Eagle Farm race-by-race preview and tips for Saturday

A quality meeting at Eagle Farm on Saturday, headlined by two black-type races as we edge towards the Winter Carnival.

Depth Of Character is Graeme's best bet at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Picture: Bradley Photos.

A quality meeting at Eagle Farm on Saturday, headlined by two black-type races as we edge towards the Winter Carnival.

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BEST BET:

DEPTH OF CHARACTER (Race 5 No. 1)

NEXT BEST:

LUBRICATION (Race 6 No. 4)

VALUE BET:

WARP SPEED (Race 2 No. 1)

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Quaddie numbers are:

Race 7 – 10,15,17

Race 8 – 3,6,7,9

Race 9 – 1,2,3,5

Race 10 – 6,9,12

$144 = 100 per cent of the dividend

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Race 1 – 2YO Handicap (1400m)

NAVY PILOT (1) has shown little to date but has been racing in much higher quality races than this. He didn’t get much room in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes last start and was only three lengths off Vinrock at the end. With Ryan Maloney and a better run in transit he will be rounding them up.

RED CODE (2) held them all off to win on debut at the Gold Coast. A half-brother to a Toowoomba Guineas winner, this trip holds no fears and Jag Guthmann-Chester will have him up the front for a long way.

ON POINT PIXIE (6) has placed at both outings in races of similar strength to this. A good gate helps, and she will get all the favours with Damien Thornton.

BLINDING SPEED (7) led and was dominant on the Gold Coast poly last start. Michael Rodd gets back on and will be prominent.

Verdict – Market watch but expecting NAVY PILOT (1) to relish the drop in grade.

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Race 2 – Benchmark 90 Handicap (2212m)

WARP SPEED (1) will appreciate getting on to a firmer track, has a good record at Eagle Farm over this trip and is fitter for four outings this time in. He has been taking on stronger benchmarks than this, Cody Collis stays on and ridden off-speed with cover will be hard to hold out.

KIPLING’S JOURNEY (5) has found some consistency and was only collared late by Galifianakis last start. He meets him 1.5kg better and while this trip is his limit will be prominent for a long way

GALIFIANAKIS (4) knows how to string them together and rounded up a Benchmark 78 field at Doomben to go back-to-back last start. He has never won at Eagle Farm but drops 4kg and Jake Bayliss knows when to press the button.

THE RIGHT WAY (8) hasn’t been far away at three outings since resuming and is backing up after a solid effort under 61kg last week. He drops 7kg with Courtney Bellamy and gets the box seat throughout.

Verdict – Value lies with WARP SPEED (1).

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Race 3 – Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m)

ARISPHERE (10) got too far back when resuming at the Gold Coast but hit the line better than any. She won her only previous start here and with Angela Jones will be hard to hold out.

There is promise about AVONE (5) which will strip fitter from her first-up placing over this trip. Courtney Bellany stays on and will be hard to pass,

The ace draw helps ENTERPRISE LUCIA (11) which was too good for a midweek field when resuming. This is harder but she drops 2kg and will box seat for Cody Collis.

FLAG HALL (1) gives them all weight but beat a similar field at the Gold Coast, has won twice here previously over this trip and Michael Rodd will give him every chance.

Verdict – ARISPHERE (10) hard to hold out.

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Race 4 – Benchmark 70 Handicap (1200m)

The track should be soft enough for DAMO DAYZ (4) which has plenty of weight but has an excellent record here over this trip. Ryan Maloney replaces Martin Harley, and a strong rider is what he needs.

The stablemate DEVASTATING (6) was up on his toes when resuming but beat all but Enterprise Lucia and will appreciate this longer trip. Martin Harley replaces Ryan Maloney, draws to do no work and can test them late.

New Tony Gollan stable acquisition FLOOZIE (12) has had her issues but shown promise in Victoria and been tested in Listed company. Angels Jones has ridden her in two quiet trials and will see what she can do.

ACRES AWAY (2) will appreciate getting on to a firmer track and won his only previous start over this trip. Now third-up, he gets a 3kg claim for Shayleigh Ingelse and won’t be far away in running.

Verdict – Having something on DAMO DAYZ (4).

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Race 5 – 3YO Handicap (1600m)

He gives them all weight, but DEPTH OF CHARACTER (1) brings Sydney Group form better than any of these. He has been finding it hard to win but this is much weaker company and from gate one with Ryan Maloney there will be no excuses.

Blinkers come off APUNTAR (2) which showed last preparation this trip is not beyond him. Now third up, he did all but beat the talented Goodlucktome last start, Cody Collis stays on and he will be hard to hold out.

MR BUBBALUSKI (3) ran a bold race in the Jewel and backed it up to finish on terms with Apuntar. The step up in journey is an unknown but he races as though this trip will suit and with regular rider Damien Thornton will get every chance.

