We turn our attention to the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday as the countdown to Magic Millions Day on the Gold Coast continues.
The nine-race card shapes up to be one of the highlights on Boxing Day and you can find our best bets for the entire program below!
Expecting Populist to sit a little closer to the speed this time around finding himself way too far back last start over a touch shorter at this same venue.
The son of Not A Single Doubt found himself third last rounding the turn before making up a stack of ground on the outside to run fourth.
I think he’ll be better suited here getting back to a firmer track and with the likes of Galtero and So You’re Magic rolling forward, he should appreciate a more genuine pace.
The five-year-old has won twice and placed on four other occasions over this trip, sop I’m happy to have him on top with 2.5kg off from his last start.
Happy to have a stab at Lashoni to make it a winning double at a handy price.
The daughter of Shamus Award absolutely flew home last time out at Doomben in pretty gross conditions to win by nearly two lengths over the 1200m and I’m expecting her to run a similar pattern over further.
The Tony Gollan five-year-old has won previously over this trip and was also a winner over the 1300m at Eagle Farm last year.
Ben Thompson seems to have built a strong rapport with this horse of late, and if they can find daylight down the straight, they should be right in the finish.
Sticking with the favourite Dzsenifer here as she steps up to the mile for the first time in her lightly raced career.
The three-year-old filly was a winner two starts back over the 1400m at the Sunshine Coast, but the way she finished off over the same trip a fortnight ago at Eagle Farm suggests she’s looking for further now.
The form from that last race reads well after finishing second behind Palladas, and with the blinkers off for the first time, she should be tough to beat.
This should be another fascinating contest between the favourite Shaquero and Astrologer after the latter came off second-best when they last met at Randwick back in October.
Shaquero won that race on debut rather comfortably, but I think she might be worth taking on here resuming from a spell.
Astrologer had no luck from the wide draw last time at Wyong finishing fifth, so I expect him to finish much closer this time around after drawing closer to the inside.
The one that could really throw a spanner in the works is Ghostwriter.
He won well on debut at Doomben over a touch shorter earlier in October and was far from disgraced second-up in the Listed Golden Gift at Rosehill last month.
He trailed beautifully at Canterbury a fortnight ago and with Jim Byrne back in the saddle, I think he’s over the odds.
Shooting For Gold is shooting for a hat-trick on Saturday after holding on for a narrow win at Doomben in the Winning Rupert Plate earlier in the month.
The son of Shooting To Win hasn’t put a foot wrong since debuting during the winter winning three of his five starts, and if Justin Huxtable can offset the wide draw nice and early, the pair should be adding to that record.
The scary part is he still managed to win last time out after finding traffic down the straight, so if he gets clear running room this time around, he might just win this in a canter.
This shapes up to be a very interesting edition of the Grand Prix with a handful making the journey up from Sydney for the Group 3 feature.
Jockey Glen Boss has enjoyed a pretty successful stint up in Queensland riding the likes of Good Soize, Pull Anchor and Soxagon to victories, so I’m happy to stick with The Elanora on top providing the champion jock can offset the wide gate.
The son of Redoute’s Choice won over the mile two starts back at Newcastle before going one better earlier in the month winning by two lengths at Rosehill.
He’s never raced at Eagle Farm before, but if Boss can get out to the front, the pair might be tough to catch.
I’ve backed against The Harrovian in his last two runs and it’s safe to say I’ve learned my lesson.
The Edmonds-trained seven-year-old is a fan favourite for a reason and this does look another winnable contest for him as he shoots 11 straight.
The son of Fastnet Rock has found the money in three of his four runs over the mile and tends to do some of his best racing from the inside draw.
He’ll likely get back and run on under Brad Stewart and another win would not surprise.
This should be a good battle between the three Godolphin runners and I’m happy to have Isaurian on top based on his outstanding 5-0 record first-up.
We haven’t seen the son of Exceed and Excel since January where he ran second to Madam Rouge in the Magic Millions Sprint on the Gold Coast.
He’s trailed exceptionally well over the last couple of months across Rosehill, Hawkesbury and Randwick, and while he will need to produce his best to beat home his stablemates, I’m confident Michael Cahill can make full use of the inside draw with a lovely late run.
Tough way to end the day with a case to be made for almost half the field.
I’ve been a big fan of Starvirgo this prep and there is no doubt he’s well deserving of another win after finding the placings in each of his last four runs.
The son of Zoustar doesn’t have a whole lot of experience racing at Eagle Farm, but he does look well-suited getting back to the 1400m after running second behind Tokoriki Lad over the same trip at the Sunshine Coast two starts back.
The fact he’s drawn another inside barrier is a big tick and the light weight of Michael Rodd on board is another plus.