Every race bar one at Eagle Farm tomorrow is a Stakes race with the marquee event of course the Queensland Oaks for the three-year-old fillies.
Brisbane Cup hopefuls will lock horns in the Eagle Farm Cup (formerly the O'Shea Stakes) whilst a good bunch of three-year-olds go around in the Queensland Guineas, and Stradbroke hopefuls get one last throw at the stumps in the QTC Cup.
It's a great days racing and sets the scene for next weekend's big Super Saturday meeting featuring the Group 1 treble of the Stradbroke Handicap, Queensland Derby and the J.J. Atkins Stakes.
The Sandown Lakeside meeting sees the running of the Australian Hurdle and the Australian Steeple plus a $100,000 sprint race and the Sydney meeting at Rosehill has been marred by inclement weather but I still think I can find a couple of winners there too.
LOOKING FORWARD
Who's hot?
Brad Rawiller is on fire at the moment with 11 winners in the last three weeks including five in the last six days. In fact he hasn't missed at a meeting he's ridden at this week with a winner at Cranbourne (Sunday), Geelong (Tuesday), Bendigo (Wednesday) and a double at Sale (Thursday). His only ride tomorrow is Manighar (Eagle Farm Race 3 No. 1).
Damian Browne is also firing with five winners and five placings from just 12 rides since last Saturday at Doomben. He rode a double at the Sunshine Coast last Sunday and backed that up with a treble there today. He has three good rides tomorrow in Quintessential (Eagle Farm Race 3 No. 6) , Fire Up Fifi (Eagle Farm Race 4 No. 4) and Complicate (Eagle Farm Race 6 No. 9).
Eagle Farm
*** As of 4pm today the track was rated a Slow 7. The track has had 29mm of rain in the last week, almost all of it (27mm) on Thursday. The forecast is for mostly fine, partly cloudy weather with a chance of a shower. ***
Queensland Oaks (Group 1, 2400m, three-year-old fillies set weights)
Dr Stats Ph.D. Says: Gondokoro.
Seven of the last eight winners have come via The Roses but only one of them completed the double. Six of the last eight winners paid $9 or less. 11 of the last 14 winners drew a single figure barrier.
I'm banking on this turning into a real staying test what with the affected track and the fact it will be run late in the day. So I'm looking for a tough, seasoned galloper who can handle the wet and will sit handy as I think by this time of the afternoon it will be difficult to make ground from back in the field if the track deteriorates.
Dear Demi (22 starts) is an iron horse. This is the third Oaks she will have contested this season. Proven at the trip and has had two goes on the heavy for a win and a second placing in the ATC Oaks. Would have liked to see her do a little more against the boys last weekend although the blinkers do go back on tomorrow so she can be closer in the run. Another who should be handier this start is Soapy Star (16 starts) who was forced to go back from a wide draw in The Roses. Finished off well along the rail and should have been closer on the line but got checked off heels late. Two wins and a third from three attempts on heavy ground. Her stablemate Express Power can be forgiven her last start failure because she pulled up lame. Her win prior to that at the Gold Coast was dominant.
If you give those two a chance then Vaquera, Magic In Motion and Just As Cosmic must be considered because they beat them home last time out. The latter two have horror draws though. Vaquera however has drawn well, races on the speed and has won on slow. Gondokoro was the one I liked on top early in the week but the wet track and the fact she'll probably get well back makes it hard to step into $4. Miss Zenella (5 starts) and Porcellanus (2 starts) look like good horses in the making but I don't think they are seasoned enough for what could be a slogging mile and a half through poor conditions.
Locky's Selections
3 Soapy Star
1 Dear Demi
8 Vaquera
Queensland Guineas (Group 2, 1400m, 3-y-o set weights)
* Eximius, Al Aneed, Saturn Rock and Holy Toledo are early scratchings
I think the Fred Best Classic showed us that there isn't much between this lot and that the winner of this event will probably be the horse that gets the best run and handles the conditions. Platinum Kingdom looks to be that horse. Should get the gun run just behind the speed from barrier three. Showed he can handle bog conditions when he won his first start in this country at Randwick on April 20 but showed he can do it on the dry too when he won at Doomben last start. I tipped him on top that day at $15 and can't see any reason not to take the $6.50 tomorrow. Boban and Academus weren't far away in that race and on a dry track I had them right in the mix but a really heavy track would be a concern. Won't worry Sizzling though because he swims through it and will really appreciate getting back to his home track at Eagle Farm. Blinkers go on too. Other good runs from the Fred Best Classic were Lilliburlero and Complicate who are both drawn to get good runs.
