Black type racing returns to Queensland on Saturday and the Listed Brisbane Handicap is the feature race on the program at Doomben.
The country’s focus be on Race 8 however, when Queensland’s champion miler Alligator Blood resumes.
I’ve run the rule over every race, and you can find my Brisbane Handicap Day tips below.
Trengganu will take winning form into the first at Doomben on Saturday and looks up to making it two in a row.
The Brazen Beau gelding has found his best form since transferring north and to the care of Tony & Maddysen Sears, recording two wins and a close-up second placing, including his eye-catching effort in Class 2 company at Ipswich, last time out.
This is harder, but it does look the next logical step.
Amiche has recorded three wins from four starts this time, and filled the minors in a decent race on the other occasion.
She looks to have ideal conditions again at Doomben on Saturday and she probably wins, but she is too short for me at $1.80 and I am happy to watch.
Fisticuffs will enjoy good improvement into his second campaign start, and he is ready to win.
The four-year-old son of Redoute’s Choice was a model of consistency last time in, and he resumed this time with an outstanding effort to finish third, less than half a length from the fit Le Palmier at Eagle Farm a fortnight ago.
The $3.10 available at publish looks overs.
Clairvue Star has stripped fitter for three starts this preparation, and he is up to winning Race 4 on Brisbane Handicap Day.
The Sebring gelding filled the minors behind Mishani Miss when resuming at Eagle Far, returning a flat effort second-up, but running home respectably behind Kisukano last time out.
There clearly isn’t a horse of that ability in this field and he is drawn to receive a lovely run from gate 3.
You Make Me Smile will have his first start for Steve O’Dea in the fifth at Doomben on Saturday, and he rates as a winning chance.
The So You Think gelding has returned some eye-catching efforts throughout his career in Sydney and under the care of Jason Coyle, but it’s probably fair to say that he hasn’t shown his best form this time.
That being said, he has typically stepped out in tougher races than this, and I’m happy to have an each-way play at his current price ($8 at publish).
Napoleon Solo has continued to improve with each effort this time in, and he might not be offered a better opportunity to win on a Saturday than this.
The Uncle Mo gelding needed the run when he finished down the order at Canterbury when resuming, but he has finished fourth in Class 6 company and filled the minors behind Cloak since arriving in Brisbane.
Fitter fourth-up, this looks a lovely race for him.
This is a decent edition of the Brisbane Handicap, but I’m expecting good improvement from the Michael Costa-trained Supergiant, and he will be tough to beat.
Supergiant was a strong and consistent performer during the Winter Carnival this year, finishing second in each of the Daybreak Lover Stakes and the Rough Habit Plate, and winning the Gunsynd Classic most notably.
He clearly needed the run when he finished down the order behind The Candy Man a couple of weeks ago, but he is yet to take anything but success at this point of his preparation, and he will relish getting out to a mile.
The legendary Alligator Blood will go around in the penultimate race at Doomben on Saturday and clearly, he’s going to take a power of beating.
The So You Think gelding hasn’t run a bad race in his career, recording nine wins and a placing from twelve starts, including the Australian Guineas.
He’s trialled well in the lead-up to his return, he’s drawn a peach and has a class edge over his rivals.
This is another terrific race and there is a case to be made for several, but I am going to stick with the Kris Lees-trained Aliferous, who is probably overdue a win.
Aliferous has been a model of consistency this time without winning, and has filled the minors in races at Randwick and Eagle Farm since returning from a freshen-up.
He looks to be at peak fitness for this contest, the small rise in trip suits and he’s drawn to receive a lovely run.