Carnival Capers: Nathan Exelby and Ben Dorries preview Super Saturday at Eagle Farm

THE Courier-Mail’s racing experts Nathan Exelby and Ben Dorries preview the star-studded Super Saturday meeting at Eagle Farm.

Ciaron Maher for Australian of the Year? Picture: Colleen Petch

THE Courier-Mail’s racing experts Nathan Exelby and Ben Dorries preview Queensland’s biggest raceday — Super Saturday — at Eagle Farm, featuring four Group 1s highlighted by the $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap.

NATHAN: How good is it for both of us to head into Grand Final day coming off an unblemished scorecard from last week? Not that your confidence ever needs boosting, but I’m hoping it sets me on a winning path on Saturday.

BEN: I managed not to tip a single loser and also save my flooded house from being swept away. I’m hearing I’ve been strongly backed in early markets for Australian Of The Year.

NATHAN: I will be voting for Ciaron Maher as Australian of the Year if Azkadellia lands the Stradbroke. She has been the pin-up horse of the carnival and Maher has made her so accessible. That aside, he’s a proven big-race trainer and I’m backing him to have her peak on Saturday. I have said for the past fortnight I like the 10,000 quinella to be reversed in the Stradbroke.

BEN: I like that quinella, too, but I think Music Magnate will become the first horse since Campaign King in 1988 to do the 10,000-Straddy double. Music Magnate hasn’t got the wraps he deserved for his 10,000 run and the $9 is much more appealing to me than less than half that quote about Azkadellia.

NATHAN: That’s cunning of you to put in a bit of history, misleading the readers into thinking you know what you’re talking about. Three other Group 1s to contend with. We ticked off on the Oaks last week and I haven’t changed from Provocative and Falkenberg. Onto the Derby and I note you have given easing fav Mackintosh the wide berth?

BEN: If readers take just one thing from this column (apart from the fact you still haven’t tipped a big-race winner over the carnival) it is that Eschiele is the bet of the day in the Derby. His run in the Grand Prix was huge, even better than Eagle Way to my eye. Can’t do much more than tip a $7.50 special. And yes, Mackintosh has about as much chance of running out a strong 2400m as you do of winning Fashions On the Field.

NATHAN: With it being such a historic day, returning to Eagle Farm and all, I’m tipping the racing gods to finally shine on the locals. So Eagle Way to win the Derby for Bryan Guy and Steve O’Dea’s Candika in the J.J Atkins. She motored the last 200m of the Sires and no way she should be twice the price of Sacred Elixir or Souchez.

BEN: Sadly, this is the end of Carnival Capers for another year. I’m off on holidays, which in a remarkable quirk of fate coincides with next week’s Ipswich Cup. Enjoy yourself out there, mate.

Originally published as Carnival Capers: Nathan Exelby and Ben Dorries preview Super Saturday at Eagle Farm