Sunshine Coast race-by-race preview and tips for Sunday

Heavy conditions await for Sunday’s Sunshine Coast meeting and here is my race-by-race preview and tips.

Heavy conditions await for Sunday’s Sunshine Coast meeting and here is my race-by-race preview and tips.

â–  â–  â–  â–  â– 

BEST BET:

BANANA SLIDE (Race 4 No 11)

NEXT BEST:

LONE ARTIST (Race 6 No 3)

VALUE BET:

ITALIAN DANCER (Race 5 No 5)

â–  â–  â–  â–  â– 

Quaddie numbers are:

Race 5 – 1,5,8,9

Race 6 – 1,3

Race 7 – 3,13,15

Race 8 – 11,12

$48 = 100 per cent of the dividend

â–  â–  â–  â–  â– 

Race 1 – 2YO Maiden Handicap (1300m)

Annabel and Rob Archibald have brought GREEN SPRING (3) is up from Sydney after three solid trials. Gate one helps and he will be prominent for a long way.

SOLIDUDE (7) has the benefit of experience, racing well at all three outings and wasn’t helped by a wide gate at Ipswich last start. This bigger track suits and Barandon Lerena can cart them along for a long way..

CERTIFY (1) is another with a middle-distance pedigree but has had plenty of trials winning his most recent. He gets plenty of gear with lugging bit, stallion chain and tongue-tie to keep him honest. With Michael Rodd he will be rounding them up late.

SNITZSTREAM (13) took on Listed company at debut and will find this more suitable. Angela Jones replaces Kyle Wilson-Taylor and won’t be far away in running.

Verdict – I am on GREEN SPRING (3).

â–  â–  â–  â–  â– 

Race 2 – Maiden Plate (1200m)

EASY LOVE (13) has looked useful at trials and David Vandyke has an excellent record with debutants at this track. The gate isn’t ideal but Jag Guthmann-Chester knows what to do.

ENHANCE (6) has had more than his share of chances placing at five of nine starts but only just missed on the Gold Coast polytrack when resuming at long odds-on. Now having his third outing for the Edmonds/McLean partnership he gets another opportunity with Kyle Wilson-Taylor.

ALARMING (3) hasn’t set the world on fire at his trials but is bred for speed and with Damien Thornton from a good gate will be prominent.

POROTO (9) has come North, changed stables and been gelded. Out of a well-performed staying mare he may want longer but his trial was sound and Nikita Beriman will test him out.

Verdict – Watch market but EASY LOVE (13) for me.

â–  â–  â–  â–  â– 

Race 3 – Maiden Handicap (1600m)

FOREVER FORTUNE (5) was beaten a long way at Ipswich start he did get into the placings and that augurs well here. Blinkers go on and with Bailey Wheeler he is ready to produce his best.

NATIONAL INTEREST (6) has been trying for a long time but is rarely far away. This trip poses questions, but his current form is better than any of the others and with Michael Rodd he won’t get a better chance.

ZOUBLIME (11) has less convictions than most and showed improvement to place here last start. Out of a Zabeel mare this trip won’t worry her, and she will get every chance with Brandon Lerena.

ELITE POWER (2) didn’t show a lot in Victoria but is now with matt Hoysted and will be suited at this trip. If there is anything there, Boris Thornton will find it.

Verdict – Take your pick, mine is FOREVER FORTUNE (5).

â–  â–  â–  â–  â– 

Race 4 – Class 3 Plate (1400m)

BANANA SLIDE (11) won over this trip first-up last preparation and has been readied by a recent trial. She has had her issues, but David Vandyke knows how to get her ready and with Kyle Wilson-Taylor from gate one will be hard to hold out.

ITALIAN RIVIERA (4) has an excellent first-up record, loves this trip and Stuart Kendrick will have him ready to go. A winner of three of six he showed himself up to Saturday grade last preparation and will be well-placed throughout by Cody Collis.

The stablemate LOOSE UNIT (7) is more a placegetter than a winner but rarely runs poorly and with Bailey wheeler will be prominent for a long way.

