Jonker has not been seen at the races since October, but he is a horse that typically performs well fresh and looks a touch of overs in an open edition of the Fireball Stakes. The son of Spirit Of Boom hasn’t won a race for more than a year, but he hasn’t been given a lot of opportunities and has still performed admirably in fields strong than this one. James McDonald has options from the rails draw and the horse is up to winning a race of this quality.
This is an outstanding edition of the Newmarket Handicap, but classy sprinter Osborne Bulls looks ideally suited to the conditions of the race and will be hard to beat. The Street Cry gelding has been a star for Godolphin since making his debut in 2017 and has continued to improve as James Cummings has raised the bar. His performance for a close-up second in the Lightning Stakes first-up was enormous and the extra furlong he finds today is ideal. With even luck, it does look like his race to lose.
Avilius has been a revelation since arriving in Australia and can record his first Group 1 victory in the Australian Cup this afternoon. The Pivotal gelding won each of his first four starts for James Cummings upon touching down in spring before finishing fourth behind Winx in the Cox Plate. His two runs this time in have been excellent and he’ll only improve third-up and at 2000m today. More than happy to take the even money available at publish.
Tumbler is on the short back-up but looks ready to peak fourth-up in a very winnable race at Eagle Farm this afternoon. The Time Thief mare has been a strong and consistent performer throughout her entire racing career to date and has continued to strip fitter with each appearance this time in. She got too far back last weekend but savaged the line well for fourth, and I’m anticipating her finding a position closer to the pace today from an inside draw. She’s got a fitness edge over several of her leading rivals and will be tough to hold out.