Eagle Farm | February 18

We are back with quality racing down south with group ones this weekend and a few of the high quality Queenslanders up and about. Back to headquarters today for a lovely eight race card with a few of the runners we have backed the last couple of weeks, the question is do we double down, or look elsewhere. The rail is out twelve metres and we find ourselves on a soft 6 track with the first race to jump at 1.38pm.  

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Race 1: MAIDEN (1800M)

This race looks impossible to start the day, big watch on Waller and Gollan runners with the polish of those stables, and Blightys Hope for Maher (Declan) a big watch over the longer trip but there is one coming from Beaudesert for the Scott Morrisey team in Scuti that is worth a small each way play in what looks a wide open race.

Race 2: MAIDEN (1400M)

Paper Doll the short priced favourite has been runner up nine times and at this point looks like it’s the second coming of Tom Melbourne. I am steering clear there and siding with Buckets and Bruce on Tam Na Ghar. She fought on well last start and prior to that beat some subsequent winners at the Sunshine Coast. Third up today, drop in weight against a fairly average field has her well place to be winning this.

Race 3: MAIDEN (1400M)

Another maiden here so again fairly hard to line a few of these up but the hoping the form of the gold coast maiden from a few weeks again is the right way. By The Way was odds on there and while it was a solid enough run the track really did favour those on the fence so both her run and the Chayse ‘N’ Bodhi were very good in that race. Will be backing By The Way and saving on Chayse ‘N’ Bodhi who was flying late in that prior race.

Race 4: Class 1 (1800M)

What is that saying in racing we all love to hate, TOO FAR BACK! That was certainly the case for Hot Majesty last start. Ben was caught sleeping a little there but Jace jumps on here, similar trip and slightly down in the weights has the majesty well placed.  

Race 5: Benchmark 70 (1000M)

The Freedman team have been flying along up here in Queensland and Cindersea is going well without perhaps winning as much as she should. She comes back to the 1000M here which is key and she has been run down her two latest starts over the 1200M. Early this prep she beat home Savagery Vibe who was a strong winner Saturday and has been found wanting the last two. Back to the shorter trip and enough speed here she doesn’t need to lead and can take a sit will suit her well back to Eagle Farm.

Race 6: Benchmark 65 (1200M)

Interesting race here over the 1200M, the favourite was great first up, then awful second up so not sure there and has been a few weeks between runs. For me that is a definite query even with Maloney on board. Jenchick Boom has Cindersea form, then behind Abender and Blue Spinal, the latter was good out wide on the weekend. She will be peaking fitness third up here and Angela knows her well.

Race 7: Benchmark 70 (1400M)

This should be pretty straight forward here, third up here Hell To Pay was gaining with every step on Moravia who is a group class horse. Comes to this third up but drawn slightly awkwardly in barrier eleven. Ready for the trip was really good last prep but his first up statistics are average. The big watch this race is Tomba for Matt Dunn who was flying latest and gets in here down in the weights from a very soft alley.

Race 8: Class 3 (1600M)

This is absolutely it for Kadall, if it cannot win today it has to go in the bin never to be pulled out again. Draws barrier two, carries weight but does get Maloney on and this is the right trip although does not run its best at Eagle Farm. Based on its last run will stick with, but last chance saloon for this galloper.

#Beans Bazinga – R2 H10 Tam Na Ghar

Selections

Race 1: No Bet

Race 2: Tam Na Ghar

Race 3: By The Way & Chayse ‘N’ Bodhi

Race 4: Hot Majesty

Race 5: Cindersea

Race 6: Jenchick Boom

Race 7: Hell To Pay & Tomba

Race 8: Kadall