Australian Oaks placegetter, PREMISE (14) has had a change of stables and is now resuming with Matt Dunn. She hasn’t won for over two years but has been racing in far stronger company than this. A big track suits; she is tossed in under Plate conditions and with one trial under her belt can make her presence felt.

Verdict – BANANA SLIDE (11) too classy.

â–  â–  â–  â–  â– 

Race 5 – Class 1 Handicap (1000m)

Stuart Kendrick is leading trainer here for a reason and ITALIAN DANCER (5)’s only win was here when first-up last preparation over this trip on a heavy track. He won a recent trial, gets a 2kg claim for Corey Sutherland and with similar conditions likely can repeat the dose.

Blinkers go on BARASSI (1) which has been a costly conveyance but has speed, will be improved by his first-up outing and Kyle Wilson-Taylor will be handlebars down from the outset.

COUPLES RETREAT (9) found Listed company beyond him last start but this is more suitable and fitter for two outings she will be prominent for a long way.

BLONDE ON BLONDE (8) showed promise at her first preparation and has been trialling well. Longer will be better but a long straight suits, she draws to do no work and can finish off for Jag Guthmann-Chester.

Verdict – ITALIAN DANCER (5) ready to go.

â–  â–  â–  â–  â– 

Race 6 – 0-58 Handicap (1200m)

LONE ARTIST (3) resumed with a strong effort behind A Touch Of Fayt and Barassi last start over 1000m. A three-year-old half-brother to Listed winner Philosopher, he has more of a future than the rest of these and from a good gate Justin Stanley can get the job done.

SIR MAURICE (1) was never in it at the Gold Coast but rounded them up to win here two starts back when having his first start for Jack Bruce since coming North. The extra distance shouldn’t bother him and back on his preferred big track will hit the line.

INVISIBLE TARGET (6) was unsuited on the tight track at Gatton over 860m and is better off here. He won over this trip at Ipswich two starts back on a Soft 7 and with similar conditions here and Cobi Vitler getting back on can make his presence felt.

CRYPTIC PRISM (10) is more a placegetter than a winner but is fitter for a Rockhampton outing, is trained here and Nikita Beriman rides well for Natalie McCall.

Verdict – LONE ARTIST (3) is the one with upside.

â–  â–  â–  â–  â– 

Race 7 – Benchmark 70 Handicap (1200m)

FIGHTING IDOL (3) goes best at this track and beat a Benchmark 65 field here over this trip two starts back. He was far from disgraced from a wide gate in Saturday grade last week at Eagle Farm and from the ace draw here will get all the favours with Justin Stanley.

HALF CROWN (15) resumed well to place behind FIGHTING IDOL (3), meets him 2kg better and has an excellent second-up record. Montana Philpot stays on and he will be hard to hold out.

The stablemate UMETINI (13) won first-up last preparation and has been readied by a recent trial. 1400m is preferred but a heavy track won’t worry her and she will be hitting the line.

SULTRY SIREN (11) didn’t flatter when resuming in Saturday grade but is better suited here. Angela Jones replaces Bailey Wheeler, and she can make her presence felt.

Verdict – FIGHTING IDOL (3) maps to win.

â–  â–  â–  â–  â– 

Race 8 – Benchmark 62 Handicap (1600m)

A useful three-year-old filly LA COMETA (11) has taken on smart ones in a Saturday 3YO Quality and Listed Princess Stakes at her past two outings. Not disgraced, she returns to her home track where she was narrowly beaten three starts back when resuming and with Nikita Beriman has a chance to make amends.

Another promising three-year-old filly MISTING (12) hit the line strongly when resuming, has trialled since and steps up to her winning distance. She may have higher ambitions and Jag Guthmann-Chester will find whether she is ready to take the next step.

ZOU BIG BOY (8) got the Maiden out of the way last start and a heavy track at Ipswich. He has some upside and this trip may suit.

TEESANDCEES APPLY (7) didn’t give a yelp at Ipswich but loves a heavy track and may get conditions to suit here. She won her Maiden here, this longer trip suits and with Fiona Sandkuhl’s 3kg claim can be strong late.

Verdict – LA COMETA (11) for mine.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast race-by-race preview and tips for Sunday