It’s Day 1 of the Rocky Cup Carnival for 2024, and as per usual, perfect conditions for racing are on the cards at Callaghan Park. Good field sizes make up the nine races, with a bumper field in the $100,000 Rockhampton Newmarket. We’ll be racing on a Soft 5 with a likely upgrade to a Good 4 before the first, while the rail is out +2.5m the entire. Off in the opener at 11:29am - the perfect way to start Friday!
Race 1: 2&3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1200M)
I dare say BIG DEMEANOUR will be anchoring plenty of multis in the opener for the Gollan & Jones combination - one that is prominent right across the afternoon. He’s got the runs on the board, with two good runner-up performances in his two starts for Queensland’s #1 stable. No spoils at the price though. SCRUB CHAIN best off the rest after being grabbed late when heavily supporter last start.
Race 2: CLASS 6 HANDICAP (1200M)
One of the grossest beats of 2024 (away from Wanna Cracker) was I AM LETHAL first-up at the Sunny Coast for the new connections. He should have bolted in. Didn’t, but should have. He’s a month between runs, comes back to 1200m but has the favours of a low draw, so he can settle much closer and force the favourite to try to run him down late. If he runs up to last start with even luck, he can get a long overdue win.
Race 3: MAIDEN HANDICAP (1300M)
MONDAY CHOICE brings the best form lines into what isn’t an overly strong maiden. She was beaten by a couple of smart ones in her first prep, and then found one better first-up on the back of a brilliant trial win. She had to do a bit of work early to get up outside the leader and just set the race up for Flying Maple. Huxtable should suit, and from the middle draw, she can find the front and take plenty of beating second-up on a dry deck.
Race 4: RATINGS BAND 0-58 HANDICAP (1300M)
This is the good thing of the day in my books, and that is MIL CIENTO on the back of a fast-finishing third at Mackay last start. He was backed as if unbeatable first-up at Mackay over 1100m and won well, before bombing the start next time out up to 1300m. That was behind Sailor’s Rum who was a short favourite. He recorded some of the best closing splits of the meeting and was in front a few strides after the post. If he jumps on terms, he’ll be in the first five or six in the run and he should have every chance in the run home. He gets all the favours here.
RACE 5: RATINGS BAND 0-58 HANDICAP (1300M)
She might need the last furlong to be downhill to run out a strong 1300m, but if she can, I think THE BLONDE GODDESS is the one to beat. She’s only had the six starts, with both of her wins coming at this track by big margins. She didn’t beat a runner home last time out in a four-horse field, but any one of the three other horses would be odds-on in this field. From the wide gate, Tilley will be able to go forward, but there looks good speed inside her, so they can hopefully slot in behind them. Hold your breath late.
RACE 6: BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP (1050M)
SIMBU quite clearly holds the key to this race. He hasn’t raced since last August, but he’s trialled at Doomben and absolutely cantered in, beating Cranky Harry who is odds-on at Randwick on Saturday. He’s twice a winner in South-East Queensland, beating a couple of classy horses in John Rambo and Sebring Girl. If he’s right, he will put them to the absolute sword, but by no means is he across the line. The long gap between runs is a slight concern, but he should be too classy.
Race 7: BELLE OF CAPRICORNIA (1400M)
TOP SPY has looked legless at her past three, but she clearly hasn’t been right. She won two straight in the summer and that saw her go to Eagle Farm and start odds-on, but she failed to finish the race and then went awful on the Sunshine Coast Polly and then only beat one home at Rocky on a Heavy 8 back in March. She’s had a good spell, looked good at the trials a fortnight ago and comes here first-up. If she can find her best, I don’t think there’s much in this race that can beat her, especially from the low draw. She should just get the perfect run in transit and justify her spot at the top of betting.
RACE 8: ROCKHAMPTON NEWMARKET (1300M)
I’m backing two horses in the Friday feature, and both at big odds. TIGER LEGEND is the first of those, who is coming off a big win in the Battle Of The Bush last start. He carried 62kg, went out hard and broke their hearts. He’s got a brilliant record here and drops to 58.5kg, so he won’t know himself. He can lead and take running down. The other bet is CONSTANT FLIGHT who was terrific first-up at Eagle Farm behind Hidden Wealth. That horse bolted in, so don’t be too deterred by the 5.5L beaten margin. He’s going to get the right run just in behind the speed and be right there at the business end, like he has been every time Lindsay Gough has sent him north for the feature sprints.
RACE 9: BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP (1600M)
I reckon that Adiella is pretty smart, so I’m trusting that form. SHOUTS ALL DAY went around behind her at Warwick last start and hit the line well over 1350m. She should appreciate getting on to a bigger track and out to 1600m for the first time should suit. The wide gate isn’t a huge negative as they’ll get back on her and be charging home late.
SATURDAY 12TH JULY
RACE 7: ROCKHAMPTON CUP (1600M)
Winx’s fourth Cox Plate. Makybe Diva’s third Melbourne Cup. Master Jamie’s third Rocky Cup. It would be one for the history books, and I’ll be having $1 on him at the TAB so I can keep the ticket if he does the threepeat. But, as much as I’d love to see the double champ win a third, I want to win money. This year’s Cup has a stack of speed in it, and I think that just sets it up it perfectly for Vandyke & Huxtable with SNEAK PREVIEW. He’s been smashing the line late in all of his runs this preparation, with one race in mind the whole way along. He was super last start behind Princess Rhaenys and Brookhaven - two subsequent city winner. He can settle closer from the good draw and be over the top of them in the feature on Saturday.
#LivingBreathing - R4 #7 MIL CIENTO
Selections:
Friday
Race 1: No Bet
Race 2: I Am Lethal
Race 3: Monday Choice
Race 4: Mil Ciento
Race 5: The Blonde Goddess
Race 6: Simbu
Race 7: Top Spy
Race 8: Tiger Legend & Constant Flight
Race 9: Shouts All Day
Saturday
Race 1: More Stylish
Race 2: No Bet
Race 3: Desert Koby
Race 4: Pepperdine
Race 5: Adiella
Race 6: No Bet
Race 7: Sneak Preview
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