PRINCE LEVI (4) disappointed when favourite here last start but found trouble and returns to his preferred distance. He drops 5.5kg and winning rider Taylor Marshall can turn things around.

Verdict – DEPTH OF CHARACTER (1) should prove hard to beat.

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Race 6 – Class 3 Plate (1400m)

There are two of him, but LUBRICATION (4) has been knocking on the door and hit the line strongly at Scone last start on an unsuitable heavy track. He is well-treated under Plate conditions with Cody Collis’s 2kg claim and if the real deal arrives can round these up.

CASTILLIAN (2) found the stablemate Ludovisi too good when resuming but meets him 3kg better and has a favourable draw. He has won second-up previously and will get every chance with Ryan Maloney.

ANTONITO (1) has been in fine form since resuming but hasn’t been helped by the gate. Noel Callow stays on and it will be handlebars down from the outset.

VORACIOUS (6) didn’t give a yelp last start but Angela Jones gets back on, and a more positive ride will help.

Verdict – Taking a punt on LUBRICATION (4).

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Race 7 – Benchmark 80 Handicap (1600m)

Bad starts have been costly to IMATRUESTAR (10) at his past two outings. He rises 2kg over a longer trip and Laurie Mayfield-Smith has gone to an enforcer in Noel Callow to get him away. From a good gate there will be no excuses.

DEMON DARB (17) relished the soft ground and found the fast lane when demolishing a Benchmark 70 field here last start. This is harder but he drops 2.5kg and Bailey Wheeler will be rounding them up again.

Peter Robl has brought SMART LEGEND (15) straight to Saturday grade after beating a midweek Class 3 field when having his first start for the stable since coming north. Blinkers come off, his previous Sydney form is up to this level and with Jag Guthmann Chester can overcome the gate.

FREE CARRY (12) found the trip too far last but is better suited here. He drops 4.5kg and Emily Lang will be the bunny for a long way.

Verdict – Third time lucky for IMATRUESTAR (10).

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Race 8 – Listed Ascot Handicap (1000m)

The track and distance specialist is WANDA ROX (9) and she wasn’t disgraced when runner-up to subsequent King Of The Mountain winner Steady Rady here last start. She drops 1.5kg with Mark Du Plessis replacing the apprentice Courtney Bellamy and will be hard to run down.

Southern form is with SPACEWALK (3) which just missed the placings in Listed company last start at Flemington over this trip. He has won second-up and with Ryan Maloney will be picking off the speedsters late.

PAYLINE (6) took a while to win his maiden but once the penny dropped has won four of his past eight, the most recent being the rich Syndicate race at the Magic Millions beating Golden Boom. He is yet to win first-up but a good gate helps, and Kyle Wilson-Taylor will test the leaders late.

LIBERTAD (7) hasn’t been seen for a year but goes best fresh and has had two trials to get ready. At his last outing he ran Joliestar to a length in a Group 2 and with 1.5kg less from the ace draw can run a big race for Bailey Wheeler.

Verdict – WANDA ROX (9) to hold them off.

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Race 9 – Listed Daybreak Lover Stakes (1400m)

GOODLUCKTOME (3) has done nothing wrong this preparation and was dominant over this trip two starts back. He takes on higher class but has been giving them all weight under handicap conditions and from a good gate with Ryan Maloney will be hard to beat again.

GIVE ME SPACE (1) showed promise last preparation winning the Group 3 Vo Rogue and just missing in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas. No one prepares them better for a first-up tilt than Barry Lockwood and with Luke Dempsey he will be hard to hold out.

PISCES (2) raced well during the Melbourne Spring Carnival winning a Group 3 over this trip and will be improved by his first-up outing in the Darby Munro at Rosehill. With Angela Jones he can make his presence felt.

BOOMTOWN BOSS (5) was too strong for them when resuming and won’t mind 1400m second-up. This is harder but Emily Lang stays on and will be hitting the line.

Verdict – GOODLUCKTOME (3) is fit and has form on the board.

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Race 10 – Benchmark 85 Handicap (1200m)

BLAKMAX (12) wasn’t beaten far when resuming in this grade and has a good second-up record. He has won here previously and will get the gun run with Ryan Maloney,

The stablemate TORABELLA (6) won five of eight starts last preparation and trialled well recently. This trip is short of her optimum but Emily Lang knows her well and will have close enough if good enough.

Sydney form is with MISS HELLFIRE (9) which only got tired late in a Group 3 last start when resuming. She hasn’t won for over a year but has been racing in far stronger company than this. With Kyle Wilson-Taylor she will get back but can test them late.

EXOTIQUE MISS (14) disappointed last preparation but has been readied with two trials and has a good first record. Three of her four wins have been here and with Angela Jones will get every chance to show her wares.

Verdict – Another Gollan quinella with BLAKMAX (12) on top.

Originally published as Eagle Farm race-by-race preview and tips for Saturday