Form Analysis by Darren Clayton
RACE ONE
Sitting off the tempo last start at the mile, BETTERTHANAROCKET (9) launched in the stretch to arrive in the last stride to defeat ALTA MAGACIAN. Holding 3rd behind MR MCLAREN the start prior, there should be a genuine tempo generated and holding position can see him cash in.
HIRANYA (1) snares the ace again after landing this gate for last week’s washout. Burrowing through to protect the inside from this same gate two starts back and dictate, he forced the issue last time to take over and see them off. If he can protect the poles, the threepeat is on.
BOMBADIER JUJON (6) faced a second line gate last start when finishing 5m astern of the winner. Placed in both previous outings, he is versatile enough to feature here.
DIAMOND SHOOZ (3) was beaten by gate 7 in the Forever Gold last time as CHYHNCHILLA carved it out in front. With early speed, if she can find the poles, she is a podium chance.
SELECTIONS: BETTERTHANAROCKET (9), HIRANYA (1), BOMBADIER JUJON (6), DIAMOND SHOOZ (3)
SUGGESTED BET: BETTERTHANAROCKET (9) to win
RACE TWO
Despite coming into this race first up, MYDADSAID (5) was racing stronger opposition last campaign. Unplaced at his last outing in the Consolation of the Qld Sun three start back he held 3rd behind ARODA in the Redcliffe Cup. Opening the pipes at the trials, he can challenge fresh.
RACING TIME (11) scored a starchy victory here last start in a qualifier when sitting parked at the mile and fighting them off to claim a 2m margin. Only a head away the start prior in the West Wyalong Cup, he receives no favours from this gate but can look to throw down a challenge.
DON ARTHUR (2) has started from the second line at his past three in succession, the latest when he could have been closer with the gaps going his way. The improved gate is a huge help.
BETTERTHAN POPSY (1) was content to sit parked last start and fought for the spot when finishing midfield behind MY ULTIMATE CARTER. With the options, he can feature.
SELECTIONS: MYDADSAID (5), RACING TIME (11), DON ARTHUR (2), BETTERTHAN POPSY (1)
SUGGESTED BET: MYDADSAID (5) to win
RACE THREE
Finding the task a hurdle too high last start in the Qld Cup when sitting parked, ALWAYS SMOKIN (5) just faded in the closing stages to miss the money. Power running a sub-50 mile in front the start prior, he can force the issue here to chase his 10th win here at HQ.
JIMARTEE (7) made some nice metres in the closing stages last time out in the Qld Cup when 8m from the dictating BLACKSADANCE. Fitter again following that run where he was second up from a spell, he receives no favours from the outside paint.
TIMS A TROOPER (9) returns from a spell following his last appearance back in February at Melton. With a tidy trial to prepare for the return he will improve on whatever he achieves.
ALTA MAGACIAN (1) will strip fitter from his last appearance where he was first up from a freshen. Throwing it down when beaten a lip behind BETTERTHANAROCKET, the gate helps.
SELECTIONS: ALWAYS SMOKIN (5), JIMARTEE (7), TIMS A TROOPER (9), ALTA MAGACIAN (1)
SUGGESTED BET: ALWAYS SMOKIN (5) to win
RACE FOUR
A second division qualifier for those runners balloted from race 6. With the gate, SMOOTH OVERARM (1) can look to protect the inside, as he did from this same gate last start when fighting on to be 5m from RACING TIME. He gets his chance to capitalise from the gate.
ROCK HAMMER (8) will be sweating on the one holding up and under that scenario, his chances would be increased. A winner two starts back, he was forced to grind it out for the bronze last start when sent to the chair from gate 7. He will be probing.
BOLD MEDLEY JUJON (5) found conditions to suit here two starts back and made the most of some early speed to find the front and dictate. He is a podium player again here.
ARKIN WICKED (7) receives no favours from this gate but has faced some tough alleys in his past five starts. Snagged off he arm last start before making late ground, he can chime in.
