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.

Hidden Pearls.

Race 1

Underwhelming start to the day and CUSHION PINK looks as good as any. Flashed home at Doomben earlier this month to pick up her maiden before another strong finish in much tougher grade, running three lengths sixth to Rare Occurrence. Gets all the favours from the inside draw and looks about right at $3.50. PERILOUS LOVE is still a maiden but too plenty of ground off them last start to finish up just over a length from Beloso. This is easier and if she can bring her wet track credentials to a firm surface will be hard to hold out. PERSISTENT SHADOW has been racing in good company at her last few and is in the mix. Went across the line with Perilous Love last start and finished a good second to Royal Tithe the run prior. Has claims in a wide open race.

Race 2

HIDDEN PEARL was a notable drifter in the ring first-up but it made no difference as she cleared out to score by four and a half lengths under 57kg. Hard to believe she is still eligible for a class six and with 59kg after the claim she will be looking forward to the weight relief when she progresses to open company. It wouldn’t surprise me to see her make the trip south for a stakes race somewhere over the spring. She is very smart and should win again at a fair price of $1.60. ABRACADASH has won her last three in weaker grade but has solid place claims in this, a fairly weak class six outside of the topweight. She has been leading but will likely take a sit off the favourite tomorrow and can stick on for a minor prize. TIBROGARGAN MISS scored a nice win fresh after leading from a good draw but has drawn awkwardly here. Goes well second-up as a rule and is one for the exotics.

Race 3

SPRINGBOK FLYER looks as though he’s headed north to avoid wet tracks and should get conditions to suit tomorrow. Hasn’t done a great deal this preparation to date against far, far superior runners but it’s worth noting he has had 15 starts on rain affected ground and is yet to taste success. His form over the staying trips last campaign on dry surfaces was very strong and included consecutive victories in town leading all the way. Should be a big improver here and is well over the mark at $8.00. DENONINATOR beat some pretty average types in a Bm85 at the Sunshine Coast last start after a nice effort behind Fusina over a mile. The claim helps, as does his consistency but he is a deadset grinder at this level and looks a bit skinny at $5.00. SENTIMENTAL PRINCE is the favourite here following two wins at Doomben in weaker grade. Get a nice 3kg weight drop into this tougher assignment and is housed in the right stable. Genuine hope for the hat-trick.

Race 4

AKAVOROUN pulled up lame last start after beating one home here and we’ll stick with him and hope it was just a glitch. We’ll go on instead on his previous run when a strong length and a half winner of a Listed race over this trip across the road and if he brings that form he’ll be winning. I’ve missed BECKHAM at his two recent victories and he is favourite again tomorrow but has to push it out to a mile and I’ll be risking him yet again. Four runs back he knocked up over 1500m and in this very competitive open race he will be under enormous pressure halfway up the straight. RETUNE is the knockout hope here after running on stoutly behind San Telmo on a soft-5 here a fortnight ago. Back on top of the ground which is a big plus, jumps out with only 52.5kg and has drawn the inside gate. Lots like about the 40/1 rank outsider.

Akavoroun. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

Race 5

MOST IMPORTANT looks a standout and although he hasn’t won for over a year he must surely be due tomorrow. Huge effort first-up here behind Bidii Babe before a hiccup on the heavy-9 where he led and knocked up. Solid run in good company against the two and three-year-old’s last start finishing just a half length from the winner. Not missed at the $3.20 but from the good draw this really does look his race. MOON AND THE STARS was a handy winner at the Sunshine Coast last start and should get dry conditions again here. Only up a half kilo for the win thanks to the claim and has drawn to advantage. Nice each way hope at $19. I think MONSTER OF ENERGY is overrated but he hasn’t been far behind them in slightly weaker grade since winning a class three here in July. Drawn wide here but is consistent and should get a spot in your quaddie.

Race 6

At $4.80 INTO THE RED looks the value here following on from a tidy second to The Monstar last time. Big run in the Ramornie the start before, and picked up a Group Three in June beating a very strong field over this trip. Well in after the claim. THE MONSTAR ran away to a three and a half length win here last start but has a couple of obstacles to making it two in a row. He is likely to be back onto firm ground tomorrow which is not his strong suit, and he is up to 59kg. Racing very well this prep but happy to risk him at the $2.90. ROCK ROYALTY didn’t handle the wet track last start and beat the top pick home in the Ramornie and could finish over the top of them. Smart sprinter when right and although he’s been out of the money for a good while he could give some cheek at the $13.

Race 7

There are an incredible number of genuine hopes in this and FIRE WITHIN at $11 could be the one. Beat Sharpe Hussler in a class five at Doomben two runs ago then struck trouble early on but recovered to go down narrowly to Skylimit here in an 0MW. Hasn’t won a race in 15 starts on wet ground and one would expect further improvement back to a good-4 tomorrow. Drawn well and with only 52kg on his back he will go very well. ANECDOTE is on the same line of betting and produced a nice effort first-up chasing hard behind Tibrogargan Miss at the Sunshine Coast. Fell a nose short on the line and could easily go one better at the juicy odds here. TAILLEVENT has the best form in the race with a photo finish defeat behind River Racer last time from a shocking draw, but he has drawn awkwardly again and is a real non-winner for mine. He’s definitely in the mix but he needs to work out where the line is and be first past it before I jump on.

Race 8

STELLA DI NOTTE has had two runs back from a long break and up to the 1600m tomorrow will take a ton beating. Even run first-up in a class three over 1200m then finished off nicely at the end of 1350m in a similar race. This time last year she ran a cracker in The Phoenix at Listed level and at $13 we can put a limo on standby and head home from the track in style. SAN TELMO was a strong winner in a Bm75 here last start after drawing off the track but has fared no better tomorrow. Showed good form in Sydney before switching stables and is one of the main chances, although perhaps a bit short at $3.70. KEEP ON ROCKING won this style of race here a fortnight ago at his third run back from a break and should be suited by the extra furlong, but will need plenty of luck from gate 18. Nicely in after the claim and with some good fortune early on will be strong late.