Locky's Selections
1 Sizzling
19 Lilliburlero
Eagle Farm Cup (Group 2, 2200m, w-f-a)
Quintessential is going to encounter almost identical conditions to this very same day last year when she won the Queensland Oaks on a Heavy 10. Just like she did a fortnight ago too for that matter in the Chairmans Handicap. I've already got $11 so that'll do me. Lights of Heaven has won two from two at Eagle Farm and has two wins and a second from three attempts on affected ground. Manighar looked the winner in the Doomben Cup but just knocked up the last little bit. He'll strip fitter for that but a really heavy track is a worry. Moriarty has been left out for the same reason although I had him in my top three on a dry track. The other two should be in Melbourne going over the steeples at Sandown.
Locky's Selections
6 Quintessential
5 Lights Of Heaven
1 Manighar
QTC Cup (Group 2, 1300m, quality handicap)
* Mic Mac is an early scratching
Not a race I'm overly keen on as a betting proposition but a good race if you can find the winner because you'll probably get a decent price. A fairly even lot and as I've said before a lot will come down to who gets the best run in transit and who handles the ground because by the time this race rolls around this track could be bottomless. So I'm going to go wide here and perhaps box three roughies in an Any 2 just to keep me entertained.
Celtic Dancer ($15) won this race last year and is three from four at 1300m and on heavy going. Border Rebel ($15) is rock hard fit and will be up on the speed and is four from four on heavy tracks. Griffon ($8.50) does like to get back but hopefully he can be closer tomorrow from a good barrier. He'll be storming home and his wet track form is sound (4:2-0-2).
Locky's Selections
8 Border Rebel
12 Griffon
13 Celtic Dancer
Other bets
Detours (Eagle Farm Race 5 No. 4) is going to start around $6 and I can just see her getting the best run here from barrier 2. Well in with just 2kg over the minmum, she handles wet tracks and Darley do make a habit of picking off these Listed races for the girls to boost the value of their broodmares.
Said Com (Rosehill Race 4 No. 3) was the eye-catcher at Scone in the Luskin Star. He came from near last to finish fifth beaten two and a half lengths in a slowly run affair where Fontelina walked in front then sprinted home the final 600m in 33.72. Will get through the slow conditions OK and you should be able to get $7.50.
Index Linked (Rosehill Race 8 No. 14) looks the short way home in The Get Out Stakes much like Strawberry Boy last week. He won't be any flash price ($2.50) but he should just win. The penny seems to have finally dropped for the Chris Waller trained import and he's strung together three victories on end at 1500m. The last of those was a four length demolition job at this track and I see no reason why he can't make it four in a row tomorrow.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Tim Clark, Glen Boss and Ric McMahon all copped suspensions last weekend. Clark and McMahon will ride tomorrow but will miss the Stradbroke meeting unless they appeal successfully. Boss won't ride tomorrow but will be back next weekend for Super Saturday at Eagle Farm.
It's better news for jockey Tommy Berry. He's certainly making the most of his short stint in Hong Kong, bagging another feature race winner last Sunday aboard Charles The Great in the Sha Tin Vase.
But jockey Chris Munce has the best news of all - he is officially cancer free. The popular hoop made the announcement earlier this week via Twitter, saying his specialist has revealed his final set of scans was clear. Munce was diagnosed with throat cancer late last year and underwent seven weeks of radiation treatment and chemotherapy.
Shamexpress showed he's on track for his tilt at Royal Ascot with a jump-out win at Flemington today. The Newmarket winner is being aimed at The Kings Stand Stakes on June 18. Meanwhile Sea Siren is a confirmed starter in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes after her second behind Epaulette in the Doomben 10,000 last weekend.
And the Sigo-gaite saga rolls on with trainer Gai waterhouse lodging an appeal against her $5000 fine for failing to inform stewards of the treatment and condition of More Joyous prior to her failure in the All Aged Stakes. No date has been set for the hearing.
LOOKING BACK
Doomben
Doomben 10,000 (Group 1, 1350m, w-f-a)
Dr Stats Ph.D. Says: Your Song. 6th.
