Races

Chris Nelson’s Saturday Sunshine Coast Preview

RACE 1

Huge day of racing ahead of us on the Sunshine Coast as this year’s Winter Carnival comes to an official close with the running of 3 Listed races including the Caloundra Cup. Track will be in the soft range following plenty of rain on Monday. We get underway with a very open affair & no shortage of starters, (7) MR VERSE has opened up favourite based on an impressive first preparation which netted two wins. His only unplaced effort came at his debut run on heavy ground however he wasn’t far away & it was a (10). (16) GOSPEL GIRL is never far away & races well fresh, gets an in-form Angela Jones to steer. Plenty of other hopes.

Numbers: 7 – 16 – 3 – 5

Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.


RACE 2

I’m keen on a couple here being (1) BEWS & (7) CASPERNOVA however with a weight pull of 3kg that should be enough to see the latter get home. Poor to jump first up he made up many lengths to beat all bar the winner in what was a sick watch for the punters who sided with him. Very consistent last prep he was scratched out of Eagle Farm on Wednesday for this where he looked the best of good things. (1) BEWS was a real eye-catcher second up in a stronger race than this, he carries 7kg more weight though. Thought (14) BIG BOY GEORGE was a winning chance in the first, scratched out of that for this has been very impressive at Toowoomba.

Numbers: 7 – 1 – 14 – 2

Suggested Bet:  CASPERNOVA TO WIN.


RACE 3

Although clocking in last in the Magic Millions (11) FORMULA ROSSA is the tip here on an each-way basis. That was her only sub-par run during her initial campaign which included a solid third here on debut. Trialled well enough to rate a chance in a very open race. (1) CERTIFIED COPY has come back in great form this prep & just keeps getting better with every run, bolted in the latest & although this is harder couldn’t have done much more. (4) PRETTY DUBIOUS a chance from a wide gate as is (8) PRESTAR who is a winner here on wet ground.

Numbers: 11 – 2 – 4 – 8

Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.


RACE 4

I’m with the locally trained (3) BELEGATO who has been kept nice & fresh since winning in town during the carnival. That followed a good third at Listed level when closing out strongly over 1000m. He’s back on his home track here which he loves & any give in the ground is no issue. (1) COSMIC FIRE did a terrific job to win last start, honestly I thought 1200m was too testing however he gave plenty, big weight & a wide gate not ideal here however he’s versatile & can be ridden off speed. (11) OVERFULL has the pace, I’m just doubting the stamina, she’ll give a sight though.

Numbers: 3 – 1 – 11 – 4

Suggested Bet: BELEGATO EACH-WAY.


RACE 5

The Kelly Schweida stable is absolutely flying at present winning races left, right & centre. Big chance they land another here with the first up winner (2) VODKA MARTINI a big chance to repeat. He’s a versatile type who parked off speed that day before striking the front & holding on well. Form out of the race has stacked up well to date with stablemate Metalart who finished third scoring at Group 3 level last Saturday. (3) NETTUNO sets up well here should they be running on whilst (1) STEADY READY can bounce back, did pull up lame fresh.

Numbers: 2 – 3 – 1 – 7

Suggested Bet: VODKA MARTINI EACH-WAY.


RACE 6

The Winx Guineas is a very open race this year, any number of winning chances, I just couldn’t land on one I was overly confident about. (2) MISTER BIANCO is in peak form however 1600m does look a stretch to me. (14) BOLLINGER MISS finished third behind MISTER BIANCO last start & did finish off ok, she is also unproven out to the mile however at the odds I’ll have something small each-way. (3) APUNTAR can slide across & might find himself in the right spot whilst the southern visitor (13) MILLIE DE LUNE isn’t without a chance, 1600m might just be a little short for her though based on her past couple of runs.

Numbers: 14 – 2 – 3 – 13

Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.


RACE 7

The major sprint at this venue each year is the Glasshouse Handicap & I’m with (4) WARNIE who carried the hopes of punters in the Eye Liner at Ipswich when out of luck buried away on the fence down the straight. We forgive that run & go on his excellent third in the Group 2 Moreton Cup the run prior. (3) THE INFLICTOR backs up from last week when an Eagle Farm winner, he’s flying this bloke & can be competitive once again. (1) FAR TOO EASY can improve dropping back from the Stradbroke whilst (13) SUNSET DREAMING is a knockout hope at odds, liked her effort at Ipswich first outing for Tony Gollan.

Numbers: 4 – 3 – 1 – 13

Suggested Bet: WARNIE TO WIN.


RACE 8

The Caloundra Cup draws together a bunch of stayers who mostly mix their form. That’s not the case with (12) HALF YOURS who was ridden an absolute peach by Dylan Gibbons two runs back at Rosehill catching his rivals asleep at the wheel charging around the outside to take the front & keep on going down the straight. His latest he was posted yet stuck on extremely well to beat all bar the winner. (5) BEAR ON THE LOOSE & (10) DON DIEGO DE VEGA are similar type stayers who will be competitive here. I’d be surprised should the winner not come from that trio.

Numbers: 12 – 5 – 10 – 6

Suggested Bet: HALF YOURS EACH-WAY.


RACE 9

Big field to face the starter in this final race where I’ll side with (13) NORTHERN DECREE who ran a good third at Eagle Farm last Saturday closing off well from worse than midfield. Doubt he’ll settle any further back in this race & he has backed up ok in the past. (6) CASTILLIAN had been a little hard to catch however that’s not the case this prep having missed a placing only once (4th) which includes two wins. (12) DEEP RESPECT needs to show up, gate no help though whilst (14) RED DEFCON is your blowout chance.

Numbers: 13 – 6 – 12 – 14

Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.

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