Brisbane: Comprehensive preview of every race at Eagle Farm

A COMPREHENSIVE preview of every race for Saturday’s meeting at Eagle Farm with Greg Spletter.

Our Boy Nicholas (outside). Picture: Annette Dew

Race 1

Super competitive staying race to kick off the card with five runners all vying for favouritism, but I have a strong leaning towards BEST CASE who improved sharply at his fourth run back last weekend to beat a good field over 1800m. He doesn’t go beyond 1800m very often but when he does he goes very well. He was Group Three-placed in the Tulloch Stakes at three as well as placing in the G1 SA Derby, and last prep ran a good race in Listed company in Sydney. He should be very strong at the finish and makes strong appeal at the $4.40. REDNAV won again last start defying a betting drift to score a tidy win over Super Force at this trip. This is a harder race and he is up another half kilo so is worth risking, but has genuine claims. PANNO ROSSA has been beaten by a couple of average types in Bm75 grade at his last two and is under the odds at $4.60. Still he is quite consistent and down on the limit could give some cheek.

Race 2

They should run along here, particularly if a couple of the speedy emergencies gain a start, and HI I’M BACK can get the soft run in behind the speed and be very strong late. Won again last start carrying 58.5kg to victory in a class four here and has finished in the first two at his last six outings. The $3.80 looks about right as there are a couple of handy ones in here but he will go close. BEARSKIN is going to get a mile out of his ground from gate 16 over the short course but will be finishing off at a rate of knots. Good first-up run last prep when he took a lot of ground off Hardline but Eagle Farm needs to be playing fairly for him to rate any hope. STAROCITY hit the line full of running over 900m first-up and is another who will be finding the line tomorrow. Very consistent last prep just below this grade carrying big weights and down to 55kg will make his presence felt.

Race 3

ZUMIKON was wide all the way last time at Doomben with no cover and was entitled to knock up in the straight back into seventh spot but from the perfect draw tomorrow should be a notable improver. Ran good time in winning a juvenile race over the Grafton Cup carnival and with the claim here looks good value at $13. DAPPER ONE also looks overs at $21 and will run a race. Solid win against the youngsters at Ipswich two runs back before running home well behind Rebel Miss at Doomben and will likely trail the top pick into the straight. SMART DEVIL ran on well to pick up his maiden at the Gold Coast last time but has drawn awkwardly here and will likely have to give them another hefty start. Looks a little skinny at $3.40 but will be thereabouts.

Race 4

This isn’t a super Bm85 field and SONY LEGEND will take a power of beating on fresh legs. Ran well prior to his break beating all but Punta Norte in this grade and two runs prior took out a high grade class six race at Doomben over 1110m. Drawn ideally and at $4.60 looks the bet of the day. ROYAL OCCASION rocketed to the line from a mile back in a 1MW at Doomben last time following a tidy performance at Listed level in the Eye Liner at Ipswich. May need luck in the straight as he’ll be well back and stuck to the fence but should have plenty in the tank on straightening. BROTHERLY SECRET always goes okay around this grade and drops 5.5kg on his narrow first-up defeat in a class four. Some nice runs at class six level at the end of his last campaign but will need luck early from his awkward draw.

Mr Epic. Pictrure: Tim Marsden

Race 5

This is a very interesting class three contest with several runner facing their easiest assignment in a good while. ZIGGIE WILLIE finished off nicely over 1250m at Canterbury last start to beat all but Mercurian and a repeat dose here puts him right in the picture. Handles all types of conditions and from the inside draw will give a great sight. Great each way value at $10 in a competitive affair. OBERLAND is a deserving favourite at the $4.20 following three solid runs this time in. Gave nothing else a chance first-up and has been beaten less than a length in good 3yo company at his last couple. Hard to place him in the run but he will be strong late. AIMALAC MILLIE is currently $31 but could start significantly longer and is one for your multiples. Not a bad run two starts back behind Bidii Babe and ran a cracker behind Quick Ketch at the end of last prep. Needs luck from the tricky gate but is worth a saver.

Race 6

Another tough race with a fistful of chances and OUR BOY NICHOLAS at the $8.00 is nearing his eighth career victory. Not far from the money first-up at the Gold Coast under 58kg, then lifted sharply in open class here running on stoutly to beat all but the in-form Beckham over 1400m. Gets a beautiful run from the draw and meets them a couple of kilos better. LUCKY TOM tends to hold his form and after a dogged all the way win last time you’d be mad to jump off him. His previous couple were ordinary but he has drawn the paint here and should give them something to aim at in the straight. ANGEL DANCER notched up her hat-trick last start falling in to win a Bm85 at Doomben. This is significantly harder and only drops a half kilo but she has been in great form since switching to the Mick Nolan yard and has to rate a hope.

Race 7

SHIPWRECKED has run into form and at the $6 gets the nod by a narrow margin over the favourite. Sat just off the speed at Doomben last start and scored comfortably in the end with a length to spare on the line. Should get a great run in transit from the perfect draw and with J Byrne in the saddle and will be right in thick of it at the business end. I’m scared of COLINELLE who also looks value at $4.00 and he could easily bounce back tomorrow. Beat a good field of 3yo’s two runs back after drawing a shocker, then again ran out of luck at the barrier draw but still ran a top race in the two and three-year-old plate, carrying 59kg into third spot behind River Racer. He’s drawn perfectly as well and these two are bound to be in the money. TOTAL AUTHORITY has been placed at his last three and will find this easier than his last start third behind Lucky Tom and Beckham. Doesn’t win many but a must for your exotics.

Race 8

MR EPIC was disappointing first-up when he ran last of three as the hot favourite but hasn’t looked back, winning his next two and running a gallant third to Sagaronne last time over 1615m. Genuine class six horse who will be stepping up to open class in the near future and is very good value at the $7.00. EMERALD CITY was scratched the other day but we’ll stick with him to run a bold race at odds. Ran home nicely without threatening in the Rocky Cup last start and has been given a freshen-up and a trial hitout since. He has run some very nice races over a trip down in Sydney at his last two preps and is over the mark at $17. BRAZEN MOSS has finished in the top two at six of seven runs this prep and has drawn well again. Latest stuck on well behind The Iliad at this trip and won’t be far away with only 55kg.

Originally published as Brisbane: Comprehensive preview of every race at Eagle Farm