Races

Chris Nelson’s Saturday Sunshine Coast Preview

Posted on | Posted by Chris Nelson

RACE 1

This year’s Winter Racing Carnival comes to an official end at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday with the Group 3 Winx Guineas the feature however there’s plenty of interest in the Cup & Glasshouse Handicap which are both at Listed level. Track will be in the soft range, no rain forecast, improving all the time. As with many of today’s races they are wide open affairs with many, many winning chances. This opening race certainly fits that category, I’m suggesting something small each-way (13) FASVARA who is only lightly raced, keeps finding the line well in his races & if not too far back here can run into the finish. (19) HELLARIUS is in cracking form this prep & the stable is having a good run, add to that the leading jockey jumps aboard. Logical danger.

Numbers: 13 – 19 – 7 – 3

Suggested Bet: FASVARA EACH-WAY (small bet).

RACE 2

Looking like a genuinely run race which points me toward a pair of mares who can be ridden quietly and saved for one final crack at them late. (5) ARABIAN ROSE looked sharp when resuming with a strong closing win, she was then asked to take on something harder holding her own despite the race shape not playing to her strengths. Back to this set-up she appeals strongly. (6) BALANCE THE BOOKS had excuses when third behind (5) ARABIAN ROSE two back, she then confirmed that form line with a win on Ipswich Cup Day, she looks to be putting it all together now. SHOT OF WHISKEY should get every chance from the ideal draw.

Numbers: 5 – 6 – 4 – 12

Suggested Bet: BACKING TOP TWO SELECTIONS TO WIN.

RACE 3

No surprise to see plenty of speed engaged here over the 1000m, expect a solid tempo. Extremely open race, I can make a case for many including a few drawn wide barriers, just not sure where they will land? I’ll side with (2) AREPRICE who may be posted deep however comes off a good last-start effort, the drop back to 1000m is in his favour. (3) ON THE CLOCK and (4) TENGUN TOMMY bring sound form and have drawn more favourably than several key rivals. Nos.7, 12 and 13 are all in the mix, each will need things to fall their way though.

Numbers: 2 – 4 – 3 – 7

Suggested Bet: Box up as many as possible in exotics!

RACE 4

(1) FOREIGN PRESS brings the right form & is out of the leading stable, well suited back to 1000m although the weight impost is the obvious query, for the record she did place with 59kg in a race here last spring having every chance. (2) GET READY LASS has trialled in good style & produced a couple of excellent runs late last preparation, the wide draw leaves a question mark over where she lands in the run though. (1) JIMMY’S BROTHER has trialled well enough to be a player fresh whilst the interesting runner is another from the Gollan yard in the ex-French filly (8) HAND IN HAND having her first local start. She has led in both trials and been run down, although on each occasion she wasn’t asked for any serious effort, BIG market watch.

Numbers: 9 – 1 – 2 – 10

Suggested Bet: Wide exotics best.

RACE 5

Winning chances everywhere here. I’ll lean to (2) STEADY READY, who should be ready to peak at his third run back and (14) WANDA ROX a mare with an outstanding fresh record. Forced to pick between the two it’s (14) WANDA ROX by a small margin who is now in the Tony Gollan stable, she’s been tuned up for her return with two trials & given she has won 5 of her 6 first-up runs to date she’s going to be well found. (2) STEADY READY has been sound in both starts this campaign & the stable are flying within feature wins all over the place.

Numbers: 14 – 2 – 1 – 4

Suggested Bet: BACKING TOP TWO SELECTIONS TO WIN.

RACE 6

First of the feature races is the Group 3 Winx Guineas where I’m with (5) CELLARMASTER who just gives me the impression he’s in the right race at the right stage of his prep. Good first up, ok second up when for mine ridden too close before drawing wide, going back & running home hard at Eagle Farm over this trip 3 weeks ago. Better draw today suggests he’ll park closer in the run & in a position to strike! (10) WITHIN THE LAW the clear danger, excuses in the Group 1 Tiara last week did beat the top tip home the run prior, placed 3 of 4 this trip. (4) KOHLER KID blew them away late at Ipswich, should run the trip but it’s not a given. (11) TUPAKARA goes in off the Guineas placing two back.

Numbers: 5 – 10 – 4 – 11

Suggested Bet: CELLARMASTER EACH-WAY.

RACE 7

How could you not be with (5) THEBUDGIESMUGLA in the Caloundra Cup, it just seems a perfect fit! This will be his fifth 2400m attempt & to date he’s won all 4 tries including last start when too strong late at Rosehill. He gets in nice & light weight wise, the only concern is the wide draw, he’s definitely going to need some luck from out there gaining cover or slotting in. (2) ENCODER rarely runs a bad race, will be looking for the track to keep drying out, heavy is not good for him however I doubt that will be the rating. (3) POUNDING just keeps running good races no matter what trip, what venue or what conditions, you’d love to own one like him.

Numbers: 5 – 2 – 3 – 6

Suggested Bet: THEBUDGIESMUGLA TO WIN.

RACE 8

The Listed Glasshouse Handicap is as open as ever which is great from a betting viewpoint. I’ve narrowed it down to two main chances (imo) being (5) ANEMACORE & (8) GERRINGONG. I’m going to favour the latter who had nothing go right for her in the Group 1 Tiara last week being trapped wide from a bad gate & continually being shuffled back. One clear & running in the straight she wound up well into third spot. She’s going to settle a lot closer today from an ideal gate. (5) ANEMACORE put the writing on the wall running home well in an unsuitable race last start, this is his trip, he’s races well on his home track & he’s been kept nice & fresh which he likes.

Numbers: 8 – 5 – 19 – 2

Suggested Bet: BACKING TOP TWO SELECTIONS EACH-WAY.

RACE 9

Final race of the carnival. Really hoping connections of (5) SILVER WEDDING decide to bypass the previous race & go around here as she looks extremely well placed. Super consistent she blew away her rivals first up, had nothing go her way second-up yet still placed & ticks all the boxes here apart from the big weight however I’ll take the punt that won’t stop her. Should she not run (2) BENGAL DIAMOND goes on top, like her chances from the good draw where she can settle closer which is the key to her running well.

Numbers: 5 – 2 – 6 – 3

Suggested Bet: SILVER WEDDING TO WIN.

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