preparation, having completed the feat last preparation over 1400m at Eagle Farm, where she defeated Silver Wedding by 1.06 lengths.
Winkers go on for the first time and Ben Thompson should be able to land in a prominent position from the low draw.
| 2. Bengal Diamond (2) 60kgx2310 |