SELECTIONS: SMOOTH OVERARM (1), ROCK HAMMER (8), BOLD MEDLEY JUJON (5), ARKIN WICKED (7)
SUGGESTED BET:
RACE FIVE
A tricky mare’s contest to assess where the power looks wide and off the second line. SWEET GEORGIA BROWN (9) is chasing a hat-trick after successive wins at the mils. Darting through on the passing lane two back, she dictated last start and looks versatile enough to grab the W.
SOAP OPERA (7) returned to Brisbane last start after a Sydney campaign that culminated in a 3rd in the G1 Breeders Challenge Final. Stepping out at the middle trip against her own age and sex last start when 3rd behind the jet, AARDIE B MIKI, the gate is a tough ask against older mares.
AURORA JOY (8) is chasing a hat-trick of victories after successive wins, the latest here at the middle trip when finishing hard over the top of them. She will be probing for openings.
JOANS RISING STAR (3) faced the second line here two starts back where she was wide of the track and proved too strong. 2m away when 3rd last start, she can hustle off the arm to feature.
SELECTIONS: SWEET GEORGIA BROWN (9), SOAP OPERA (7), AURORA JOY (8), JOANS RISING STAR (3)
SUGGESTED BET: SWEET GEORGIA BROWN (9) to win
RACE SIX
Tackling open company when returning from a spell, DUKE OF SCOTLAND (1) was closing out strongly to just miss the money. Sitting in the trail last start, he showed great change up speed when the gap arrived. With options at hand, he can make it a handful of wins on this deck.
DONEGAL LUTHER (3) looked a graded certainty in last week’s washed-out meeting, and albeit for the pole marker, would have a mortgage on this. His form lines are impressive without victory and from this gate, can look to fire some early bullets and issue a challenge.
MYNAMESEVAN (8) was chasing a hat-trick last start when leading them into the stretch and only DUKE OF SCOTLAND was able to get past. The cheap pole trip will be ideal here.
ROCKNPENNY (9) settled with the 1x1 trail at the mile here last week and was trying to reel in the eventual winner RACING TIME when holding on for the silver. He can drop to the inside.
SELECTIONS: DUKE OF SCOTLAND (1), DONEGAL LUTHER (3), MYNAMESEVAN (8), ROCKNPENNY (9)
SUGGESTED BET: DUKE OF SCOTLAND (1) to win
RACE SEVEN
Faced with the outside second line in the preview, STAY FOOLISH (6) was making some good metres in the closing stages to get within 4m of the winner. Too classy at Bathurst two starts back when grabbing victory, he faces an awkward gate but in what looks an open contest, he might just have enough edge to capitalise.
MY ULTIMATE FELIX (1) will take good benefit from the preview run where he was returning from a spell and sent to the front from gate 2. Turning for home with the lead, he just started to feel the pinch and was collared late in holding on for the bronze, just 3m from the winner. A gritty winner to break maiden ranks prior to the spell, he has the gate to challenge.
HAPPY AS CAN BE (7) was left to race first over in the preview and never shirked the task when just a head shy of victory. A Redcliffe winner two starts back when deep into the red against older horses, he can chime in here.
TORO LOCO (5) was resuming from a spell in the preview when eased to settle in the 1x1 trail from this same gate. Saved for the last shot, he was able to finish strongly for the win. Fitter for the run, he can be joining in.
SELECTIONS: STAY FOOLISH (6), MY ULTIMATE FELIX (1), HAPPY AS CAN BE (7), TORO LOCO (5)
SUGGESTED BET: STAY FOOLISH (6) to win
RACE EIGHT
Scoring a determined win last start from wide off the front line, IDEAL DESIRE (8) put the leader away and then finished them off in the stretch with 3m to spare. Strong to the line for the silver the start prior, she will be sweating on the one looking to dictate, giving her the chance to strike.
HAWKE EYE (2) has put together four in succession, the latest her first appearance here at HQ where she was able to finish over the top of them to claim a 1m margin. With the chance to settle handy from this gate, she can issue a challenge.
