TAB On The Punt: Nathan Exelby previews the meeting at Eagle Farm

Tycoon Evie didn’t stay last prep and although 1000m may be too sharp she has the class to win, says Queensland racing expert Nathan Exelby.

Tycoon Evie resumes in the last race at Eagle Farm. Picture: Trackside Photography

Sky Racing and Brisbane Racing Club’s turf expert Nathan Exelby runs his eye over Saturday’s meeting at Eagle Farm.

Track: Soft 5. Rail: +3.5m

BEST BETS

Salateen, R4 No.9 – $2.30

She trialled well and ran up to it having her first run for the new stable. Opposition wasn’t flash, but she had plenty on them and this looks a nice step up the ladder.

Confidant, R5 No.5 – $10

Things didn’t pan out first-up in what turned out a big sprint home and he may have peaked on run given the time that had elapsed since his trial. Fitter here and like him in with the light weight.

Royal Hale, R7 No.3 – $2.80

Having a great prep and ran super in the Weetwood. This looks like setting up perfectly with a good strong tempo up front and him getting a soft run from this draw. Should finish very strongly.

MONEY TALKS

Race 2: Modele $3.80-$3.40

Race 4: Centrefire $15-$10

Race 7: Georgie’s Pride $3.80-$2.90

Randwick – The TAB Everest

Nature Strip $4.50-$3.60

Classique Legend $4-$4.80

Eduardo $8-$6.50

Gytrash $9-$7.50

Caulfield Cup

Incentivise $2.15-$2.50

The Chosen One $15-$13

Persan $41-$26

She’s Ideel $61-$34

Delphi $6.50-$8.50

THE QUADDIE

R7: ST RITA’S CUP OPEN QUALITY HANDICAP (1200m)

Georgie’s Pride will run them along here and she will be kept honest by Tavisan and possibly You Make Me Smile, with Constant Flight not far away either. That all sets up nicely for Royal Hale ($2.80), who will sit behind them getting a sweet run for Ryan Maloney. He produced a career best to run third in the Listed Weetwood last time out. Already two subsequent winners have come out of that race. Georgie’s Pride ($2.60) will be fitter for her first-up defeat and no doubt she’s at her best around Eagle Farm. You Make Me Smile ($6.50) had to do too much work at Toowoomba and folded. His previous win at Doomben was very good.

Selections: 3 Royal Hale, 8 Georgie’s Pride, 1 You Make Me Smile

R8: 3YO QUALITY HANDICAP (1400m)

A few of these now stretch to 1400m, which adds more intrigue to this race. Keenest on Menazzi ($5), who wound up very late in the It’s All Talk race at Doomben. He was good at Eagle Farm with no luck three starts back and is progressing beautifully this prep. The extra distance looks ideal. It’s All Talk ($7) did a good job to win that race, gunning down Glorious Ruby (won last week). She did enjoy a sweet run, but was only first-up and should have more upside yet, plus she’s already a winner at the trip. Big Muskie ($10) and Pentito ($4.80) can improve off last start maidens, while Rhapsody Rose ($4) continues to endure bad luck with barriers. Suspect she goes forward today up to this trip.

Selections: 7 Menazzi, 4 It’s All Talk, 5 Big Muskie, 1 Rhapsody Rose, 6 Pentito

R9: CLASS 6 HANDICAP (1400m)

Three of the top four picks here are 399+ days between wins, which suggests it’s not the best Saturday race we’ve seen in Brisbane. Have landed on Enterprise Prince ($3.60). Mick Lakey had a winner last week and it does seem like this guy is knocking on the door. He gets right down in the weights today and won’t get a better chance to shine. Ziemba ($3.80) was fair first-up at Doomben and 1400m is a logical progression for him now. Cristal Breeze ($4.60) is the best horse and comes out of the strongest race, where he did some work early from a wide gate. Will relish getting back to this class of race. Red Stina ($15) has trialled very well since the Weetwood and is the knockout hope.

Selections: 7 Enterprise Prince, 6 Ziemba, 1 Cristal Breeze, 2 Red Stina

R10: CLASS 6 HANDICAP (1000m)

Tycoon Evie ($5.50) is potentially the best horse in this race and she gets in with just 54.5kg. Failed to stay last prep but all of her form up to a mile was excellent, including a huge win here at 1200m with Apache Chase among the beaten division. She trialled like a bomb recently (running quicker time than Simply Fly did in the same session), indicating she’s going well. 1000m is short of her best, but hoping class can get her home. Simply Fly ($5) had an outstanding prep and 1000m is perfect for him. Le Palmier ($4.40) will get the sweet run near the speed and no doubt races well, but the other pair have more upside.

Selections: 7 Tycoon Evie, 2 Simply Fly, 5 Le Palmier

AWAY FROM HOME

There’s been some very good horses go under at skinny odds in the Caulfield Cup, but hoping Incentivise doesn’t add his name to the list. Expect he will offset the barrier quickly and then dominate from the front. Up in Sydney, The TAB Everest looks tough, so looking to other races. Hungry Heart (Randwick, Race 8, $6) came into her own last prep when she got to the middle distances and she can give Think It Over a real race here. The run two back showed she’s going well enough for this.