Australia Racing Preview for 6/5/2014
by Grant Davies
Another big day of racing up in Queensland with their biggest race of the year in the Stradbroke Handicap taking place at Eagle farm as well as two other Grade 1’s in the Queensland Derby and the J.J ATKINS. Let’s get right into it and assess the field for some Saturday bank builders!
EAGLE FARM – AUS A
RACE 5 – GRADE 2 VIRBAC ANIMAL HEALTH DANE RIPPER STAKES 1400m of $200000 (AUS)
Fillies & Mares going around here in the Dane Ripper. CATKINS is the class act in the field & although disappointing last time out she's been given a freshen up and her recent trials look to have sharpened her up. She races pretty good fresh & even with the big weight looks the one to beat. I really liked BELLE DE COEUR's run at Doomben behind Srikandi. It was her first outing for 3 weeks, logic says she'll strip fitter for it here. COSMIC ENDEAVOUR is going great guns down south, good alley & should be right in the mix, Tommy Berry steering is a bonus.
SELECTIONS – CATKINS / COSMIC ENDEAVOUR / BELLE DE COEUR
RACE 6 – GRADE 1 TATTS GROUP J.J. ATKINS 1600m of $500000 (AUS)
First of the G1's is for the 2yo's. TIME FOR WAR is likely to lead again from the inside gate in my mind. BRAZEN BEAU is going to box seat from the good alley whether it is on the fence or 2 wide, he should have beaten TIME FOR WAR last start after jumping away awkwardly & charging home late, that says to me that the mile will be perfect for him today. Gets a little hard after that, liked the way PRESSING, MOHAVE (who I wouldn't be surprised to see push forward) & CARELESS found the line at Doomben. Respect for ALMALAD (distance rise) & LOOKS LIKE THE CAT is one to watch in this. Careful what you invest here…..they are 2YR olds!
SELECTIONS – BRAZEN BEAU / PRESSING / ALMALAD
RACE 7 – GRADE 1 CHANNEL SEVEN QUEENSLAND DERBY 2400m of $500000
Going with the Victorian PINSTRIPE LANE who I though was terrific in the Grand Prix behind VILANOVA, strung up for a run he only found clear running inside the last 200m closing strongly however the bird had flown by that stage. TELEPATHIC was never on the track in the same race racing 3 deep without cover, didn't feel the pinch until last 100 or so, wide gate again here however fancy she'll be ridden cold as will the other filly ROCK DIVA who was good here last week. Great race this edition. ELUSIVE RUNNER will be in amongst it too.
SELECTIONS – PINSTRIPE LANE / TELEPATHIC / VILANOVA
RACE 8 – GRADE 1 AAMI STRADBROKE 1400m of $1360000 (AUS)
Queensland's biggest race, capacity field to line up where the pace will be on as it always is! SRIKANDI comes up with a poor gate; keep in mind though 5 of the last 9 winners have come from gates 12 & beyond. SPIRIT OF BOOM will attempt to join the likes of Rough Habit & Campaign King who are the only 2 winners to carry 58kg plus over the last 30 years, the way the barriers set up & if there's still a run left in him then he can do it! Liked KNOYDART's run in the 10,000, definite threat. Also, I liked REBEL DANE before the draw however he faces a task now. I also think RED TRACER may be very capable to surprise here!
SELECTIONS – SRIKANDI / REBEL DANE / RED TRACER
RACE 9 – GRADE 2 CROSER BRISBANE CUP 2400m of $300000 (AUS)
The Brisbane Cup sees us out, expecting a genuine tempo at least. PRECEDENCE has impressed both starts this campaign placing at the Gold Coast & Doomben finding the line well on each occasion, will lap up the 2400m & meets last start conqueror ZEPHYRON 2kg better at the weights & was stronger to the line late, should be winning. MORIARTY enjoyed a perfect run scoring here last week, his form around better class horses is good & he is the defending champion. Doesn't look to be a lot of chances.
