Another blockbuster day of Saturday racing coming up, with the feature events to be run at Eagle Farm as the Brisbane winter carnival continues. The two G1 features of the afternoon are the Queensland Derby and Kingsford-Smith Cup, with Explosive Jack unbelievably searching for his fourth Derby win of his career, after taking out the SA Derby, ATC Derby and Tasmanian Derby all in his first prep of racing. Our PlayUp form expert has cast their eye over fields at Caulfield and Eagle Farm, and found five winners… take a look below.
Caulfield:
R1 #4 Set The Sails $1.95 at PlayUp – Absolute certainty beaten on debut was this Price/Kent Jnr colt, who settled rearwards from a wide alley and was horribly held up at the top of the straight. Once he got clear at the 200m mark, he made up at least 5L to the line and was beaten a nose behind a winner who was able to lead all the way. Ran the fastest last 600/400/200m of the entire day at Geelong, and now second up with fitness and experience should be atoning for that defeat. Sticking to 1200m, drawn and weighted well, and D Oliver getting aboard a cherry on top.
R3 #10 The Gauch $3.70 at PlayUp – First up here from a spell, and has been gelded during the break as well. Pulled up lame at the end of last prep when was set around as a $2 favourite in BM70 grade carrying 61kg in front of numerous subsequent winners including Riding The Wave, Tan Tat Harmony, Harlem Blues and Rock Prophet. He resumes here in a BM78 with only 54kg on his back after the claim, he is unbelievably well-weighted. His jump-outs leading in have been very strong, including winning the latest one at Cranbourne in the fastest time of the morning by a long way. I have him marked at $3, anything above is a bet.
R4 #11 Tan Tat Harmony $6.00 at PlayUp – Second up into the prep here, coming off a very gallant 2nd when fresh behind Pintoff at this track and trip. She got well back in running that day in a race where the leader was also the winner, so race shape was against her. She lost momentum at the 250m when checking off heels, and picked herself back up to fly home and grab a placing, possibly wins with even luck. Unbeaten in her career second up, she’s fitter and should settle handier today from the draw. Holds the low weight, and although rises in grade she comes to a race against her own sex.
Eagle Farm R2 #9 Superium $3.40 at PlayUp – Fourth up into the prep now and is deadset bursting to win a race, and after yet another minor placing in equal grade the last start, today could be the day for this talented Hawkes’ gelding. Got a mile back at Doomben last start and worked home solidly but was no match for those in front after having too much work to do. His 3rd when fresh at Caulfield was very unlucky, and was similarly a good thing beaten second-up behind Open Minded. He is in great form, and hopefully from barrier one today Maloney will have him parked much closer to the speed in the run. Deserves a win and can get it here.
Eagle Farm R9 #3 Sweet Deal $4.40 at PlayUp – See absolutely no reason to be jumping off Sweet Deal who was a strong last start winner in a G3 race at Hawkesbury. All her racing prior to that this prep had been in extremely strong G1 and G2 events, and found the drop in class last start perfect to rejoin the winners stall. She holds weight here and finds, again, an even easier race now in Listed grade. The wide draw is perfect, as she is a horse who likes to get back in running anyway, and the drop back to 1200m should be no issue with peak fitness now. Nash sticks to ride, and a mare in form tends to hold that as well.
