Chris Nelson’s Saturday Sunshine Coast Preview Posted on November 16, 2023November 16, 2023 | Posted by Chris Nelson RACE 1 Opening race of this year’s Summer Racing Carnival & it’s a good one as there’s plenty of excitement around the first starter BARBIE’S SISTER who you would never guess by the name is a full sister to the former very smart mare Outback Barbie who was also trained by Tony Gollan. She couldn’t have been any more impressive bolting in a recent Deagon 650m trial by 7 lengths in slick time with gas still in the tank on the line. Any repeat of that & she wins, easily! Expect improvement from CUTTING EDGE who placed on debut yet did race greenly. Numbers: 6 – 1 – 5 – 9 Suggested Bet: BARBIE’S SISTER TO WIN RACE 2 Can’t see any reason to tip against the flying RISING PACIFIC who has won 3 straight & that really should read 4 as he was the best of good things beaten second up when shuffled back to last on the turn before flashing through late to just miss. Only concern I have is the surface, should we get rain he’s not as effective. POETIC DRAMA chased him home last start & can do so once again, does get in well with the claim for an in-form Cejay Graham. LORD MARKEL a possible improver up in trip. Numbers: 5 – 15 – 3 – 7 Suggested Bet: RISNING PACIFIC TO WIN RACE 3 Found this race a difficult one with most runners looking evenly matched. I’ve ended up going down a different path & putting the only maiden in the race MORE TROUBLE on top as I feel he has good upside & based on his run at Ipswich will lap up the additional trip. He should have finished closer on that occasion if not for being held up the first part of the straight. RED DEFCON & ENCODER meet again with the latter victorious last time, RED DEFCON can turn the tables there whilst I’d expect solid improvement from FELIX THE SCAT. Numbers: 11 – 7 – 1 – 2 Suggested Bet: MORE TROUBLE EACH-WAY (small bet) RACE 4 I keep on tipping DEVASTATING & he keeps running placings! I’m on board again today as he is the consistent horse who looks ready to win, he maps well & has the lethal Gollan/Maloney combination in his corner also. Yes, he’s had his chances however most have been with luck against. HELLUVA BARTY did beat him first up & they meet again here, though Huxtable’s ride that day won them the race, hard to hold out once again. Thrown ALREADY A STAR into exotics, lightly raced & promising is trained here on the track. Numbers: 3 – 4 – 17 – 2 Suggested Bet: DEVASTATING EACH-WAY (small bet) RACE 5 Very open race. COLLEAGUES is the one punters will likely zero in on & I can understand why. He should be right at his peak third up, gets the services of Ryan Maloney & is now looking for the 1800m trip, the negative is the awkward alley. Good to see BEDFORD SQUARE break through for a last start win, well overdue his recent form is well up to this. Totally forgive SECURITY ADVISOR’s run last week & go on his previous consistent form. Numbers: 8 – 4 – 6 – 7 Suggested Bet: COLLEAGUES EACH-WAY (small bet) RACE 6 Leading trainer Tony Gollan holds a very strong hand in this race with the resuming pair MASS DESTRUCTION & FREEDOM RALLY. He’s got a couple of other runners as well (9 & 14) who are not without a chance either. I’m a big wrap for FREEDOM RALLY however the wide gate won’t help therefore I’m with MASS DESTRUCTION who looks well placed off a good draw, he can really find the line & 1200m first up suits. MANHOOD can improve. Numbers: 8 – 12 – 3 – 14 Suggested Bet: MASS DESTRUCTION EACH-WAY RACE 7 Good race where I’d suggest there’s three, maybe four wining chances. I’m sticking with the in form COTTEE who is flying this prep, he won from the front under plenty of pressure two back before settling back in a slowly run race picking up the leaders easily last start. Not sure where he’ll land in the run however Angela Jones does have options from the good draw. NATIONAL CHOICE is ready, two good runs this really suits third -up. LOST IN TRANSIT had to work last start, not the case from the inside draw this time. Never underestimate SHA OF GOMER who is the other main chance. Numbers: 8 – 3 – 5 – 13 Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics. RACE 8 The first of the feature races is the Mooloolaba Cup which brings together a quality field. Winx