SELECTIONS – PRECEDENCE / ZEPHYRON / MORIARTY
Another big day of racing up in Queensland with their biggest race of the year in the Stradbroke Handicap taking place at Eagle farm as well as two other Grade 1’s in the Queensland Derby and the J.J ATKINS. Let’s get right into it and assess the field for some Saturday bank builders!
EAGLE FARM – AUS A
RACE 5 – GRADE 2 VIRBAC ANIMAL HEALTH DANE RIPPER STAKES 1400m of $200000 (AUS)
Fillies & Mares going around here in the Dane Ripper. CATKINS is the class act in the field & although disappointing last time out she's been given a freshen up and her recent trials look to have sharpened her up. She races pretty good fresh & even with the big weight looks the one to beat. I really liked BELLE DE COEUR's run at Doomben behind Srikandi. It was her first outing for 3 weeks, logic says she'll strip fitter for it here. COSMIC ENDEAVOUR is going great guns down south, good alley & should be right in the mix, Tommy Berry steering is a bonus.
SELECTIONS – CATKINS / COSMIC ENDEAVOUR / BELLE DE COEUR
RACE 6 – GRADE 1 TATTS GROUP J.J. ATKINS 1600m of $500000 (AUS)
First of the G1's is for the 2yo's. TIME FOR WAR is likely to lead again from the inside gate in my mind. BRAZEN BEAU is going to box seat from the good alley whether it is on the fence or 2 wide, he should have beaten TIME FOR WAR last start after jumping away awkwardly & charging home late, that says to me that the mile will be perfect for him today. Gets a little hard after that, liked the way PRESSING, MOHAVE (who I wouldn't be surprised to see push forward) & CARELESS found the line at Doomben. Respect for ALMALAD (distance rise) & LOOKS LIKE THE CAT is one to watch in this. Careful what you invest here…..they are 2YR olds!
SELECTIONS – BRAZEN BEAU / PRESSING / ALMALAD
RACE 7 – GRADE 1 CHANNEL SEVEN QUEENSLAND DERBY 2400m of $500000
Going with the Victorian PINSTRIPE LANE who I though was terrific in the Grand Prix behind VILANOVA, strung up for a run he only found clear running inside the last 200m closing strongly however the bird had flown by that stage. TELEPATHIC was never on the track in the same race racing 3 deep without cover, didn't feel the pinch until last 100 or so, wide gate again here however fancy she'll be ridden cold as will the other filly ROCK DIVA who was good here last week. Great race this edition. ELUSIVE RUNNER will be in amongst it too.
SELECTIONS – PINSTRIPE LANE / TELEPATHIC / VILANOVA
RACE 8 – GRADE 1 AAMI STRADBROKE 1400m of $1360000 (AUS)
Queensland's biggest race, capacity field to line up where the pace will be on as it always is! SRIKANDI comes up with a poor gate; keep in mind though 5 of the last 9 winners have come from gates 12 & beyond. SPIRIT OF BOOM will attempt to join the likes of Rough Habit & Campaign King who are the only 2 winners to carry 58kg plus over the last 30 years, the way the barriers set up & if there's still a run left in him then he can do it! Liked KNOYDART's run in the 10,000, definite threat. Also, I liked REBEL DANE before the draw however he faces a task now. I also think RED TRACER may be very capable to surprise here!
SELECTIONS – SRIKANDI / REBEL DANE / RED TRACER
RACE 9 – GRADE 2 CROSER BRISBANE CUP 2400m of $300000 (AUS)
The Brisbane Cup sees us out, expecting a genuine tempo at least. PRECEDENCE has impressed both starts this campaign placing at the Gold Coast & Doomben finding the line well on each occasion, will lap up the 2400m & meets last start conqueror ZEPHYRON 2kg better at the weights & was stronger to the line late, should be winning. MORIARTY enjoyed a perfect run scoring here last week, his form around better class horses is good & he is the defending champion. Doesn't look to be a lot of chances.
SELECTIONS – PRECEDENCE / ZEPHYRON / MORIARTY
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