The Group 1 feature races have been run and won, but there’s still lots to like about Saturday racing in Brisbane!
We’ve been treated to some terrific racing this season, particularly in the two-year-old ranks and The Phoenix will headline Saturday’s nine-race program.
You can find a preview for each race and my The Phoenix Day tips below.
Howwonderfullifeis has returned two good efforts this time and strikes another winnable contest at Doomben on Saturday.
She’s drawn and weighted to win and probably will, but she’s far too short for me at $1.50 and I am more than happy to stay out.
Hold The Line was completely luckless behind Scallopini in the Hinkler Handicap a few weeks ago and can bounce back to winning form on Saturday.
The Your Song mare has been a good horse for the Vandyke stable throughout her career and has missed a place only a handful of times.
She steps out in this contest fitter third-up, it’s obviously a drop in class and I am inclined to have a sizeable bet on her here.
Champagne Vega has been a model of consistency this time and probably won’t be offered a better opportunity to win on a Saturday than he gets this week.
The four-year-old son of Lope De Vega hasn’t missed a place at his last five appearances and has found form around some decent gallopers in that time.
His apparent inability to find the line first is probably why we’re getting $10 (at publish), but everything suggests that he’ll run another bold race and we can have an each-way play at the price.
It has become quite obvious these last six months or so that I have a soft spot for Mangione and after watching him into the winner’s stall at a $10 quote last time, I certainly won’t be jumping off now.
He’s been a real good honest trier for the Waller stable throughout his career and just continues to improve with each start, each preparation.
His win here a fortnight ago was excellent and he is drawn to receive a lovely run in behind the pace again on Saturday, with only 55kgs in tow.
Toscanini has improved for two starts back from a spell and The Phoenix looks a lovely race for him.
The two-year-old son of Fastnet Rock returned some pleasing efforts during his debut prep and found form around some quality types.
He needed the run when fifth at Goulburn when debuting but mustered an impressive turn of foot to finishing second last time out.
He is still a maiden, but I don’t think that Maher & Eustace would have travelled him north if they didn’t think that he could win.
Moazi has found excellent form recently and looks the one to beat in Race 6 on The Phoenix Day.
The Helmet filly was saddled by Peter & Paul Snowden during her debut prep and finished fourth at both starts for the team.
Moving north and to the care of Toby & Trent Edmonds has already started to pay dividends however, and she has recorded a lovely win on the Gold Coast and finished second over 1400m most notably in three starts.
She looks to be at peak fitness for this and can continue her rise through the grades.
Roasted returned a fair effort when resuming and looks a winning chance in Race 7 at Doomben on Saturday, at quite a nice price ($6 at publish).
The Rob Heathcote-trained filly didn’t miss a place in four starts last time, winning twice.
This looms as one of the more open contests on the card and I’ll be happy to have something small on.
Garibaldi has drawn an absolute peach in barrier 4 and looks up to winning the penultimate race on The Phoenix Day.
The I Am Invincible colt doesn’t win out of turn, but he also rarely races poorly and finished second behind a couple of classy ones in Niedorp and The Odyssey when first and second up.
He has since stepped out in a couple of black type races, running four lengths sixth behind Dawn Passage in the Fred Best Classic last time.
He’s rock-hard fit and is ready to win.
Typically, we’re faced with a pretty tough way to end the day from a betting perspective and at publish, it’s $5 the field.
Pennino failed to fire in the Listed Hinkler Handicap last time, but this is a drop in class and she definitely has claims on winning at around the $8.50 mark.
She’s been a great horse for Darryl Hansen’s stable throughout her career and resumed this time to win the Listed Chief De Beers.
A repeat of that effort would see her into the finish again.