The Brisbane winter carnival begins in earnest with the first Group races of the carnival on Saturday. The Victory Stakes meeting will be at Eagle Farm this weekend. The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with mainly fine weather in Brisbane over the next couple of days, Eagle Farm will be racing on a Good track on raceday.
The Chris Waller-trained Le Juge has been very much in form and he is looking for his third win on the trot in the Hoppy’s Handwash Cafe Open Handicap (Brisbane Race 2, 1835m). This 6YO gelding has won 4 of his last 5 starts including his last two in a row. Le Juge’s six runs in 2019 were all over the mile and he is ready to step up to 1800m. Form jockey Blake Shinn will be aboard the gelding on Saturday. Drawn beautifully in barrier 2, Shinn will settle mid-field along the fence and put Le Juge to sleep. Le Juge is the one they all have to beat.
Shogun Sun will have home track advantage in the Children’s Hospital Foundation Plate (Brisbane Race 3, 1600m). Trained at Eagle Farm by Kelly Schweida, Shogun Sun ran a great 3rd to Redouble in the Magic Millions Cup back in January. After a freshen up, the 4YO could only finished 9th over1200m on 23rd March before returning to form when 2nd (1400m) under Mark Du Plessis last start. Du Plessis will once again be aboard the gelding on Saturday. It’s natural progression to step up to 1600m 3rd up and he has drawn nicely in barrier 6. From that gate, Du Plessis shouldn’t be too far back in running and he’ll be given Shogun Sun every chance to take out this race.
Dual ‘Everest’ winner Redzel is classes above his opponents in the Victory Stakes and he should win accordingly (Brisbane Race 9, 1200m). The Team Snowden-trained 6YO finished a nose 2nd to Ball Of Muscle when 1st up in the Challenge Stakes. But he didn’t run on as expected in two subsequent Group One starts. Peter Snowden has admitted that he has given Redzel a longer than usual spell after the spring carnival and it may take him a few starts to reach race fitness. Being 4th up on Saturday should see Redzel finally reaching peak fitness. With plenty of pace in the race, it’s likely to see Kerrin McEvoy taking a sit just behind the leaders from gate 3. And at weight-for-age against this field, expect to see Redzel returning to the winner’s circle on Saturday.
By Owens Wong, Editor
