Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally
Tofane strong late
G1 TAB Stradbroke H., $1,500,000, 1400m
Vega One (Lope De Vega {Ire}) flew home to win the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup here last fortnight under the urges of Jamie Kah.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding loses the services of Kah but will be ridden by another astute horsewoman in Rachel King. Drawn in barrier four the 5-year-old will again find himself held up in the straight and in desperate need of an out to show his explosive turn of foot.
Wild Planet (Animal Kingdom {USA}) rattled home into second behind gun gelding Eduardo (Host {Chi}) in last month’s G1 Doomben 10,000. There he was on return and with fitness now on his side expect another big finish this time over a more suitable trip.
Dual Group 1-winning gelding Mr Quickie (Shamus Award) returns to Queensland two years after his G1 Queensland Derby victory. The Phillip Stokes-trained galloper will find himself locked away on the fence from barrier one and doesn’t get in well at the weights carrying 56.5kgs.
Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) has been most impressive at her two starts this time in, with her previous effort culminating in a hard closing second placing over 1350 metres.
She draws barrier 12 here and is more than capable of winning a race of this stature with luck in running, while Apache Chase (Better Than Ready) will be looking to run his rivals ragged out in front with the minimum of 49.5kgs on his back.
Converge gets lucky
G1 Treasury Brisbane JJ Atkins S., $1,000,000, 1600m
Converge (Frankel {GB}) was luckless in defeat when finishing second in the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce. There he settled nearest to last and was held up and forced off heels before producing with strong closing splits only to be narrowly denied.
He draws favourably here in barrier five and can settle closer in the run this time out as a result of the nice gate.
Port Louis (Maurice {Jpn}) loomed as the eventual winner in the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce but ultimately peaked on his run over the concluding stages and was unable to get past Tiger Of Malay (Extreme Choice) or hold out the hard-closing Converge.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained colt will appreciate stepping up to a mile, having finished 2.2l fifth in the G1 Sires’ Produce S. at Randwick in April. He will also benefit from having experienced the Eagle Farm surface under race conditions.
Cape Breton (Vancouver) is trending in the right direction ahead of his third career start despite having been thrown in the deep end here. The Chris Waller-trained talent has won both his career starts albeit on a Soft surface. So, if he can adapt to the firm Eagle Farm conditions expect a bold showing.
Team Hawkes-trained gelding Overmann (Hinchinbrook) is another who can rise to the occasion having beat last Saturday’s Listed The Phoenix S. winner Volcanic Rock (Hinchinbrook) at his most recent start in Sydney over 1300 metres.
Zaaki hard to beat
G2 Sky Racing Q22, $1,200,000, 2200m
Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) looks extremely hard to beat in the inaugural running of this feature event.
The high-class import demoralised a field of numerous Group 1 winners by 7l in the G1 Doomben Cup and drops right back in class for this race. So, if the Annabel Neasham-trained 6-year-old turns up in similar order he should again make his presence felt.
Toffee Tongue (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) settled for a distant second behind Zaaki in the G1 Doomben Cup. The Chris Waller-trained mare can again run a bold race and if Zaaki doesn’t turn up she is a genuine winning chance despite drawing barrier 15 of 16.
Brandenburg (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) filled the minors in the G1 Doomben Cup 9.3l behind Zaaki and 2.3l behind the aforementioned runner-up Toffee Tongue.
Trainer John Sargent seems to have the talented gelding back to his best and he shouldn’t be discredited stepping out beyond 2000 metres for the first time in his career.
G1 Australian Cup winner Homesman (USA) (War Front {USA}) produced a tough on-pace performance here last start over 1800 metres and can again give sight from the front, while Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}) will improve on his breathtaking first-up victory stepping out over an extra 400 metres.
Rondinella in the mix
G2 Lexus Brisbane Cup, $400,000, 3200m
Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) has remained in work for some time now. However, the classy mare has had her runs spaced accordingly by trainer John O’Shea.
The 6-year-old was doing her best work in the concluding stages over 2400 metres in the G3 Premiers Cup last start and in doing so proved that she is capable of handling the testing Eagle Farm surface.
She’s proven at this specialist distance and will be ridden from barrier six by big-time performer Glen Boss.
Carif (So You Think {NZ}) loomed to win the G3 Premiers Cup last start but was narrowly denied in a thrilling finish. He will be required to lump the top weight of 59kgs but has proven himself over the two-mile journey having won at his only attempt to date.
Knights Order (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}) presents here fourth-up on the quick back-up after winning the Listed Winter Cup at Rosehill.
In typical Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained fashion, the 6-year-old will roll forward under Tim Clark and string the field along at a genuine gallop in his first attempt over two miles.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Lord Belvedere (GB) (Archipenko {USA}) will line up as a rising 7-year-old in his first attempt over two miles. He draws in barrier three and maps to get a lovely run with cover under Jye McNeil.
Odeum to step cleanly
G2 Magic Millions Dane Ripper S., $200,000, 1300m
Sweet Deal (Casino Prince) flashed home here to finish second last fortnight and before that won the G3 Hawkesbury Crown in fine fashion.
