The Queensland Oaks meeting will be held at Eagle Farm this Saturday. Eagle Farm was rated a Good 3 on Thursday and with possible light showers over the next couple of days in Brisbane, the track could border on Good/Dead range on raceday.
Sydney racing is back to Rosehill this weekend. The track was rated a Good 3 on Thursday and with showers forecast for Sydney on Saturday, Rosehill could be racing on a Dead surface on raceday.
In the opening event at Eagle Farm (Brisbane Race 1, 1800m), I believe the Barry Mitchell-trained Brayroan could figure in the finish. Two starts back, Brayroan finished 6th in this class over 1600m but he was only beaten 1.1 lengths. And the 59kg last start was a bit too much for him in the Group 3 Mayor’s Cup. Down in class & weight on Saturday, and stepping up to 1800m 4th up is ideal. The wide gate (barrier 12) shouldn’t be a problem as he can settle back in the field. Currently Brayroan is at $15.00 in the fixed odds market and that’s tremendous value.
The Melburnian Akzar looks the horse to beat in the Eagle Farm Cup (Brisabne Race 3, 2200m). The 7YO ran a mighty 4th last start in the Group 1 WFA Doomben Cup, beating some of his Saturday’s rivals including Moriarty. Akzar is in good form and he can handle all track conditions. From barrier 3, Brad Rawiller will bite his time along the fence at the back of the field. Watch him let down strongly in the straight.
After making the field on the first accpetances for the Stradbroke Handicap, trainer Phillip Stokes will be using Saturday’s Queensland Guineas (Brisbane Race 6, 1400m) as Hucklebuck’s final leadup to the Group 1 feature. However he has drawn barrier 15 (into barrier 11 after the emergencies come out) and that could present him with a problem as he could get trapped three wide in the race. For that reason, I have opted for Dothraki. This Gerald Ryan-trained colt has been in good form having won the Gold Coast Guineas two starts back and a close 3rd last start in the Group 3 Fred Best Stakes. Dothraki has won once & placed once from 2 starts over 1400m. At $8.00 in the fixed odds market, I believe Dothraki is over the odds. From barrier 1, Nash Rawiller will take the colt straight to the front and he could prove hard to catch.
According to trainer David Vandyke, Arabian Gold has overcome an injury scare from Tuesday and is fit & well. And that makes the filly very hard to beat in the Queensland Oaks (Brisbane Race 7, 2400m). Arabian Gold has been in terrific form winning her past 3 starts all over 2000m in Group company. And in her last start in the Doomben Roses, she had beaten most of her Oaks rivals easily. Her owner Nick Moraitis hasn’t attended a Brisbane racetrack since his champion Might And Power winning the Doomben Cup in 1998. Moraitis will likely be travelling to Eagle Farm this Saturday and hopefully receiving the Group 1 Queensland Oaks trophy via the victory of Arabian Gold.
By Owens Wong, Editor
