Graeme Carey’s race-by-race Eagle Farm preview and tips for Saturday

As is quite often the case in Brisbane on a Saturday, I’m expecting leading trainer Tony Gollan to have a big day at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Champion trainer Tony Gollan looks set to dominate another Queensland Saturday meeting at Eagle Farm this weekend. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography.

As is quite often the case in Brisbane on a Saturday, I’m expecting leading trainer Tony Gollan to have a big day at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

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BEST BET:

ANAVINCI (Race 7 No. 6)

NEXT BEST:

SPEEDY ONE (Race 6 No. 3)

VALUE BET:

GLOWLIGHT (Race 3 No. 9)

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Quaddie numbers are:

Race 6 – 3,7,8

Race 7 – 6,7,8

Race 8 – 2,4,8

Race 9 – 1,2,5,8

$108 = 100 per cent of the dividend

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Race 1 – Benchmark 70 Handicap (1830m)

FREE CARRY (1) has won both midweek outings since resuming beating subsequent winners, She’s Got Veuve and Red Defcon. He takes on Saturday grade over a longer trip, but makes his own luck and Emily Lang knows how to ride him.

DIVAKARA (5) was beaten on debut here but hasn’t finished worse than second subsequently winning three of six with all outings being at the Sunshine Coast. He too, takes on Saturday grade for the first time, Ryan Maloney replaces Kyle Wilson-Taylor and will be hard to hold out.

MANNERHEIM (7) saves his best form for Queensland and was beaten less than a length at Eagle Farm last start. Damien Thornton replaces the apprentice Cody Collis and a strong rider is what he needs.

Matt Smith brings them North for a purpose and FIOPROSPERO (8) gets to the right trip and can improve off his first-up outing at Wyong. A dour type he needs a tempo but will be strong late for Bailey Wheeler.

Verdict – FREE CARRY (1) should take some beating.

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Race 2 – Benchmark 90 Handicap (2200m)

A dual acceptor for Rosehill, DIABO BOLT (3) was dominant in similar class at Doomben and won his only previous outing here. He rises 2.5kg but with a good gate again and Jag Guthmann-Chester staying aboard he can repeat.

WARP SPEED (1) is fitter for two outings and backs up after a solid frontrunning effort before fading late at the Gold Coast last week. He goes well at this track, loves the trip and with Noel Callow staying on will be prominent for a long way.

ARIZONA DREAMING (6) gets plenty of racing but has won his past two, the most recent over this trip three weeks ago. He takes on a higher Benchmark but Damien Thornton stays on, drops 1.5kg, makes his own luck and rarely runs poorly.

TAPILDODLEDO (4) is on the quick back-up from the Gold Coast last week and is working his way back to form. A Group 2 winner, his best is good enough and two of his four wins have been here.

BEDFORD SQUARE (9) doesn’t win out of turn but this trip suits and he will appreciate a solid tempo. From the ace draw with Taylor Marshall, he draws to do no work and will be strong late.

Verdict – If DIABLO BOLT (3) comes here he wins, otherwise WARP SPEED (1) is on top.

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Race 3 – Class 1 Plate (1400m)

GLOWLIGHT (9) gives a start but will appreciate this big track. She was beaten out of sight by Missile One when resuming but beat the rest, will be improved by the outing, draws to do no work and will round them up late.

John Thompson has brought JACOB’S LADDER (6) North after he stormed home to win a Canberra Maiden last start. He is the one with least convictions, will appreciate the big track and is here for a purpose.

WINSOME STAR (4) worked from a wide gate and may have found the 1615m beyond him last start. He has found winning hard to come by but has been runner-up five times in eight starts this preparation and from a good gate will get every chance with Jaden Lloyd.

TRAPEDO (14) wasn’t disgraced in a much stronger Class 3 than this last start and drops back to her winning trip. Cejay Graham stays and will have her hitting the line.

Verdict – Many chances, GLOWLIGHT (9) represents some value.

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Race 4 – Open Handicap (1600m)

KRONENBOURG (1) has won two of three at this trip here and rounded them up to win at Doomben last start. He meets Devestate 2kg worse, but Emily Lang stays on and knows what to do.

DEVASTATE (3) found Kronenbourg too strong late last start but has the ace draw, gets a 2kg weight swing and will get all the favours with Angela Jones.

TENZING (4) found Rising Pacific too good last start but meets him 3kg better. Cejay Graham replaces Jag Guthmann-Chester and will be handy throughout.

RISING PACIFIC (2) has been in fine form since resuming and comfortably disposed of a Class 6 field here last start. He needs the right tempo but will be strong late.

Verdict – KRONENBOURG (1) is the pick of the Gollan runners.

