Races

Chris Nelson’s Saturday Eagle Farm Preview

RACE 1

Confident about the chances of HIDDEN WEALTH in this opening event. Only lightly raced he shows good ability & although off a break of over a year his two lead up trials have been good winning one/placed the other both in slick time without being pressured at all. Certainly no knock on TIKKA READY who is shooting for 4 straight wins, up in both class & weight however the 3kg claim a big helps. Definitely keeping the resuming APOPHIS safe, trialled well & has a good strike rate for a lightly raced horse.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 6 – 5

Suggested Bet: HIDDEN WEALTH TO WIN


RACE 2

As we know all too well restricted races out over 1800m & further can produce surprise results. This one has no leader on paper suggesting early tactics could well decide the end result. I’m convinced FLEUR DU MONDE is chasing further however if she rolls forward as was the case last start, she might take some running down. AIN’T HE GRAND drops back in distance which doesn’t look ideal on paper, he is consistent though & the claim is a plus. ELLE TE AMA raced here last prep placing over this 1800m range, should be primed third up.

Numbers: 4 – 1 – 3 – 5

Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.


RACE 3

She may need one more run over this distance ranger however if not a big market drifter I’ll have something small each-way on FLYING JOY who just caught my eye last start over 1815m here doing her best work late. She’s a winner on the track, placed both runs out to the trip & can land a soft run from the good draw. IOWA draws out however there’s little or no speed drawn to his inside suggesting he’ll slide across comfortably; he’ll give a big sight once again. UNCOMMON VALOUR & BEDFORD SQUARE are models of consistency, include both in your exotics.

Numbers: 5 – 1 – 7 – 8

Suggested Bet: FLYING JOY EACH-WAY (small bet).


RACE 4

Leading trainer Tony Gollan holds a strong hand here with the well fancied pair BLACK ON BEAUTY & BLUE SPINEL, I’d be very surprised if anything beat them. Yes’, they are tough to split however I can’t tip both! Leaning to BLUE SPINEL who really turned the corner last prep & carried that into her first run back when a dominant winner here over 1000m. She’s already ticked the 1200m box & will be hard to hold out. BLACK ON BEAUTY races on speed & will strip fitter for the first up run when unable to finish off, she was defeated fresh last prep however she dominated winning second-up. BUBBA’S BAY looks the only other hope in the race.

Numbers: 6 – 5 – 1 – 7

Suggested Bet: BACKING TOP TWO SELECTIONS TO WIN.


RACE 5

Open Class 1, plenty of last start winners engaged. I’ll side with the second starter STELLAR LADY who sprinted fast when a winner on debut at the Sunshine Coast. She travelled nicely throughout however when Boris Thornton hit the ‘go’ button away she went. Based on that she can take the next step successfully. ANTONITO resumed with a tidy win in town at Doomben, good gate gives Ryan Maloney options. BRAVELY is in good hands & improved to win first up, his first outing as a gelding.

Numbers: 14 – 4 – 6 – 11

Suggested Bet: STELLAR LADY EACH-WAY.


RACE 6

MILLANE resumes a gelding which just might be what he needs to get his career back on track. He ran a terrific race three starts back behind Red Card here in Listed grade before going for a break, his two outings last prep were average which would have weighed heavily on the gelding decision. Liked his two lead up trials & gut feel it we’ll see a much more switch on galloper today. PLUNDERING is very well placed here however also very hard to catch, there were excuses last start. The consistent MAJORELLE must also be included.

Numbers: 8 – 6 – 7 – 2

Suggested Bet: MILLANE TO WIN (if not a big market drifter).


RACE 7

Good competitive race for the 3yo’s. CAPTAIN FENKEL has looked good all 3 starts, absolutely no knock on what he’s done however he will face a task today with the weight rise & wide gate at his first run out to the mile. I’ll have a few dollars each-way on the last start winner SHARP DAZZLER who yes has taken 11 starts to break through however he’s often been out of luck & this track & trip will be to his liking, he’ll be sitting back having the last shot down the outside. JEALOUS is another who should appreciate the 1600m.

Numbers: 4 – 1 – 9 – 3

Suggested Bet: SHARP DAZZLER EACH-WAY (small bet).


RACE 8

Cracking last start run handed in by LADY LE DA suggests I have to be with her on an each-way basis in this race even off the wide draw. She had no luck in the straight only gaining clear running the final 100m yet clocked the quickest last 200m split! She’ll go back & smoke the pipe before getting to the outside at the top of the straight. CASTILLIAN drops back from Sydney grade & is now with our leading stable, must respect off gate 1. SCHMOOZER is another who had little luck last start, include.

Numbers: 14 – 8 – 9 – 16

Suggested Bet: LADY LE DA EACH-WAY.


RACE 9

WARP SPEED & HELEVA DEEL both caught the eye last start & at the odds available we can back both runners in this final race. I’ll side with HELEVA DEEL who didn’t have the clearest of paths, draws ideally & with the claim for an in-form Tahlia Fenlon will carry a postage stamp! WARP SPEED comes out of the same last start race & also should have finished closer. Chances certainly don’t end there in an open race however I’ll stick with those two.

Numbers: 11 – 7 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet: BACKING TOP TWO SELECTIONS TO WIN.

Market Market