Multiple Group 1 winner Egg Tart was unlucky not to win the Doomben Cup a fortnight ago and she subsequently tops the market for Saturday’s Group 2 PJ O’Shea Stakes (2200m) on the Sunshine Coast.
The daughter of Sebring held an ideal position in transit close to the pace in the Doomben Cup and locked in a fierce sprint battle with stable mate Comin’ Through in the straight, eventually finishing a head second.
Egg Tart is widely available for a quote as low as $1.55 in PJ O’Shea Stakes betting markets, but can be taken at odds of $1.80 here at Neds.
Egg Tart experienced something of a meteoric rise to prominence during the late autumn and winter of 2017 and capped an outstanding preparation with consecutive wins in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) and Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m).
She went off the boil somewhat in spring and took a few runs to find form upon resuming this time, but he two runs in Queensland so far have been terrific and she’ll be extremely difficult to beat in the PJ O’Shea Stakes.
The Darren Weir-trained Tradesman was outclassed in the Doomben Cup last time out, but he’s another horse that will appreciate getting out in trip and he’s worth consideration at $8.
A former Perth galloper, Tradesman ended his West Coast tenure with a credible fourth place in the Listed Carbine Club of WA Stakes (1400m) in November and finishing fourth at his first two starts for Weir in March and April; returning to winning form over 1700m at Warrnambool in his only other run prior to the Doomben Cup.
The Trade Fair gelding is drawn to get a great run in transit from barrier 2 and will be ridden by Dean Yendall for the first time.
Stable mate Gallic Chieftain failed to fire in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben last weekend but should find himself in the finish of this race on class alone and is the value in the field at $12 Fat Odds.
Gallic Chieftain produced a number of strong performances and results through autumn, including an easy win in the Stony Creek Cup (2100m) and fourth placing in the Listed Mornington Cup, but found terrific form in late April and May and won the Listed Warrnambool Cup (2350m) most notably.
Leading Queensland hoop Jeff Lloyd can take an ideal position in transit from barrier 3 and Gallic Chieftain can be right in the finish of the PJ O’Shea Stakes.