Races

Chris Nelson’s Saturday Sunshine Coast Preview

Posted on | Posted by Chris Nelson

RACE 1

Saturday racing this week is at the Sunshine Coast where we wind up the summer carnival for this season. Track should be dry with no rain of any note around.  VAREJAO debuts in this opening race & is out of the leading yard in this neck of the woods the Stuart Kendrick stable. He was run down by his stablemate Dushenka in a recent trial here however wasn’t pressured whereas she was. Dushenka came out & won on debut at Eagle Farm on Saturday which suggests that trial form is strong. BOOMSHANKA won her only trial at Doomben & from gate 1 sets up well. SHAGGY is an interesting runner winning on debut at Coffs by almost 6L, how will that form stack up here?

Numbers: 5 – 8 – 2 – 1

Suggested Bet: Follow any market support for VAREJAO.

RACE 2

Tempo on paper in this race doesn’t look strong at all with nos.1 & 9 likely to control things out front. JUST FLYING is one of those runners & looks a big chance to continue on his winning ways having scored here recently, he’s only lightly raced with plenty of upside & will carry less weight with the claim. Thought VALIMI could be an improver as this isn’t a strong race & the rise in distance is a positive. PIREONTI next best, likely also gets that suitable tempo.

Numbers: 1 – 7 – 9 – 10

Suggested Bet: JUST FLYING TO WIN (small bet).

RACE 3

Not a race I’ll be getting too involved in at there’s little or no upside with these. RADEGAST is in winning form which is a plus, he’s an 8yo though suggesting he won’t be improving too much more than he has however his closing efforts of late should see him go close to making it 4 wins from his past 5 starts. Should DISPUTED RIVER bring his better form he’d go close however that’s not a given on recent efforts. VAGUER in the mix, nothing would surprise me here.

Numbers: 10 – 4 – 2 – 1

Suggested Bet: Very wide exotics.

RACE 4

I’ll take a punt on COSMO CENTAURUS here however I wouldn’t advise taking any short odds (under $3.00). He had big wraps on him back when making his debut at this track in August last year & got it done as a well backed favourite. Immediately spelled he returns here off a good trial win however will have to deal with a wide draw. SPYWIRE clearly the toughest to beat, also won a recent trial & is rarely far away in stronger races. BELAGATO is trending upwards nicely whilst CIPHERTEXT at odds is worth including in exotics.

Numbers: 8 – 1 – 5 – 7

Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.

RACE 5

Two horses interest me in this race, SUJEED & BLITZUM. The former hit the line very strongly at his first two starts this prep before well out of his depth in Group 3 company the latest. 1400m is an unknown & he has accepted for the Gold Coast on Friday night as well, where will he run. BLITZUM powered away to win his maiden first up at Ipswich, solid second up running on & comes into this having not raced since early December, trialled well suggest 1400m will suit on the fresh side. VIENNA WHO made ground last week & is on the back-up.

Numbers: 3 – 2 – 8 – 1

Suggested Bet: SUJEED & BLITZUM.

RACE 6

I’ll give TERMAGANT another chance here however even as a big fan of the mare I wouldn’t suggest diving into anything under about $3.50. She has good ability however just needs to take the next step & prove herself in Saturday grade, she only has a shortish sprint which will need to be timed perfectly by Nikita Beriman. I’ve just about given up on SALTAIRE however this race does look suitable for her also, interestingly she too is the owner of only a short sprint. KINGSTON’S HERE is capable of running a race fresh.

Numbers: 14 – 3 – 1 – 10

Suggested Bet: TERMAGANT TO WIN ($3.50 plus)/SAVING SALTAIRE TO WIN.

RACE 7

The consistent RIMBAUD has been scratched more than once in recent weeks suggesting connections have been awaiting the right race for his return. Well, this one appears quite suitable & he’s yet to miss a placing whilst on the fresh side which includes a win. He chased home Invincible Shield early last prep which is a very strong recommendation (that horse is now in HK). OCEANS OF ENERGY likely needs further however if close enough will be finding the line strongly. Ditto NORTH OF ELI whilst the locally unbeaten STREAK OF WINNING is aiming for the hat trick, likely measures up to the stronger grade.

Numbers: 10 – 7 – 9 – 12

Suggested Bet: RIMBAUD TO WIN.

RACE 8

The Listed Sunshine Coast Cup is today’s feature & I’m with the Tony Gollan trained DEVASTATE who looks to have been set for this race first up. Two good trials suggest that however my one concern is the highly likely good ground, his better efforts have clearly been on damp surfaces. OUGHTON can bounce back off a sub-par run last start; INVER PARK maps well & is unbeaten here. The two early favourites GRAND IMPACT & PARTY FOR TWO I can definitely punch holes in form wise.

Numbers: 9 – 2 – 4 – 12

Suggested Bet: DEVASTATE EACH-WAY.

RACE 9

METALART should continue on his winning way here. He’s been nothing but consistent all prep & although only winning once during the prep to date he should have at least won on one other occasion if not for bad luck. Freshened up, well drawn, plenty of ticks. Probably prefer MILLANE on wet ground however this is a suitable looking race for him no matter what the track condition. Not an ideal gate for BLACK ON BEAUTY however she’s a winner here & this is a step down in grade from her latest.

Numbers: 6 – 7 – 9 – 11

Suggested Bet: METALART TO WIN.

RACE 10

Highly competitive, difficult race to wind up the day. Honestly I’ve been up & down the page many times however just cannot land on one I’m confident to put on top. TRIFING has done ‘diddly squat’ of late albeit in much stronger company, there’s nothing to recommend her really other than a big class drop. DENIED will go forward, fitter however beaten in a field of 4 first up when dictating in the lead. RUNWITHTHETIDE goes forward from a wide draw, consistent however yet to win out to this trip.

Numbers: 11 – 13 – 19 – 9

Suggested Bet: very wide exotics.

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