On The Punt: Biggest meeting of the year at Toowoomba and Nathan Exelby goes looking for winners

It’s Toowoomba Cup day on Saturday and we’ll also be having a crack at the big sprint of the day The Weetwood Handicap.

Apache Chase wins the Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm. Picture: Grant Peters–Trackside Photography

Toowoomba Cup day and local Steve Tregea will be looking to start what could be a massive spring with favourite Champagne Aunty.

THE QUADDIE

RACE 6

Rock Amore ($3.30) looks like landing in the right spot. Has been huge at Eagle Farm and brought that form to Doomben last time when battling on strongly in a deeper race than this. He clearly looks the one to beat, particularly getting a little weight relief. Vinco ($3.90) on the other hand has to carry the 59.5kg. Didn’t have the best of luck last time, but worried about the weight again. Don’t Stop ($8.50) goes in for sure should they choose to run here. Tears Of Love ($11) is the wildcard. Bolted in over this course fresh, then went on to beat London Banker over 1800m later on. Draw no help, but quite capable of sprinting well fresh.

Selections: 4 Rock Amore, 14 Don’t Stop, 5 Vinco, 3 Tears Of Love

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RACE 7

Champagne Aunty ($3.20) comes off a setback and Honorable Spirit ($4.20) climbs up in grade. That leaves Wapiti ($4.20) as the top pick after he was typically honest behind Ballistic Boy last time. He’s just been very one-paced for a while now, so he may be looking for the middle distance. He has a splash of class in amongst this lot. He Runs Away ($11) gets down in the weights after a couple of tidy efforts behind London Banker. Finds a winnable race here in the absence of that horse. Champagne Aunty has had a terrific campaign, but missed a run and had to start last week in the 1300m. No easy task, particularly as this will be her toughest test.

Selections: 2 Wapiti, 3 He Runs Away

Champagne Aunty wins at Eagle Farm under jockey Larry Cassidy. Picture: Grant Peters–Trackside Photography

RACE 8

History shows this to generally be a difficult race for punters. Hopefully not so this year, with a few classy ones taking the race on. Apache Chase ($3.90) was a dual G3 winner last season at 1400m, but he wasn’t as effective at 1200m. Had excuses for a couple, but no doubt he was best when rolling in front over the longer trips. So I’m defaulting to the You Make Me Smile ($7.50) race a fortnight ago. YMMS was dominant in the end there, coming away after a sweet run. Needs some luck from the draw this time, but no doubt he’s going well. Soxagon ($4.80) will take enormous improvement from that first up run and he gets a sweet trail here. Tambo’s Mate ($13) can also come on for that race, especially from this kind draw.

Selections: 6 You Make Me Smile, 1 Soxagon, 5 Tambo’s Mate, 3 Apache Chase

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RACE 9

Ingear comes out and the race opens right up. Don’t Stop ($6.50) has been terrific in two wins on his home track this prep and Paul Nolan Junior has kept him nice and fresh for this assignment on Weetwood day. He proved up to Saturday class as a three-year-old when tried over further and may have found his niche as a fresh short course performer now. Fifteen Rounds ($9) was a surprise Eagle Farm winner two starts back then had no luck at all up to 1400m last time. He can improve back to this trip, but needs luck from the draw. Frozen In Time ($3.10) is flying and gets a soft run, which might help offset the 58kg, but she’s short enough at current quote.

Selections: 16 Don’t Stop, 15 Fifteen Rounds, 7 Frozen In Time

AWAY FROM HOME

Anamoe (Rosehill, Race 8, $2) was able to overcome a setback and win the Run to the Rose. Darley/Godolphin have wonderful record in completing the double into this race and no doubt his absolute best as a two-year-old came at this trip. Floating Artist (Sandown, Race 6, $3.70) has found form quickly in Australia and looks to get a similar set up here to the one at Flemington. No reason he can’t keep improving.

MONEY TALKS

Fortified, Race 1, $2.20-$1.80

Deep Sceiva, Race 2, $7-$5

Lyrical Girl, Race 3, $1.70-$1.50

Mishani Sunshine, Race 4, $9-$3.50

Rock Amore, Race 6, $4.20-$3.80

Champagne Aunty, Race 7, $4.60-$3.50

Apache Chase, Race 8, $5-$3.80

Frozen In Time, Race 9, $5-$3.10

Rosehill

Home Affairs, Race 5, $6-$3.60

Anamoe, Race 8, $1.90-$2

Remarque, Race 8, $10-$8

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BEST BETS

Fortified, Race 1, No.2, $1.80

Got his act together 2nd up out to the mile at Doomben and now makes logical progression to 1850m. Meets very average opposition here and should be too classy.

Deep Sceiva, Race 2, No.6, $4.20

Both runs back have been good. Last time she battled on strongly in a deeper race than this. Out to 1600m suits now and she gets a sweet run near the speed.

Straight Alphas, Race 4, No.5, $4.80

Not convinced about the trial form coming from Brisbane, so have reverted to home track advantage and this Spirit Of Boom filly did it very easily taking out the recent trial.