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

A drop in class can see Safeeya back in the winners’ stall at Eagle Farm, says Queensland racing expert Nathan Exelby. BEST BETS, QUADDIE

Safeeya finds an easier race at Eagle Farm. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

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

Track: Good 4. Rail: +5m

BEST BETS

Safeeya, R3 No.8 – $4

Dominant winner at this track to starts back, then just weakened late at Doomben in a blanket finish. This looks easier and she’s drawn to get the sweetest of runs.

Profit, R4 No.3 – $2

He’s been a bit maligned in not having lived up to the early promise, but he’s racing well this prep and up to the mile with the benefit of the claim, he’s superbly placed in this race.

Champagne Aunty, R7 No.8 – $2.50

A few wanting to get off her it seems, but she looks the one to me. Has the speed to cross from the gate, then sit on speed and kick. 1800m is logical progression after super tough win last time over the mile.

MONEY TALKS

Race 1: Glorious Ruby $3.50-$2.80

Race 2: Gemelon Bolt $4.40-$3.90

Race 3: Mosshiki $8.50-$5.50

Race 4: Profit $2.30-$2

Race 6: Dusty Tycoon $7-$5

Race 7: Relucent $13-$8.50, Champagne Aunty $2.90-$2.50

Caulfield

Race 6: Ingratiating $4.20-$3.70, Generation $3.70-$2.90

Race 7: Najmaty $5-$4.60, Gimmie Par $4.60-$3.80

Race 8: Streets Of Avalon $3.20-$2.90

Profit is well placed at the mile. Picture: AAP

THE QUADDIE

RACE 6: BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP (1200M)

Keen to be with Big Bad Bruce ($8) here. He’s flying for this stable. Trialled well and ran up to it winning fresh, then trialled well again before the barrier cruelled his chances at Doomben. Draws to get the beautiful run just behind the speed here and if he handles this track is going to be very hard to hold out. Scottish Mist ($6) has trialled stylishly in readiness for her return, plus worked well with Rothfire, so she’s sure to have admirers. Lady Banff ($4.60 fav) is going super, but the barrier makes it tougher. Baylee Nothdurft will need to produce another A+ ride to slot her in. Lashoni ($11) is suited back to 1200m and with a soft run is capable of finishing strongly.

Selections: 7 Big Bad Bruce, 11 Scottish Mist, 9 Lashoni

RACE 7: BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1825M)

As stated in the Best Bets column, no reason Champagne Aunty ($2.50) can’t win again. Forced to race wide here last time, but still kept coming. 1800m is a perfect progression now and with an absence of much pressure inside, can see her crossing to enjoy a softer run this time. Spanish Point ($6) put away a handy midweek field over this course 10 days back and goes in with a chance again based on that. Relucent ($8.50) wasn’t far away in a blanket finish two weeks ago and the Chris Waller trained stayers always seem to improve with a run once they arrive here. It becomes wide open after that and you can make cases for quite a few, but I’m happy sticking solid with Steve Tregea and Champagne Aunty.

Selections: 8 Champagne Aunty, 2 Spanish Point, 6 Relucent

RACE 8: BENCHMARK 85 HANDICAP (1200M)

Think this is fairly even. Punters will likely gravitate to Royal Hale ($4), because he’s drawn to get the right run and he gets important weight relief on the first up run. I thought it was a pass mark there, nothing more, nothing less. He’s on top, but just. Weboughtazou ($5.50) was good in the same race, fighting on strongly behind a talented NSW horse. He surely runs well on speed again. Peppi La Few ($4.80) may want the 1400m now (scratched from the next race off a wide gate), but he’s going well and Brad Stewart has a good affinity with him. Sea Raider ($9) down in class is a hope again coming back to 1200m. And the horse from up north, Brad ($10), brings a solid record. Interesting race, no confidence.

Selections: 4 Royal Hale, 3 Peppi La Few, 8 Weboughtazou, 5 Sea Raider

RACE 9: CLASS 6 HANDICAP (1400M)

Avowal ($4.60) controlled in front and produced a big sectional to win easily at the midweeks. Hoping the plan is to ride him the same way here, positively out of the gates and use the light weight – he drops 8kg on that last start win. Dreamreacher ($3.10) had the better of him when they last met and did well to fight off Champagne Aunty to win. Presumably he too will be ridden with some urgency out of the gates given how well he adapted last time. Ulysses ($5) is the one who will enjoy the charmed run behind that pair and have the last shot, but can he concede 8kg and 3kg to them? Stuttering ($5) is coming along okay this prep. Soundly beaten last week, but rock hard fit now and claim helps.

SELECTIONS: 8 Avowal, 5 Dreamreacher, 2 Ulysses, 3 Stuttering

AWAY FROM HOME

Mamaragan (Kemble Grange, Race 2, $5.50) hasn’t won since his debut, but he’s taken on the silk department ever since that day. Now resumes in a benchmark race off two good trials. Think he’s really well placed. Further south to Caulfield, Bella Nipotina (Race 4, $2.90) looks well placed. She really attacked the line at her first start for the new stable in Brisbane when ridden more quietly and this is a step back in class from that day.