Rockhampton | June 20 | Best Bets + Preview

It's Tatts Cup Day in the Beef Capital, a key meeting as we look forward to the Rocky Cup Carnival in a fortnight. We're dealing with a Soft 5 track, and the rail goes out just 0.5m the entire. The first gets underway at 12:17pm.

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Race 1: Maiden Handicap (1200m)

Villandry started favourite in his CQ debut last month and was only nailed in the shadows of the post. He's since not been beaten far at Ipswich where he got back in the running from a wide draw. This is easier, so I'm happy to have something on him each-way if he can replicate that first-up run.

Race 2: 0-55 Handicap (1200M)

Third-up, out to 1200m and 3kg off his back is ideal for Gilbert's Gold this afternoon. He's started hard in the market in both runs back from a break, and he's not been too bad. He gets his chance to bounce back and looks genuine overs.

Race 3: 3YO Handicap (1400M)

This is a competitive 3YO race, but if Scrub Chain finds his best form, he'll take care of them. I'm happy to forgive the first-up run on a Heavy 9 where he carried a big weight off a soft trial. He meets all of those horses better at the weights here, gets to 1400m and draws for a soft run from the inside alley. He'll be hard to hold out on a dry deck today.

Race 4: Benchmark 60 (1802M)

Not keen to get involved here.

Race 5: Benchmark 70 (1400M)

I'd be betting late, because I expect him to drift, but Fistsoffury can be a big improver off a bit of a freshen. He was a long time between runs coming into his first Queensland prep and never found the right race, but this is a bit easier. He trialled well coming in, gets 3kg off his back and resumes over 1400m which will suit. Just keep an eye on late betting.

Race 6: Tattersalls Sprint Open Handicap (1200M)

Cherry Rose is a quality mare, who looks well placed here. She narrowly missed in The Archer consolation race six weeks ago, and then failed on a bottomless track over 1400m at Eagle Farm last start. She gets back on to a dry deck here, always races well at Rocky, and finds a race with good pressure which will help.

Race 7: Tattersalls Gold Cup (1600M)

I can't really make sense of the Sir Grace price, even though this is his toughest test to date. He's started odds-on in each of his last three, and he's won all of them. Two back at this track over 1400m he bungled the start, was out the back and launched to get the job done. I guess the 1600m with eight weeks between runs is the main knock, but he's a winner.

Race 8: Benchmark 65 (1100M)

Hopefully if all else fails, we can get out on Universal Harmony in the last. He bolted in to win his first two runs up this way, and then was a beaten favourite at Mackay last start when nailed late in a tough effort. He drops to 55kg here and draws sweetly in two, making him very hard to beat.

Living Breathing – R8 #10 Universal Harmony

Selections

Race 1: Villandry

Race 2: Gilbert's Gold

Race 3: Scrub Chain

Race 4: No Bet

Race 5: Fistsoffury

Race 6: Cherry Rose

Race 7: Sir Grace

Race 8: Universal Harmony