Races

Chris Nelson’s Saturday Eagle Farm Preview

Posted on | Posted by Chris Nelson

RACE 1

Queensland Oaks Day at Eagle Farm on Saturday will be held on a good rated track with fine weather all week which will stretch right through to race day, great news! Keen on the chances of the emergency (17) CAVALRY MAN in this opening race. Absolutely luckless last start when bolting behind the leader he just couldn’t get a clear crack at them having to come over plenty of heels to the outside running home well, arguably should have won. (4) ROTAGILLA back in trip looks well placed, he just struggles at 2000m. 11 & 13 in the mix.

Numbers: 17 – 4 – 11 – 13

Suggested Bet: CAVALRY MAN TO WIN.

RACE 2

Going with the Gollan stable to provide the winner here putting the lightly weighted (17) BALANCE THE BOOKS on top of (9) NOW IS THE HOUR. They come out of the same last start race with the latter beating the mare home however should she have gained clear running sooner I’d suggest she would have been a big chance of turning the tables. (4) RESTONICA missed out last time however likely wasn’t suited by the heavy track, suggest he can improve here back on a drier deck.

Numbers: 17 – 9 – 4 – 15

Suggested Bet: BALANCE THE BOOKS TO WIN.

RACE 3

Going wide in this Listed dash putting (9) ZOUPERB on top. First up at Doomben last month she sat wide throughout yet still ended up beating all bar the winner Cigar Flick who we know is very good on her day. (2) FLYING DESTINY has never raced better, he’s won his past 4 starts & pretty much keeps being ignored by the punters, he rises plenty in the weights here (4.5kg) however draws well & Jamie Melham has ridden at his past 2 wins, will he be underestimated again? (4) STEADY READY should land a good run from the favourable gate.

Numbers: 9 – 2 – 4 – 1

Suggested Bet: ZOUPERB EACH-WAY.

RACE 4

The 2yo’s stretch out to 1500m in this Listed race where I’m very keen on (9) SHINTONO. A narrow Donald winner on debut she then tackled Listed grade at Doomben when although no match for the winner stuck on very well suggesting the step up to 1500m this afternoon will suit. I can see her up on speed (which looks soft) in a race which doesn’t look to have a long tail. (6) GLENORCHY the likely danger should there be one, solid at Randwick on debut is in the right hands & can improve sharply with the race experience. 1 & 3 next best however, confident the winner will come from the top two though.

Numbers: 9 – 6 – 3 – 1

Suggested Bet: SHINTONO TO WIN.

RACE 5

Going wide here putting the Murwillumbah trained (12) SWORD OF LEGACY on top. Thought his run at Doomben behind EARN TO BURN (also engaged here) was terrific & if not for having to change course near the 200m he would have challenged that one who is a much shorter price in the market today. I’ll leave him in the placings (1) EARN TO BURN as he maps to again land a good run from the perfect alley, something SWORD OF LEGACY doesn’t have. (16) CHAINS OF LOVE is another with a poor gate however form is good whilst (4) VENOM RUSH who will go off big odds isn’t the worst $100 shot going around, good thing beaten in an easier race at Ipswich last Saturday. No knock 5 or 10 either!

Numbers: 12 – 1 – 16 – 4

Suggested Bet: SWORD OF LEGACY EACH-WAY/Wide exotics.

RACE 6

Super competitive mares race where I could go in many different directions. Chris Waller has made the call to scratch (9) DECLICHY BOULEVARD from Randwick & run in this feature. Well in the market first up nobody was surprised to see her finish too well for her rivals on a soggy Randwick track. Fitter, she’ll lap up the additional 200m & her form last prep was in the best of company at mare’s level. Stablemate (10) PIPPIE BEACH should be close, both runs back have been full of merit, she might like a little more give in the ground though? (1) CHURCHILL’S CHOICE absolutely flew home last start to just miss, arguably should have won as she was held up at a crucial stage.

Numbers: 9 – 10 – 1 – 2

Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.

RACE 7

Cracking race the Listed Spear Chief over the 1500m. (5) HARRY’S YACHT is busting to win a race & this may well be it. Very good late off a freshen up at Gosford he then drew wide at Doomben giving away a big start before tracking wide with a sustained run making up good ground, entitled to feel the pinch late he did the opposite sticking on well, the rise in trip should suit. (8) FORMAL DISPLAY rolls forward in a race with little tempo on paper, very good at Scone when sitting deep he could take some running down. Big wraps on (12) KING ZEPHYR, wide gate will test though whilst first up winner (4) SUN GOD rates highly.

Numbers: 5 – 8 – 12 – 4

Suggested Bet: HARRY’S YACHT EACH-WAY.

RACE 8

To the Group 1 Queensland Oaks & what a cracking race it promises to be. I’m going to side with (8) CHISPA who was terrific in The Roses at Doomben a fortnight back. Worse than midfield in a race where they dawdled in front she made up very good ground coming with a long, wide run from well before the home turn. Still in her first prep should there be another run left in the tank this should suit. (1) PANOVA landed the big Group 1 in Adelaide last start & draws better than most, she should be well within striking distance. No knock (3) FIREBALL MISS however she got all the favours when winning The Roses, from a wide gate today that’s not going to be the case, certainly no knock though, she will lap up 2200m. Not sure what we do with (10) SOLID GOLD who didn’t finish off in the Derby last week, her run in the Rough Habit was good, should she win this I wouldn’t be the least surprised.

Numbers: 8 – 1 – 3 – 10

Suggested Bet: CHISPA EACH-WAY.

RACE 9

Sticking with (8) BOOMTOWN BOSS in this final race. Well supported at Doomben he never gained a clear run at any stage down the straight & went to the line untested with what looked like plenty to offer. (2) MANAAL is the class runner in the race, we haven’t seen her since the Group 1 Coolmore, this is the easiest race she’s tackled for some time, drawn to figure, market? (6) IN FLIGHT also maps well whilst the ever reliable, tough as boots (12) ESJAY can never be overlooked.

Numbers: 8 – 2 – 6 – 12

Suggested Bet: BOOMTOWN BOSS EACH-WAY.

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