Brisbane: A comprehensive preview of every race at Eagle Farm

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

Murphy's Delight. Picture Mark Evans

Race 1

HAPPY EVENT scored a strong length and a quarter win at the Sunshine Coast last start and at $5.00 I have no intention of jumping off here. Put the writing on the with a closing run at Ipswich the run prior and did plenty of work from an outside gate last time but was still far too strong on the line. Drawn the inside here so she will get every chance and although she’s giving the boys weight she is the one to beat. RIVER RACER is still a maiden but she has ability and has only missed a place once in her five starts. Covered extra ground first-up but still closed late to beat all but downloading at Doomben. Stakes-placed in the Calaway Gal behind Zelady’s Night Out last prep and from the ideal gate will be in it for a long way. Nice value at $15. GUARD OF HONOUR looks very short at $2.30 and will find this harder than his midweek maiden win at Warwick Farm first-up. Drawn well and has to be given a hope but not keen on the quote.

Race 2

Unusual to see a class three of any type programmed for a Saturday let alone a distance event at set weights, but here it is and ARTIBAI should eat these for breakfast. Nice run last start at Ipswich when beaten just a half length by the in-form Amexed and although he has taken a number of runs to find his form he should be able to put this average class three field away. IN THE KITTY is on the third line of betting at $8.50 but her form can’t match the top pick’s in terms of quality. Placed four of her last five though including a nice run behind More Energy at Doomben last start. Drawn well and can fight out the minors. DON’T TELL MAMA has won her last two at Toowoomba and while she’ll find this a tough assignment to stretch it to a hat-trick you can’t deny the form she is in. Gave nothing else a chance in a Bm75 last time and is down to the limit weight here after the claim.

Race 3

Tricky event with several horses going forward likely to set up a good tempo paving the way for something to finish home over the top. BEATNIKS found the Group One mares too strong for her in the Tatt’s Tiara last start but her previous two in stakes company were very strong and she can beat these off a good speed. Rattled home in the Group Two Dane Ripper two runs back to finish just three lengths from Cradle Me and was placed behind Ghisoni in the Glenlogan at Group Three level the run prior. Lots to like about a $10 pop. OAK ‘N’ ARTHUR may need another run to hit top gear but he is a very good campaigner and his first-up run was encouraging. Made ground from the back of a small field over 1050m at Doomben and appreciate not only the step up to 1400m but the 5kg drop in weight thanks to the claim for Beau Appo. SALUTER doesn’t go flash on a wet track but if the surface gets a chance to dry out he can win. Couldn’t catch Flamboyer in the Glasshouse last time but he still beat the rest comfortably and is well in after the claim.

Race 4

Hard to go past MURPHY’S DELIGHT here and he looks one of the better bets on the day. Beat all but Opinion in the Stayers Cup in Sydney two runs back before plugging away in a Bm78 behind Not A Gypsy under 59kg back to the 2600m. This is much easier and the $2.70 looks over the mark to me. JIAYUGUAN hasn’t done much in four starts this prep but is a handy stayer when right and will find this easier than his last couple. Finished a well beaten fourth behind Tucanchoo last start and needs to lift his game, but is capable of doing so. INSTRUMENTALIST was placed in the Ipswich Cup before a battling run in the Caloundra Cup last start over 2400m. Looks poorly treated with 59kg but most of the rest are making up the numbers.

Umgeni (yellow cap). P ictures: Jessica Hawkins, Trackside Photography.

Race 5

UMGENI ran out of luck at the barrier draw on Wednesday but he is coming into this with a hat-trick next to his name and will give a great sight at $15. Worked hard to beat Dousiaichi in open grade at the Gold Coast to bring up the treble and only rises 1kg into this after the claim for Amelia Denby. Drawn a shocker but there will be a truckload of scratching with five emergencies drawn inside him and he can keep adding to that picket fence at the big odds. ONE INCH PUNCH has taken only two runs to hit winning form for Toby Edmonds and is entitled to be the $4.40 against these. Too strong for an okay Bm75 field last start and with some natural improvement he will take beating. EMBLEY has been running on in tougher grade in Sydney at his last couple and was only a length and a quarter from the winner in his Bm78 last time. Down in weight but has fared even worse than Umgeni at the barrier draw.

Race 6

SHOTACROSS THE BOW hasn’t been disgraced at Group level over the carnival and from the perfect draw tomorrow will give this a shake. Beaten less than a length in the Group Three Gunsynd Classic earlier in the carnival and make ground behind Tivaci in the Sunshine Coast Guineas last time round. Hasn’t won for a while but at $11 is worth the punt each way. SALMANAZAR has drawn the outside gate here but is still a force to be reckoned with. Looked good at the end of the Daybreak Lover here three weeks ago only to get bloused by Sold For Song late. There’s nothing as good as her in this and while he’s going to need some luck from the draw he does look right on the money at $2.75. I thought we might see a better price about SAGARONNE than the $7.50 considering she hasn’t run a place at any of her last seven outings, but it was a nice effort behind Sold For Song where she finished off nicely. Include among the chances, and you might get better than $7.50 come racetime.

Race 7

Very hard to tip around MOST IMPORTANT here from the ideal draw and there’s every chance they’ll knock the $2.60 off before race day. Drew a shocker here first-up but stuck on well in the run home to beat all but Bidii Babe and has drawn a far better marble tomorrow. He has no weight on his back and should win. ROYAL OCCASION ran on okay in the Listed Eye Liner last time after missing the kick and will find this easier. Rocketed to the line at the Gold Coast the run prior to beat a similar field to this over the 1200m and from the good draw can overcome the big weight. At cricket score odds VOLTAIRE LUMINIERE can run a bold race first-up. He was a certainty beaten first-up last campaign at Doomben, and was placed in this grade three runs back over 1350m. Currently $71 and could sneak a place running home off a good speed.

Race 8

I’m going plonk for the Umgeni formline tomorrow and giving METEOROLOGIST a hope at the $51 against a large but underwhelming class six field. He made good ground first-up over an unsuitable 1300m trip at the Gold Coast finishing a couple of lengths behind Umgeni on the line in open company. He’ll relish the step up to 1600m tomorrow and has drawn to get the run of the race on the fence. There’s no way he’s a 50/1 pop and whatever business you do on the race make sure you have a small saver on him. DECONSTRUCTED ran a top race fresh from a break last start and will strip fitter for the run. Knocked up winning races at the end of last year around this trip and he is one of the main chances. ANNAMAN would be too good for these at his best but it’s been a while since he’s been there. Showed a glimpse last time finishing off a Bm75 over 1350m in fins style and is another who is looking for this trip now. Over the mark at $11 from the good gate.