The Queensland Cup headlines a big Saturday at Eagle Farm as the Ladbrokes Spring Racing Carnival gets underway.
The 10-race card also features the Listed Tattersall’s Member Cup, while the first metropolitan two-year-old race of the season gives us an early look at the juveniles.
The track is rated a Soft 5 and the rail is out 2m. We’ve worked through the track conditions, speed maps and key runners to find the main winning chances and betting opportunities.
The carnival starts here, and there’s plenty to get stuck into.
Let’s dive into the Queensland Cup Day form and find a few winners.
It’s hard to be too confident in early-season two-year-old races, particularly when the runners are making their debuts. However, trainer Kelly Schweida wouldn’t be running VENUS INVICTA (2) if she wasn’t educated and ready.
The daughter of Capitalist looked professional in a recent 840m Doomben trial. She showed good speed to cross and lead, then worked nicely to the line under her own steam to win by 1.26 lengths.
She draws well for Martin Harley, who partnered her in the trial and stays aboard for the race.
| 2. Venus Invicta (3) 54.5kg |
METAMORPHICALLY (1) has settled in well at Jeff Dunn’s stable after previously racing in Sydney.
The Written Tycoon gelding impressed on his first start for Dunn two runs ago, charging down the Ipswich straight to win the 1350m contest by 3.32 lengths.
He followed that with another win last start over 1400m at the Gold Coast, where he enjoyed a nice run just behind the lead before proving too strong late.
Bella Youngberry’s 2kg claim should help her give him every chance to enjoy another sweet run on speed.
| 1. Metaphorically (7)SCRATCHED: | |||
DARK ARTS (4) is on the quick back-up after a strong effort over this course and distance last start.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding drew wide and was forced to go back, but couldn’t find a spot and was left three-deep in no man’s land. Despite that, he found the line well to finish fifth, beaten 1.57 lengths.
He also ran well when resuming over 1200m at Doomben, finishing third after being held up second-up in his previous preparation. Subsequent Sydney Highway Handicap winner Bluish Hue finished a head ahead of him in second.
He’s at peak fitness and should appreciate the strong speed.
| 4. Dark Arts (6) 58kg2×355 |
GRAFFITUDE (6) had little luck on debut, finishing fourth, beaten 1.61 lengths, over 1200m at Bairnsdale.
The son of Graff transferred to Tony Gollan’s stable after that run, and Brisbane’s premier trainer quickly found improvement, with the gelding proving too strong over this course and distance.
It was only a maiden win, but he comfortably put his rivals away despite racing greenly, so there should be plenty of improvement to come.
He’s drawn to enjoy a beautiful run for Angela Jones.
| 6. Graffitude (1) 56kg41 |
SAMARELLE (8) heads north from Sydney and looks to have found the right race to go back-to-back.
The O’Shea and Charlton-trained mare settled a long way back two starts ago before finding the line well for a 3.26-length second over 1400m at Warwick Farm.
She again settled well off the lead last start, but relished the rise to a mile and stormed home to win impressively by a length.
The step up to 1800m looks suitable, and Anna Roper’s claim brings her weight down to 55kg. Barrier 4 should give her every chance.
| 8. Samarelle (4) 55kg60×21 | |||
| Made the right progression second-up at Warwick Farm, winning over 1600m on soft ground as favourite despite early crowding and a bump on the home turn. She had worked home well for second there first-up in a 3yo+ FM Benchmark 72, and now arrives third-up with a 1.5kg claim. First go at 1800m is a query, but she sets the standard. | |||
KING OF POP (3) resumes for new trainer Tony Gollan and should appreciate this level of opposition.
The Farnan gelding won on debut before claiming the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes at Canberra at his second start. That was 18 months ago, and he has yet to win since.
His subsequent races have all been significantly stronger than this assignment, with a head second in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes among his best efforts.
He looks ready to produce a bold first-up performance after two very good trials against open-class horses.
Ben Thompson can make full use of the inside barrier and settle him prominently.
| 3. King Of Pop (1) 60.5kg5x90x |
LUCKY PAT (1) returns looking to build on what proved to be a very good first campaign.
The Pat Webster-trained gelding began with back-to-back wins over 800m at Ipswich. He was then heavily backed at his third start, finishing 2.91 lengths second to The Next Episode in the Listed Dalrello Stakes.
He ended the preparation with a 2.42-length third in the Magic Millions National 2YO Classic, behind The Next Episode and Natural Fling, who are Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes favourites.
Two trials should have him primed for a bold return, with his latest hit-out an effortless and stylish win.
He’s drawn perfectly down low for 1.5kg claimer Jace McMurray.
| 1. Lucky Pat (2) 58.5kg1123x |
NAVAL SEAL (3) had little luck first-up, then failed to put the change of tactics into practice second-up.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding dropped back to this class at the Gold Coast last start and produced a much better effort, charging home late to miss the win by a nose, with third more than three lengths away.
He’s at peak fitness now and looks to get the right setup.
Atmosphere should ensure a strong speed, which could allow Andrew Mallyon to settle just off the pace before making his move in the straight.
| 3. Naval Seal (6) 57kg4×782 |
AMPLIFY (3) returns to Eagle Farm in great form and looks the one to beat in the Listed Queensland Cup.
The Ciaron Maher-trained mare found the line strongly over this distance at Rosehill last start, missing the win by a head behind red-hot So You Think in the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality.
She has been holding her form well, winning the Tygalgah Cup at Murwillumbah five starts ago and finishing third in the Listed Drinkwise Cup at Randwick three starts back.
She rises significantly in weight but drops in class and has proven she can carry weight.
| 3. Amplify (6) 58.5kg31342 |
There was plenty of merit in FUKUBANA (2)’s latest effort in the Lismore Cup.
The Matt Dunn-trained gelding settled back and wide from the outside barrier before charging to the line under the hefty impost of 62kg, missing the win by a neck.
He’ll appreciate returning to this course and distance, where he comfortably won two starts ago despite suffering from heat stress.
The form around him is strong. Weetwood winner Let’sfacethemusic only just beat him first-up, when Fukubana recorded the meeting’s fastest final 400m.
He’s at peak fitness and draws well for Andrew Mallyon.
| 2. Fukubana (4) 58.5kg0x212 |