Sydney racing will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday. The track was rated a Slow 7 on Thursday and with further showers forecast, Randwick will certainly be racing on a rain-affected surface on Saturday.
The Stradbroke Handicap meeting will be held at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The track was rated a Good 3 on Thursday and with fine weather in Brisbane, Eagle Farm is likely to be racing on a Good surface on raceday.
In the opening event at Eagle Farm (Brisbane Race 1, 1200m), the Matthew Dunn-trained filly Freezethemillions could be the horse to beat. Last start, this 2YO filly was racing against the like of Brazen Beau & Time For War in the Sires’ and was only beaten 2.1 lengths in finishing 4th. Champion jockey Michael Rodd will be aboard on Saturday. From barrier 2, Rodd would give the filly a nice run behind the pace in midfield. The spacious Eagle Farm would allow the filly plenty of time to wind up. Freezethemillions is currently $10.00 in the fixed odds market and I believe that is over the odds. Freezethemillions is certainly a value bet.
In the Daybreak Lover (Brisbane Race 3, 1600m), I like last start Queensland Guineas winner Sir Moments. This 3YO gelding loves Eagle Farm having won twice & placed once from 4 starts at the track. Stepping up to a mile 4th up is ideal. And jockey of the moment Tim Bell will stay onboard Sir Moments. Barrier 8 shouldn’t be a concern as Sir Moments will drop back in the field. Sir Moments looks set to make it two wins in a row on Saturday.
I have to bypass race favoruite & last start Grand Prix Stakes winner Vilanova in the Queensland Derby (Brisbane Race 7, 2400m) as he is such a ‘hot & cold’ horse. Vilanova has never put 2 wins together in his career. All his three career victories were followed by a subsequent unplaced run. On bleeding alone, the John Sargent-trained Elusive Runner doesn’t seem to be a stayer but on the evidence of his past two runs, coming from the tail of the field to finish a close 2nd over 1900m & 2000m respectively, suggest that this gelding could finish strongly over 2400m. This lightly raced 3YO has been very consistent & has only ever missed a place once in his five start career. Champion jockey Tommy Berry will put Elusive Runner to sleep at the tail of the field and watch him let down strongly in the straight.
The Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (Brisbane Race 8, 1400m) is a very open race as is usually the case. I believe John O’Shea can win his first Group 1 race for his new employer Darley with 4YO Knoydart. With placings in the Oakleigh Plate & the Newmarket Handicap, Knoydart has shown that he could mix with superstar sprinter Lankan Rupee, and he has taken his good form to the Brisbane Winter Carnival after a short break. He finished a great 5th last start in the Doomben 10,000 beaten only by 1.8 lengths & he has only been allotted with 53.5kg in the Stradbroke. WIth the pace on in the Stradbroke, barrier 14 (into 11 with emergencies out) should not present any problem for Knoydart as Kerrin McEvoy is likely to settle the gelding midfield. At the juicy odds of $13.00 fixed odds, Knoydart represents a good value bet.
By Owens Wong, Editor