GINA DEL RAY (1) snares all the options from this gate and should appreciate this alley after facing a second line gate last start. Strong to the line when runner-up, she is a podium player.
MODERN SHEEN (6) was a gritty winner at Redcliffe last start where she was sent to sit parked from the second line and was able to graft out the win. The gate makes it a tough ask.
SELECTIONS: IDEAL DESIRE (8), HAWKE EYE (2), GINA DEL RAY (1). MODERN SHEEN (6)
SUGGESTED BET: IDEAL DESIRE (8) to win
RACE NINE
The best 2YO filly in Queensland this season, COOL AND CLASSY (6) will be out to extend her record. The only race she has contested that she did not win, was her slashing effort when 4th in the Protostar behind FATE AWAITS. Overcoming gate 7 with an effortless victory last time, it was a super run when resuming from 7 two starts back. It looks at her mercy.
RUBY RULES (1) was chasing a hat-trick last start when buried from the inside second line and following home to just miss the minor money. A slick winner two starts back when doing her share of work through the middle stages, the improved gate is a huge benefit and she can look to issue some form of challenge.
SUGAR RUSH (3) was asked to roll the sleeves in the preview and was gripping on over the closing stages when holding 3rd behind COOL AND CLASSY. Just missing the money in the G1 NSW Breeders Challenge Final the start prior, she can feature.
SEASIDE GLORY (7) has been dealt a cruel blow when the marbles were released, landing the outside alley. In the money at 10 of her 13 starts this season, she has been runner-up to COOL AND CLASSY at her past two starts.
SELECTIONS: COOL AND CLASSY (6), RUBY RULES (1), SUGAR RUSH (3), SEASIDE GLORY (7)
SUGGESTED BET: Exotics 6 / 1-3-7 / 1-3-7
RACE TEN
With no form updates to consider since last week’s washout, the chance to settle close to the action for LEAVE IT TO LUCY (2) can see her positioned similar to the preview where she had the closing speed to arrive. Her two runs prior against older opposition were full of merit and with three wins for the term, gets the chance to rinse and repeat.
ULTIMATE ARK (9) started from wide off the front in the preview and run into some trouble soon after the start. Snagged to the rear, he followed the shortest way home and made good metres over the closing stages. Fitter for the run where he was seven weeks between runs, he can challenge.
MISS CRUNCHY (6) fired out from gate 7 to find the front last week and was able to control it through the middle stages. Leading until deep stretch, she was collared in the last strides when beaten a neck. She can feature again.
GOT THE GLOW (1) was left exposed last start and was game in defeat, moving up to put the nose in front, only to fall an eyelash short of victory. With the benefit of the inside gate, she can challenge.
SELECTIONS: LEAVE IT TO LUCY (2), ULTIMATE ARK (9), MISS CRUNCHY (6), GOT THE GLOW (1)
SUGGESTED BET: Exotics 1-2-6-9
RACE ELEVEN
With five of the eight acceptors, the Turpin stable look to have a strong hand in this race. THE JANITOR (6) was too classy last time when sitting parked and holding a 3m margin. Putting them away in smart fashion at the end of the 2138, he has the class to add another to the tally.
IRON CLAD (2) started from inside the second line last time out and locked away finished just out of the money behind THE JANITOR. 3rd in a G1 at Menangle behind AIR EXPRESS two starts back, he snares the gate to try to maintain an early advantage.
GLENEAGLE VEE CEE (1) was chasing a hat-trick of wins here two starts back when using the inside for the silver behind SHES FULLOFSPIRIT. The economical trip assists his podium hopes.
ATTACHMENT (7) can fly the gate, and last start took control when trying to take them all the way. Put away by THE JANITOR which sat outside him, the wider gate makes it a tough ask.
SELECTIONS: THE JANITOR (6), IRON CLAD (2), GLENEAGLE VEE CEE (1), ATTACHMENT (7)
SUGGESTED BET: THE JANITOR (6) to win
