THIS WEEKEND IN RACING
The Racing League is celebrating the start of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival in style with the launch of the Queensland Rogues at Eagle Farm. Perched above the winning posts in the prestigious Kentucky Room, the Rogues will be feasting on fine food and two Group Two events.
No racing in metropolitan Sydney with Hawkesbury the standalone meeting, while we’ll also try and find a winner at Sandown and Ascot.
PRIDE HEADS NORTH
NSW Tycoons trainer Joe Pride isn’t just heading to Eagle Farm for the launch party of his rivals the Queensland Rogues. Pride’s Sydney stable has been flying and is on a “hit and run” mission with Fasika. Fasika had headed north for the Group Two – Victory Stakes (Race 8) which is the major lead-up to the Doomben 10,000. Fasika is coming off an on pace first-up win at Randwick, only ever races against the best and makes her own luck.
BET: Fasika – Win
PATIENCE IS YOUR FRIEND
You’ll have to be patient but Queensland Rogues trainers Toby and Trent Edmonds have one to watch -at good odds – in the final event at Eagle Farm (Race 9). Hard Labour has only had 6 starts and chalked up an amazing 4 wins including a victory first-up last campaign. The market will be the guide, but Hard Labour is currently around double figure odds and definitely worth the wait.
BET; HARD LABOUR – Each Way
HAWKESBURY SPOTLIGHT
The Gold Rush (Race 6) is one of the features at Hawkesbury on Saturday and the NSW Tycoons trainer partnership of Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott have set Embracer for a first-up assault. Embracer has won two trials in the lead-up to Saturday’s assignment, has a stack of talent, will go forward and be hard to catch.
BET: Embracer – Eachway
GOING GREY GRACEFULLY
Greysful Glamour is a bold front running prospect and wonderfully trained by Mark Newnham at Randwick, but she needs a dry track to be at her best in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup – Race 8 on Saturday. Greysful Glamour finished last of the thirteen in the Queen Elizabeth last start but that track was arguably in the soft range and the opposition was world class. This is a much easier assignment, she’ll be up leading and will give you a terrific cheer.
BET: Greysful Glamour – WIN
Sandown
The racing merry-go-round just keeps on spinning for Vic Husslers training duo Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young. Last week they retired their Group 1 winning sprinter Tagaloa and I reckon they can start Saturday on a bright note by winning the first at Sandown. The pair have put the polish on See You In The Spring, she’s no Tagaloa but has only had one start for one win and was heavily backed in her debut win. Again keep an eye on the market but she’s a promising type.
Bet: See You In The Spring – Win
Ascot
WA Black Hearts trainer Simon Miller has a terrific book of runners and should start Saturday in a winning way courtesy of Vadette De Star in Race 1 at Ascot. The 3 year old bay filly has plenty of talent, winning on debut before running the best sectionals of the day when third last start – simply getting too far back last start. Jockey Chris Parnham would be looking to be a bit closer in the race and finish over the top of the field. Miller and Parnham combine again in Race 7 with Miss Conteki, who has that amazing record of 6 wins from 7 starts. Miller has done a great job of placing Miss Conteki in winningable races throughout her career, while this is her biggest test she will be extremely hard to beat when storming home.
BET: Vadette De Star – WIN
BET: Miss Conteki – WIN
