We are only a few weeks away from the Brisbane Winter Carnival getting underway and black type racing returns to the Sunshine Coast on Saturday for 2018 Princess Stakes Day.
All nine races have drawn quality fields, but the Listed Princess Stakes is the highlight and we will witness several fillies set for this year’s edition of the Group 1 Queensland Oaks in action.
We have analysed every horse in every race on Princess Stakes Day to compile our list of Best Bets, and they can be found below.
The Chris Waller-trained Irish Optimism ($5) has returned to racing in terrific order this time and is primed for a return to winning form in Race 1 on Princess Stakes Day.
The Approve gelding has finished in the minors in each of his four most-recent starts, including a tough run on-pace to finish second behind stable mate Xebec in the Countdown To Carnival BM80 (2200m) at Doomben last time out on March 31st.
There is nothing of Xebec’s quality in this field and Irish Optimism could enjoy the run of the race from his inside draw and with claiming apprentice Lee Magorrian in the saddle. $5 seems well and truly over the odds and he can get us off to an ideal start on Princess Stakes Day.
Fish ‘N’ Snitz ($7) has shown above-average ability through her short racing career so far and represents outstanding value to win her first race in this two-year-old fillies’ maiden.
The daughter of Snitzel ran third in three-consecutive races upon resuming in late February, all at Saturday grade before running well for second behind Mishani Hustler in the Makers Mark Carnival Ball Handicap (1200m) a fortnight ago.
She’ll need to fly the barriers to find a position close to the pace from barrier 14, but she does look to have a class edge over a lot of her rivals here and she may never have a better opportunity to break her maiden on a Saturday.
Sydney raider Missybeel faces a noticeable step back in class into the Princess Stakes field and she is another horse that looks over the odds at her current $9.50 quote.
The daughter of Savabeel steadily built to the task this time and finished third in a 1350m race at Wyong before returning to winning form over a mile at Scone on March 18th. She strong in transit, but seemingly failed to get the distance when she faded late to finish ninth in the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) last weekend, and should therefore enjoy a return to a mile.
Jockey Tegan Harrison has plenty of options from the rails draw and Missybeel will be offered a great opportunity to score some black type here.
Guard Of Honour ($2.40) will have to overcome a wide barrier, but he looks to have a class edge over many of his rivals in the final race on Princess Stakes Day and will be extremely difficult to beat.
The Northern Meteor gelding resumed this time for a smart win at Muswellbrook before credible performances in a pair of Sydney sprinters over 1000m and 1200m respectively in January.
He was utterly dominant when a six-length winner over 1000m at Canberra last time out and a repeat of that performance would have him winning this race comfortably.