She is a high-class mare but the now rising 6-year-old mare has been up for some time now and is reaching the back end of her final racing preparation.
Lone filly Odeum (Written Tycoon) has drawn the carpark here, barrier 16, for her first start in Queensland. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained 3-year-old blew the start at Randwick back in April and hasn’t been seen since, all bar a recent 4l Gold Coast trial romp.
If she steps clean, she will be forced to settle back in the field and will be spotting the lead a significant margin on straightening despite securing the services of astute hoop James McDonald.
Brooklyn Hustle (Starspangledbanner) broke through for the first time in a long time when saluting at Group 3 level at Morphettville on May 15. She draws out in barrier 13 but can settle back in the field and flash out wide stepping out over what looks to be a suitable distance.
Conventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) will line up in her first start on Australian soil off the back of a 3.5l Sunshine Coast trial romp. The rising 5-year-old is only lightly raced for her age and is capable of measuring up against her Australian counterparts, while Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}) will be out to make amends for her lack of recent success when she returns for the first time since finishing last in the G1 Doncaster H.
Boom gelding to bounce back
G3 James Squire Gunsynd Classic, $200,000, 1600m
Boom gelding Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) can bounce back here after going under at his first interstate assignment here last fortnight.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained gelding looks set to relish the extra 200 metres on offer here and can prove his class landing in the box seat from barrier one under superstar hoop James McDonald.
Ellsberg (Spill The Beans) presents here fourth-up after going under at his previous two starts. The 3-year-old is proven at a mile and can prove hard to run down if he gets all the favours out in front under superb front-running rider Tim Clark.
Without Thinking (So You Think {NZ}) is building an imposing record, having won three on the trot since resuming. While the John Symons and Sheila Laxon-trained gelding looks to be a promising type he will need to go to a new level based on the level he has been competing at locally to date.
Easy Campese (Sidestep) has remained consistent right throughout his 16 career starts to date, having finished in the money on nine occasions. The John Sargent-trained gelding comes through a last start BM68 victory and will need to scale new heights here if he’s to match motors with his better-performed rivals.
Barbie suits trip
Listed Jim Beam Black Hinkler H., $150,000, 1200m
Outback Barbie (Spirit Of Boom) broke through two starts ago at Doomben over 1200 metres before finishing 1.4l seventh in last fortnights G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup.
The Tony Gollan-trained mare looks suited dropping back from 1300 metres despite having never placed in eight starts at Eagle Farm.
Stablemate Garibaldi (I Am Invincible) didn’t see out the 1350 metres last start at Doomben
The gelding will appreciate stepping back to a distance where he boasts six top-two finishes. The Eagle Farm surface is also to his liking as he has finished in the money at five of his seven attempts.
Iron filly Away Game (Snitzel) resumes after an unplaced effort in the G1 Surround S. Before that she was placed on three occasions, including a narrow first-up second behind a fit and firing Isotope (Deep Field).
She will be required to work hard early from barrier nine to find a forward position with cover and could ultimately be posted wide without cover.
Victorian raider Blazejowski (Dash For Cash) drops back in class after finishing 3.6l 13th in the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup at his first look at Eagle Farm. The Greg Eurell-trained 6-year-old has won three of his four third-up attempts and is capable of measuring up to the task here under Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jye McNeil.
So You Win model of consistency
Listed RadioTAB The Wayne Wilson H., $150,000, 1600m
Enigmatic gelding Kementari (Lonhro) has found a winnable stakes race here after failing to figure at Group 1 level last time out.
The Godolphin galloper was most impressive before that finishing 1.4l sixth in the G1 All Aged S. He draws awkwardly in barrier seven of eight but will be ridden by Champion hoop Kerrin McEvoy.
So You Win (So You Think {NZ}) has been a model of consistency this time in having finished in the money without winning at all four attempts.
The Chris Waller-trained Queensland-based gelding could be vulnerable here dropping back to a mile after running over 1800 and 2000 metres respectively.
So You Win’s stablemates Mister Sea Wolf (Ire) (Amadeus Wolf {GB}) and Kings Will Dream (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) are both more than capable types and are every chance of notching up a long-overdue victory.
In The Congo impressive
Listed Nova 106.9 Oxlade S., $150,000, 1200m
In The Congo (Snitzel) was a most impressive debut winner over 1100 metres on the Randwick-Kensington surface.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt accounted for subsequent maiden winner Verne (Snitzel) there and presents here three weeks between runs. He draws in barrier seven and will likely press forward under regular stable rider Tim Clark.
Aquis-owned galloper Maotai (Not A Single Doubt) bolted in over 1100 metres on debuting, saluting by 5.3l. The Kacy Fogden-trained colt has since prevailed in a 1000 metre trial and looks right up to this task if he can correct his barrier manners.
Park Avenue (Fastnet Rock) is building a nice record having won his first two career starts to date. The gelding worked home strongly last start over 1100 metres and looks to relish the extra 100 metres, while the Chris Waller-trained Conexy (Nicconi) presents here third-up off the back of a solid fourth-place effort behind the aforementioned Park Avenue last start.
