All roads lead to Caloundra for the annual Sunshine Coast Turf Club stand-alone meeting this Saturday. With the Caloundra Cup, Winx Guineas, and Glasshouse Handicap featuring on the bumper card of racing, a near-capacity crowd is expected trackside! Can anyone stop the Waterhouse and Bott camp who look to have a mortgage on the stunning program.
Sunshine Coast Race 6
#8 Zoumon
Zoumon comes to Queensland up and about after two impressive performances at Rosehill. The Zoustar gelding will appreciate the step out to 2400m, and he deserves his shot at this level. The rising five-year-old will roll forward in search of the lead from the awkward barrier, and if he can control the sectionals throughout, he may prove hard to run down. His fate may be decided during the first furlong.
Luncies will have supporters after an ultra-consistent campaign. He savaged the line late for a breakthrough win in the Tatt’s Cup at his latest outing, and with even luck in transit, I expect him to figure in the finish again. The Iffraaj gelding is no stranger to the longer trip, and if he can find some cover from the wide alley, he can blow away his rivals late. Hard to toss!
Desert Icon looks poised to strike from an inside draw. The Sea The Stars gelding is knocking on the door, and he finds his pet distance on Saturday. The rising eight-year-old has finished in the quinella for the majority of his current campaign, and if he sees daylight on straightening, I expect him to trouble the scorer again.
Suggested Bet: Zoumon @ $3.50
Sunshine Coast RACE 7
#4 Grebeni
Grebeni is flying this campaign. The Ocean Park gelding has won his last three starts, and the step back to a mile could prove a masterstroke. He should be rock-hard fit at this stage of his preparation, and if he handles the sharp class rise, he is the one to beat. From the carpark draw, I suspect he will go forward in search of the lead, and if he doesn’t spend his pennies early, he will look the winner inside the final furlong.
Soothsayer is ready to win. The Divine Prophet gelding has been threatening without winning, and I expect him to produce a peak performance for the campaign on Saturday. He should be cherry ripe after a recent barrier trial, and the flood of early money indicates a bold showing. He should get the run of the race from barrier three, and the current drier track conditions adds weight to his case. Hard to toss.
Fashion Legend can run a drum despite jumping from a different suburb. The Deep Field gelding has the best-exposed form in the race and will eat up every inch of the 1600m. All runs of this preparation have been ominous, and he is ready to explode. He will always need luck in transit with his pattern of racing.
Suggested Bet: Grebeni @ $4.00
Sunshine Coast Race 8
#3 Munhamek
Munhamek is an owner’s dream. The Dark Angel gelding doesn’t know how to run a bad race, and his current preparation has been first-class. He chased home the classy Antino at his latest outing, and he meets easier opposition here. His record at the distance is outrageous, and I expect him to make his presence felt late with even luck. Barrier 11 is his biggest obstacle.
Gravina is over the odds after a campaign of narrow misses. The Sebring gelding was caught three and four wide the trip two starts back, while he was grabbed in the shadows of the post in the Eye Liner Stakes at his latest run. His winning record is the primary concern.
Chassis can figure despite the carpark draw. The Al Maher is chasing a hattrick, and she will thrive stepping out to the 1400m. Her last-start win was as tough as they come, and a repeat performance here would see her return to the winner’s enclosure for the third straight time. If she doesn’t spend too much petrol early, I expect her to be there when the whips are racking.
Suggested Bet: Munhamek @ $4.40
Sunshine Coast Race 9
#1 Goldsborough
Goldsborough can win despite needing to carry the grandstand. The Headwater gelding caught the eye last start at Ipswich, and he will appreciate the significant drop in class. The 3kg apprentice claim brings him into all winning conversations, and the drop back to the 1000m could prove the winning difference. The rising six-year-old is rock-hard fit, and his best form reads incredibly well for this event. Hard to toss!
Rubiquitous is racing in great spirit. The Rubick gelding is building an impressive career record, and he strips fitter after a recent rugged performance at Eagle Farm. From barrier seven, he will roll forward and control the tempo, and if he can sneak away before they enter the long Caloundra home straight, I wonder if they can run him down. The potential early-speed battle could be his undoing.
Red Rubi looks dangerous jumping from an inside barrier. The Rubick mare produced a teasing run fresh, and her second-up record is near perfect. The 1000m is in her wheelhouse, and there has been an avalanche of money for her since markets opened. If she can stay in touch with the leaders during the middle stages, I expect her to figure.
Suggested Bet: Goldsborough @ $6.50
