Racing Preview: Saturday 4/6/16

Jun 4, 2016
5 min read

Picture: Vince Caligiuri

Racing finally returns to Eagle Farm this weekend with the running of the Group 1 Queensland Oaks for the 3 year old fillies. As well as that, there are strong cards from Morphettville on the Parks circuit, Rosehill and Sandown Hillside. With plenty of rain around it's a tricky weekend to find a whole heap of winners, but we've found some runners that really stand out to us.

Eagle Farm

It's the first meeting in nearly two years at the newly redeveloped Eagle Farm track and Mother Nature is celebrating the occasion by raining. A lot. As you would expect, the rail will be in the true position and the track will be Heavy!

Race 3 2200m Pages Event Equipment Hire Eagle Farm Cup - Group 2 $250k

No age restriction. No class restriction. No sex restriction. Standard Weight for Age.

It's only a field of 8 here and that should suit Maurus. I doubt there will be much tempo in this event with Adirondack likely to roll forward with Snapper. Maurus was dominant at his first run in Queensland, settling back in a small field before rounding them up turning for home and putting 3.5L on them in great fashion. Following that he was thrown in the deep end when a very good 5th in the Group 1 Doomben Cup. Back out to 2200m and back in grade, as well as his great wet track record (Soft 5:1-3-0, Heavy 2:2-0-0) make him hardest to beat.

Morphettville Parks

The track is rated a Soft (6) at the time of writing and should stay in that range for the meeting. The rail is out +3m the entire course.

Race 1 2400m Adelaide Galvanising Handicap

No age restriction. BenchMark 82. No sex restriction. Handicap.

This is a fantastic race for Rich River to continue his good form. At his first start over 2400m+ he was 2nd to High Church before winning a BM90 over this track and trip with ease. He then went to the Mount Gambier Cup where he was 3rd in what was a very competitive race. He's back to BM82 grade here and this is much easier than his last three. He handles the Soft and gets in with 58kg for Josh Cartwright, who is riding very well currently. Ticks all the boxes here.

Race 6 1550m UBET Handicap

No age restriction. BenchMark 90. No sex restriction. Handicap.

Rocket Commander hasn't won for a little while now but she's been racing fantastically. Her last three runs have all been stakes placings, which is considerably better form than a number of her rivals engaged here. The first of those was a 4L 2nd to Zebulon over 1400m but she beat 3rd by 2.5L. Following that she was beaten just 0.8L in the Queen Of The South and backed that up with a 0.7L 2nd in the RA Lee. Back to a BM90 and in well at the weights with 56.5kg she gets every chance to break through today. She handles the wet and Jamie Kah rides, who is another jockey riding in great form at the moment.

Rosehill

The track is rated a Heavy (8) at the time of writing and with plenty of rain around it won't get any better than that. The rail is in the true position.

Race 4 1400m FIIG Handicap

Three-Years-Old and Upwards. No class restriction. No sex restriction. Handicap.

Marenostro is a noted wet tracker (Soft 7:3-1-0, Heavy 6:3-2-1) and gets conditions to suit here. What fills me with confidence about him in this event is the fact he was able to return off a short spell over this track and trip and win brilliantly on a dry surface, as opposed to his favoured rain affected going, which is something he hasn't been able to do in the past. He stays at 1400m and from barrier 7 Tye Angland should have no problems getting him in to a winning position.

Sandown Hillside

The track is rated a Good (4) at the time of writing but there is rain forecast for Saturday and the days prior, so a Soft track is a distinct possibility. The rail is in the true position the entire circuit.

Race 2 1500m Ladbrokes Park Handicap

Three-Years-Old and Upwards. BenchMark 84. Fillies and Mares. Handicap.

Holy Cow has been a frustrating horse for punters in recent times but to my eye she has put it all together now. Two back she won on the Lakeside track over 1500m with 61kg beating some handy types. At her last start she was fantastic in running 3rd to Gabella in the Centaurea at Morphettville when stepping to 2000m for the first time. Back sharply in trip to 1500m here is a slight concern but I fancy she is a good enough horse to come out and win this now that it looks like she's got the hang of things.

Race 3 1600m Ladbrokes Mega Margin Handicap

Three-Years-Old. No class restriction. No sex restriction. Handicap.

Divine Mr. Artie is racing in fantastic form and finds another very winnable race. He was a good winner on the back up over 1200m 2nd up before a luckless 4th over that same distance. At his most recent start he stepped to 1400m and sprinted quickly early in the straight, only to be beaten in a very tight photo finish by a smart one. I suspect they'll save him for the last crack at them here rather than pulling the trigger so early again, and from barrier 4 he should get every chance to run the mile. He has shown this prep that he is capable of winning on the back up and, to me, his form lines read stronger than anything else in this race.

Race 4 1800m Ladbrokes Bet Better Handicap

No age restriction. No class restriction. No sex restriction. Handicap.

Turnitaround is in career best form and there is no reason he cannot win again here. He was great over an unsuitable trip 1st up before stringing together three wins on the trot. The first of those was a good win over 1700m at Flemington in this grade defeating Atlantis Dream. He then went to Warrnambool where he bolted in by 4.25L over the 1700m again, this time on a heavy track. At his last start he went to 2000m and defeated Second Bullet with Killarney Kid (had won 4 in a row) over 3L back in 3rd. There is no other way to put it than that he is simply low flying. Ben Thompson takes 3kg off here and he is very well placed to make it 4 on end!

Our Bets

Eagle Farm

Race 3 - Maurus - 1 unit win

Morphettville Parks

Race 1 - Rich River - 2 unit win

Race 6 - Rocket Commander - 1 unit win

Rosehill

Race 4 - Marenostro - 1 unit win

Sandown Hillside

Race 2 - Holy Cow - 1 unit win

Race 3 - Divine Mr. Artie - 1 unit win

Race 4 - Turnitaround - 1 unit win