I think most people's speed maps (mine included) went out the window before they'd gone five strides when Your Song flew the gates and decided to eyeball Buffering in front. They were running sub 11.5 second sectionals in front for the first half mile so it was no wonder noted speedsters like Rain Affair and Steps In Time couldn't keep up. It was also no wonder that the race was won by a swooper as I predicted. I just leaned the wrong way and picked the wrong three-year-old on top. Buffering's effort to hang on for third was enormous under the circumstances. Your Song could have been the victim of a hard run first-up and it wouldn't surprise if he bounced back in the Stradbroke with just 54kg.
Locky's Selections
15 Better Than Ready (5th)
10 Epaulette (1st) $6.10 win / $2.30 place
2 Buffering (3rd) $2.50 place
Any 2 2-10 $7.50
Sires Produce Stakes (Group 2, 1350m, 2-y-o set weights)
A few runs here that were better than they looked because it was a funny race. The sectional for the final 600m was faster than that of the Doomben 10,000 yet the overall time was nearly two seconds slower. So they walked then sprinted. It forced quite a few jockeys to get on their bike earlier than they would have liked and they ended up camped deep. No wonder that horses like Hooked and The Voice knocked up the last little bit. Vilanova's run was huge all things considered, whereas the stablemate Zoustar got all the favours camped behind the leaders and saving ground. Great ride by The Pumper. Paximadia and Global Dream look like they will appreciate a trip across the road to the bigger track at Eagle Farm.
Locky's Selections
7 Hooked (5th)
14 Bound For Earth (3rd) $3.30 place
Grand Prix Stakes (Group 3, 2200m, 3-y-o set weights)
Hawkspur looked strong through the line, the placegetters were OK and Dear Demi only fair. Hard to see them turning the tables in the Derby next Saturday.
Locky's Selections
2 Hawkspur (1st) $4.20 win / $1.80 place
14 Dear Demi (6th)
4 Usainity (4th)
Glenlogan Park Stakes (Group 3, 1350m, fillies & mares set weights plus penalties)
Arinosa got too far back in a slowly run race. Expect improvement.
Last week I wrote:
Sookie ($17) was backed into favourtism last start when resuming before disappointing on that bottomless Eagle Farm track. The money was there to say she was ready to do something so it may pay to forgive that failure. $16.00 win / $3.30 place
Locky's Selections
4 Arinosa (4th)
6 Emmalene (12th)
8 Risk Aversion (14th)
Other bets
Last week I wrote:
Peron (Doomben Race 3 No. 13) was good to us last start and should win again. Overcame a lot of difficulties at the Gold Coast but like good horses do she found a way to win. Well drawn, well weighted and unbeaten up to 1400m. Could be a horse of the future with four wins and a third from five starts including a prior victory over this course and distance She's found her place in the market though ($2.50) so she may be one to play around with in a few multis. 1st. $2.80 / $1.60 place.
Midsummer Sun (Doomben Race 9 No. 12) is another of these imported horses bought by Australian interests with a view to the Cups in the Spring. If they are setting their sights that high he'd want to be taking care of this lot from down on the minimum and a good gate. Two starts for two wins in this country including a last start victory over another import in the Chris Waller trained Fulgur who has since won. Should be backable at around $4. 13th.
Serene Star (Caulfield Race 7 No. 1) is much better than this lot and with the three kilo claim isn't badly in at just three kilos over the minimum against her own sex. Vibrant Rouge is given a chance in the race which should ensure we can still get on at about $3.50. Serene Star gave Vibrant Rouge eight kilos first-up and beat her home, then gave her four and a half kilos second-up and beat her home again. Tomorrow she only has to give her three. Should probably be unbeaten this time after in after flashing home late last start after Elite Elle got away with murder in front (First 600m 37.23) before sprinting home. 3rd. $1.90 place.
Strawberry Boy (Caulfield Race 9 No. 5) is another who will come up at a skinny quote but should just win. Unbeaten up to a mile and unbeaten second-up. First-up run was great when sat on a hot speed and still managed to kick and defy all the challengers. The short way home in The Get Out Stakes. 1st. $1.70 win / $1.30 place.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Last one in is a rotten egg!
- Harold Holt, Cheviot Beach (Portsea, Victoria), 17 December 1967
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