Guineas winner KNIGHT’S CHOICE returns to the scene of that victory having recently raced in high class races down south without featuring, personally I’ll let him run against me today. OCEAN TREATY is a consistent mare who flies second up & that’s where she is today. Don’t worry about the wide gate as she can quickly offset that with a positive ride early on. No luck for GREAT HOUSE last start being held-up, tempo a concern here however he will be running on. MISSISSIPPI PRINCE rolls forward & may take some catching, a wet track would increase his wining chances. Numbers: 11 – 1 – 5 – 4 Suggested Bet: OCEAN TREATY EACH-WAY RACE 9 The Swiss Ace Plate brings together a terrific bunch of sprinters, as you’d expect they will run along. Can’t tip against PRINCE OF BOOM who was so impressive winning 3 of 5 last prep including a demolition job first up accounting for his highly rated stablemate Rothfire. His only defeats came in Weight For Age races & I liked his recent soft trial win under a stranglehold. Look for DEEPOUR to be motoring home as will be SHOOTING FOR GOLD. Numbers: 1 – 8 – 2 – 6 Suggested Bet: PRINCE OF BOOM TO WIN RACE 10 Cracking race the last & should all the leading/on pace runners go around they will set a very hectic tempo. That might play into the hands of the off speed runners of which there aren’t many, the resuming DEFIANT SPIRIT is one though & if not for an unlucky defeat at Ipswich on their Cup Day he’d be undefeated. Both MISHANI’s, RENEGADE & ROYALE have plenty of ability & can figure in the finish. Chances don’t end there though, it’s difficult to rule out any runner to be honest. Numbers: 5 – 3 – 2 – 1 Suggested Bet: DEFIANT SPIRIT TO WIN Market Market
Chris Nelson’s Saturday Eagle Farm Preview February 26, 2026 RACE 1 We race at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Rain is forecast, could be hit or miss however on Thursday the rating was a Good… Read More
Chris Nelson’s Saturday Randwick Preview February 26, 2026 RACE 1 Plenty of Group racing coming up at Randwick on Saturday with the Surround & the Verry Elleegant the features. Weather could be wet,… Read More
Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview February 26, 2026 RACE 1 AURUM BELLE, AFIREOFGIDGEECOALS and SNOW MONKEY all trialled individually like 2 year olds who would be winning on debut, which outside of the… Read More
Glenn Ingram’s Saturday Flemington Preview February 26, 2026 RACE 1 Love what LADHAR has been doing at the jumpouts, her debut in the Debutant Stakes was just a run and was subsequently spelled,… Read More
Matt Young’s Saturday Narrogin Preview February 26, 2026 Race 1 LIVY ANN (5) was impressive on return and only narrowly went down to TYPHOON TREASURE (6) and meets her with a slightly better… Read More
Matt Young’s Friday Gloucester Park Preview February 26, 2026 Race 1 Open race. SUGAR SHAKE (3) is first up for the new stable and first up for quite a period, looks to have plenty… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Thursday Greyhound Best Bets February 26, 2026 MANDURAH Race 5 No. 4 Evander Keeping Resumed with a very nice 2nd placing last week, that was from the wide draw box 7, he… Read More
Scott Embry’s Thursday Bunbury Preview February 25, 2026 RACE 1 MAMMA SAYS SO resumed in a C1, met with support at odds and ran well. Drops 1kg into an easier race and considering… Read More
Scott Embry’s Wednesday Belmont Preview February 24, 2026 RACE 1 CINQUE STELLE wins. Very uninspiring start to a low key mid-week program where the former $350,000 yearling purchase should simply dominate her rivals… Read More
Glenn Ingram’s Wednesday Sandown Preview February 24, 2026 RACE 1 Speed just fair. Race winner LEOPARD SHARK is well-placed finding another moderate 2YO event after a soft win at Pakenham last start where… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Tuesday Greyhound Best Bets February 24, 2026 MANDURAH Race 5 No. 1 Impress Hawkins The Peel Plate final brings together some very nice chasers, a very even contest on times and sections,… Read More
Matt Young’s Tuesday Gloucester Park Preview February 23, 2026 Race 1 Open maiden to kick things off. LUNAR MISS (2) was decent on return and showed good early speed, looks the potential leader and… Read More