As the curtain closes on another bumper weekend of racing, we take a look back over the day that was, which saw Queensland form shine in Melbourne and Sydney once again.
Only a week after Zaaki, the star of the Brisbane Winter Carnival, bolted in to win the Tramway at Randwick, Incentivise may have gone even one better to win the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington in all-the-way fashion, while the J.J. Atkins form stood up at Kembla Grange.
Now with Peter Moody, Incentivise was already the favourite for both the Caulfield & Melbourne Cups, but he had some doubters regarding whether Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Doomben & Eagle Farm form would stand up in the big leagues. Well, we have news for you. A 12 length demolition job in the Tatt's Cup is THE FORM.
Co-owned by his former trainer, Steve Tregea, as well as big-time thoroughbred owners Brae Sokolski and Ozzie Kheir, the 5YO was left in front early and fended off the challenges of dual-Group 1 winning horse Mo'unga and Cox Plate winner, Sir Dragonet, to win the 1600m race by half a length.
While the win saw Incentivse firm into $4.60 favouritism in the Caulfield Cup, it now means that Queensland Winter Carnival winners sit atop the market in all three of the 'Big 3' races in Melbourne this Spring, while newest The Everest slot holder Rothfire, also reigns from the Sunshine State.
There's no doubting Incentivise stole the show around the country on Saturday, but we can't dodge the fact that even more Queensland form stacked up at not only Flemington, but also Kembla Grange.
While Splintex was no match for Eduardo in the Doomben 10,000 and Baller in the Moreton Cup over the Brisbane Carnival, the Mark Newnham-trained galloper sprinted quickly in the Listed Bobbie Lewis Quality at Flemington, beating Away Game, who also won at Eagle Farm in the Group 3 Healy Stakes on Tatts Tiara Day. The boss man Gollan took Jonker down in the same race, and while he started favourite and led the field, he didn't have the sprint late to hold on, running seventh beaten 3L. The Astrologist rounded out the trifecta, making it a QLD Winter form feccy, after he placed fourth in the Moreton Cup behind Baller also.
In race three at 'HQ', Chris Waller's Ranch Hand spoiled the Ingratiating party, surging through to defeat the odds-on favorite in the shadow of the post in the Listed Poseidon Stakes. Although the 3YO had not won in Queensland, he started $1.40 in just his second start at Eagle Farm and ran third before being beaten less than 3.5L in the Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic and then beaten by a dodgy camera angle in the Group 3 Ken Russell Classic at the Gold Coast at his next start. While he didn't fire a shot in the J.J. Atkins when 11th, the form has also stood up today.
Both placegetters from Queensland's premier 2YO race, Giannis and Tiger Of Malay, once again finished alongside each other in the Listed Dulcify Stakes at Kembla Grange. Tiger Of Malay had already won since his BRC Sires' Produce win in the Group 3 Up & Coming Stakes, and although he was backed as if unbeatable today, J.J. runner up, Giannis was too strong late. Both colts look likely to head towards the Golden Rose and Spring Champion Stakes, alongside J.J. Atkins winner Converge who resumed with a solid enough fifth in the Run to the Rose behind Anamoe.
Outside of the Group & Listed winners around the grounds today, Queensland form was also franked with Count De Rupee winning race nine at Kembla Grange - two starts after running eighth in the Fred Best Classic behind Apache Chase and Ayrton.
Bring on next weekend when Alpine Edge makes his Melbourne debut in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude for Team Edmonds.
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