TAB On The Punt: Nathan Exelby previews the meeting at Toowoomba

Blackjack Boom is poised to continue his winning streak at Toowoomba, says Queensland racing expert Nathan Exelby. BEST BETS, QUADDIE

Blackjack Boom is shooting for three wins in a row this campaign. Picture: Trackside Photography

Sky Racing and Brisbane Racing Club’s turf expert Nathan Exelby runs his eye over Saturday’s meeting at Toowoomba, which has been transferred from Doomben.

Track: Soft 7. Rail: True.

BEST BETS

Tamilaide, R1 No.2 – $2.20

He’s shrugged off some costly defeats in winning his past two. Now putting himself into a race earlier and he should be too good for these again.

Knight Mariner, R5 No.8 – $2.40

Eye-catching return where he should have finished closer. Out to his pet trip now and he can be too good for these on his way to better races.

Big Bad Bruce, R10 No.12 – $10

He looks a good value play here first-up off a big Brisbane campaign last time in. The recent trial says he’s come back well enough to race well in this.

Tamilaide can get punters off to a winning start at Toowoomba. Picture: Adam Hourigan

MONEY TALKS

Race 4: Slow Hands $9-$5.50

Race 5: Dealmaker $9-$8.50, Knight Mariner $2.70-$2.20

Race 7: Rich Lister $4-$3.20

Race 8: Prince Of Boom $7-$4.80

Race 9: Tramonto $8.50-$5.50

Flemington

Race 3: Rose Quartz $2.60-$2.30

Race 5: Overpass $2.0-$2.20

Race 6: Zaaki $2.50-$2.10

Race 7: Captivant $9-$7

Race 9: Yonce $3.50-$3.10

THE QUADDIE

R7: BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP (1100m)

Rich Lister ($3.20) was going to be a query on a very heavy track, but now we are onto the improving Strathayr surface, she looks hard to beat. Trialled very well then ran right up to it in her dominant first-up win at Doomben. Dives in against better opposition this time, but she looks very progressive at the moment. Go Wandji ($2.90) is a real talent who was dynamic a couple of times last prep. He will get back and then attempt to unleash a big sprint down the middle. Mischief Managed ($7.50) kept trying first up at Caloundra. She is suited with sting out of the ground and should get across to a nice spot on speed.

Selections: 16 Rich Lister, 12 Go Wandji, 13 Mischief Managed

R8: QTIS JEWEL PRELUDE 3YO HANDICAP (1100m)

Blackjack Boom ($3.70) was able to sit three deep with cover and prove too strong at Caloundra. Now set to enjoy a sweet run off the kind draw. Gets every chance against a similar class of rival to the one he’s beaten his past two. Prince Of Boom ($4.60) resumes after a throat operation. Disappointed twice last time in before the problem was discovered. If he found his best two-year-old form, he would put these to the sword. Legal Esprit ($15) disappointed last time but his first-up run form ties in nicely for this. Self Indulgent ($8) keeps putting in and did a good job off a wide trip last time. Baristasista ($34) could be an improver on her home track.

Selections: 3 Blackjack Boom, 1 Prince Of Boom, 6 Self Indulgent, 2 Legal Esprit

R9: OPEN HANDICAP (1300m)

Gogol ($4) goes to Saturday Open company for the first time and it is a leap on what he’s been racing against, but he looks up to it. Huge win at Doomben then far too good back to his home track. Sting out of the track is no issue for him. Stuttering ($10) hasn’t won for a long, long time, but his last start is hard to ignore, particularly with him down on 51kg off a good draw. He should give a big sight here. Racecourse Road ($4.80) is well placed down in the weights. This is his first attempt beyond 1200m for a long time, so it is some query. Sambro ($8.50) gets a huge drop in class and warrants respect.

Selections: 5 Gogol, 12 Stuttering, 3 Sambro

R10: CLASS 6 HANDICAP (1200m)

Like the chances of Big Bad Bruce ($10) first-up here. He’s trialled well enough and now comes back for his second preparation with the Gollan stable after peeling off three wins last time in. The last start was his best and he’s drawn to enjoy a beautiful run on speed here. Tramonto ($5.50) was too bad to be true last time. He did it tough there and is capable of bouncing back from a kind draw. Montenegro Man ($9) is going super this prep, beating a couple of nice horses last time and drawn to get his chance again. Shamrock Lu ($5.50) suited onto a drier track now. Just has to prove he is equally effective at 1200m as he is at 1000m.

Selections: 12 Big Bad Bruce, 8 Tramonto, 6 Montenegro Man, 11 Guntantes, 14 Shamrock Lu

AWAY FROM HOME

Overpass (Flemington, Race 5, $2.20) looks one of the best placed horses anywhere, bringing form around genuine Group 1 horses to this sales restricted race. His only run up the straight was good and he handles wet ground should it go that way. Up in Sydney, Mightybeel (Randwick, Race 4, $3.60) was totally dominant last time and can keep progressing through the ranks here.