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Race 5 – Class 6 Plate (1000m)

Gates haven’t helped BLUE SPINEL (4) at recent outings but she hasn’t been beaten far here at her past two outings. She meets similar company and off a strong speed, Angela Jones can round them up.

Plate conditions suit WILD BOTANICA (10) which is backing up after just missing at the Gold Coast last week. She is awkwardly drawn but drops 3kg, Jake Bayliss replaces Kyle Wilson-Taylor and will have her on the speed throughout.

MR GALAZI (3) hasn’t won for a long time but gets a good gate, likes this trip and beat BLUE SPINEL (4) home here last start. Georgina Cartwright replaces the apprentice Cody Collis and his last win came with her aboard.

SUPER DAISY (9) strung four wins together last preparation and has been readied by jumpouts. She has won here previously and from a good gate Nikita Beriman will take no prisoners.

Verdict – BLUE SPINEL (4) is due.

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Race 6 – 3YO Handicap (1000m)

The great Takeover Target’s colours get a run in Saturday grade with SPEEDY ONE (3) which brings NSW Country form and is unbeaten in three outings, the most recent at Albury over this trip. He will find this harder but gate one helps, and Jack Martin will have him on the bunny throughout.

Blinkers come off DEVINE FORCE (8) which won her first two outings here and was subsequently thrown in the deep end last start preparation taking on black-type company without success. She won a recent trial and will get the gun run with Ron Stewart.

CONCESSION (7) came from a wide gate to beat all but subsequent winner Ser Joh at Doomben. Luke Dempsey stays on and will be in the finish again.

All the gear comes off GIN A TONIC (2) which returns as a gelding and looked sharp at a recent trial. He was up to this class as a two-year-old and will get a good run with Jaden Lloyd.

Verdict – I’m with SPEEDY ONE (3).

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Race 7 – F & M Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m)

Sydney form is with ANAVINCI (6) which won the Gosford Guineas early in her career but had a very long injury break thereafter and signalled a return to form placing at Rosehill last start. A five-year-old mare by I Am Invincible out of a multiple Group 1 winner she is having only her seventh start, meets the right company and Angela Jones will leave nothing to chance.

RUBY CHICKS (7) is another that showed early promise but had a year off and bounced back with a good Class 3 win when resuming. This trip poses queries, but a good gate helps, and her dam placed at 2000m in the UK.

Winkers replace blinkers on FIELD OF MYRTLE (8) which disappointed here last start but has been freshened. Andrew Mallyon replaces Jake Bayliss, she draws to do no work and can be strong late.

TOJAKI (1) mixes her form but is smart when right and has raced well fresh in the past. This class suits and with Ryan Maloney can make her presence felt.

Verdict – ANAVINCI (6) to deliver the goods.

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Race 8 – C, G & E Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m)

Tony Gollan has two chances but this class suits PIZARRO (2) which hit the line better than any behind Termagant last start. He has drawn poorly but has been competitive in far stronger races than this, drops 2.5kg and Jag Guthmann-Chester knows when to press the button.

Upside is with OUROBOROS (8) which had plenty on them when resuming in a Class 2 and having his first outing for Matt Hoysted. This is harder but four starts back he just missed in a Group 3 and this should not be beyond him.

MAJORELLE (4) has a good first-up record, has been readied by two trials and will appreciate Cobi Vitler’s 3kg claim. He has speed and will be prominent for a long way.

Blinkers come off the other Hoysted runner, HELLUVA BARTY (6) which didn’t fire a shot when resuming in a Class 6 Plate but is much better than that. He hasn’t won for over a year but is better placed here and with Luke Dempsey from a good gate is worth another chance.

Verdict – PIZARRO (2) finds the right company.

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Race 9 – Benchmark 85 Handicap (1400m)

Another race with Tony Gollan having strong chances and SET TO SHINE (8) is a mare in form that rarely runs poorly. She got the job done here last start over this trip, gets the gun run from the ace and with Emily Lang can repeat the dose.

The stablemate WARBY (5) goes best second-up and hit the line better than any when resuming. He gives a start but Ryan Maloney replaces Luke Dempsey, draws to do no work and will test them late.

OSMAN (1) brings Southern form and when last here won a Benchmark 80 at Doomben. He meets better company but gets a 3kg claim for Courtney Bellamy and won’t be far away in running.

CADETSHIP (2) Is backing up quickly after coming from a long way back to just miss the placings at the Gold Coast. He has been finding it hard to win but a positive ride from Mark Du Plessis will make a difference.

Verdict – I am with SET TO SHINE (8).

Originally published as Graeme Carey’s race-by-race Eagle Farm preview and tips for Saturday