The Group 1 racing spotlight shines brightly on Eagle Farm this Saturday for the running of the Queensland Oaks. With a host of Listed and Group events also featuring, the Brisbane Carnival is starting to hit top gear! Down south Flemington and Royal Randwick host tricky and competitive winter programs.
Eagle Farm Race 5
#3 Yellow Brick
Yellow Brick is the best bet on a sensational program of racing. The Mission gelding is ready to peak third-up from a spell, and both runs this campaign have been full of merit. The 1500m looks ideal at this stage of his preparation, and he has drawn ideally in barrier three. Hard to toss!
Wategos was an impressive last-start winner at Doomben. The Capitalist gelding put his rivals to the sword a long way from home, and he deserves his shot at this level on Saturday. I suspect he will sit in the box seat from the inside draw, and if the favourite has an off day, he can greet the judge first. Big watch!
Suggested Bet: Yellow Brick @ $2.50
Eagle Farm RACE 6
#1 Hedged
Hedged is racing well without winning. The Capitalist gelding savaged the line two-starts back at Randwick, and he covered more ground than the early settlers at his latest outing at Caulfield. I suspect he has the fitness edge on the majority of his rivals, and I expect the in-form Jamie Fast Kah will have the big boy in a prominent position from the outset. The flood of early money indicates another bold performance is expected!
Skirt The Law is ready to win. Both runs this campaign have been teasing, and I suspect the Better Than Ready filly is ready to explode third-up from a spell. Her record at the distance must be respected, and she should get all the favours from the perfect inside draw. Her recent winning record is the biggest deterrent.
Suggested Bet: Hedged @ $2.50
#7 Fall For Cindy
Fall For Cindy is flying at present. The Sacred Falls mare is chasing a hatrick of wins, and her recent stunning victory at Group 3 level is still fresh in the memory bank. The current track conditions will suit, and the step out to a mile looks cherry-ripe. The addition of Jamie Kah could prove fruitful, and she has been specked at a decent price since markets opened. She may require an element of luck to get off the dulex as they run for the doctor!
La Crique will start race favourite after a consistent campaign to date. The Group 1 winning Vadamos mare strips fitter, and I suspect this has event has been a long-range target from the camp. Her record at the distance is outrageous, and her best performance here could be fences and panels better than her opposition. Her racing pattern and style is the biggest deterrent.
Suggested Bet: Fall For Cindy $7.50
Eagle Farm Race 8
#11 Mare Of Mt Buller
Mare Of Mt Buller is ready to win! The Dundeel filly has savaged the line all campaign and has been calling out for the longer trip since the moon landing. The current track conditions are ideal, and the inside draw will ensure a soft trip in transit. The Chris Waller and Tommy Berry combination must respected, and if the enigmatic three-year-old is presented with her run at the right time, I expect her to figure in the finish. Watch for her late!
Scarlet Oak oozes class. The Kermadec filly won by a furlong at Newcastle two starts back, and she was tough and gritty late in The Roses. James Mcdonald already has a winning association with the talented three-year-old, and I suspect she still has improvement to come for the preparation. Barrier fifteen and the step out in trip are among the primary concerns.
Suggested Bet: Mare Of Mt Buller @ $9.00
Flemington Race 7
#7 Le Parrain
Le Parrain was a brilliant last-start winner at Bendigo. The Street Boss gelding showed a blistering turn of foot at the top of the home straight, and he put the race to bed in a matter of strides. The 1100m is ideal at this stage of his campaign, and I suspect the promising three-year-old has more upside than the majority of his rivals. Barrier four will allow the big boy to roll forward, and if he can find the early lead uncontested, the race could be over before they reach the clock tower.
Steel City is fast approaching judgement day. The once Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper competitive Merchant Navy filly was disappointing first-up, and she was sent back to the trials as a result. She will appreciate the significant drop-in class here, and she has been well supported at a decent price since markets opened. Take on trust.
Suggested Bet: Le Parrain @ $8.00
Royal Randwick Race 7
#12 Estadio Mestalla
Estadio Mestalla was brilliant first-up against the track bias at Newcastle in the Takeover Target Stakes. The Galileo Gold gelding finds a more suitable trip on Saturday and traditionally performs well second-up from a spell. From barrier eleven, he can ping the lids and cross the field, and if he can control the tempo throughout, I expect him to fight out the finish. His fate may be decided during the first furlong of the event.
Frankie Pinot is over the odds. The Your Song gelding has been performing admirably in some hot-form races and looks well-placed in this company. If the heavens open further, I expect his quote to shorten significantly, and I am confident he is rock-hard fit after a lengthy campaign. He needs to put another win on the board!
Suggested Bet: Estadio Mestalla @ $5.50
