The BRC have done an outstanding job reshaping the Brisbane Winter Carnival, and Queensland Derby Day will take place at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
As the name would suggest, the Queensland Derby headlines a nine-race program that also features the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup, and there is terrific value to be found throughout the entire day.
You can find my 2021 Queensland Derby Day Tips below.
This is an outstanding race to kick off Queensland Derby Day and there is a case to be made for several runners, including Superium.
Superium has been a model of consistency since resuming this time and is yet to miss placing in three starts.
He settled at the tail of the field at Doomben a fortnight ago and mustered a big turn of foot to finish third behind Axe, and he looks to be at peak fitness for this contest.
Kordia hasn’t been seen at the races since December, but she he has won fresh previously, and he has a class edge over most of his rivals in the second at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The Epaulette gelding has recorded three wins and two second placings from just seven career starts so far, and he is a Listed winner here at Eagle Farm most notably.
He has had the benefit of a couple of trials in the lead-up to his return and I am happy to have something on first-up.
Stradbroke Handicap favourite Ayton will go around in the Fred Best Classic and understandably, he has opened a very short favourite.
I certainly cannot find one to beat him, but I also don’t want to dive in at the odds-on price, so I’m happy to sit back and watch this for the spectacle it is sure to be.
Reloaded will take winning form into the Lord Mayor’s Cup and it looks another very winnable race for him.
The Snitzel gelding has noticeably improved with each of his four starts back from a spell this time and finished second in the Tails Stakes two back, before charging in to score an impressive win in the Listed Members’ Handicap last time out.
He looks to be at peak fitness for this contest and getting out to 1800m looks ideal at this point of his preparation.
The Premier’s Cup looks the perfect race for Paths Of Glory.
The Mastercraftsman gelding has been a great horse for Richard & Michael Freedman for several preparations now, and he filled the minors behind Quick Thinker in the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality before winning the Group 3 JRA Plate two starts back.
He was last seen finishing fourth, beaten just over a length in the Wagga Cup, but I think that getting out to a mile and a half on Saturday will prove the difference.
This is a strong and open edition of the BRC Sires’ Produce, but I’m confident that Ranch Hand can return to winning form.
Ranch Hand was excellent during his debut preparation, winning on debut at Warwick Farm and ending his prep fifth in the Magic Millions Classic.
He only just missed in a photo finish to the Ken Russell Memorial on the Gold Coast when resuming this time and can go on better on Saturday.
A talented field of three-year-olds will contest the Queensland Derby including Senor Toba, who is my top pick.
Check out our full race preview and complete 2021 Queensland Tips RIGHT HERE.
This is the strongest edition of the Kingsford-Smith Cup in recent memory and there is a case to be made for several.
I’ve put Savatiano on top, but you can find our full race preview and complete 2021 Kingsford-Smith Cup Tips RIGHT HERE.
The mares’ series in Brisbane this year looks like being the strongest for some time, and the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara is going to be an outstanding feature race.
Intrepidacious has returned to the races in typically excellent form this time, and she has drawn ideally into the Helen Coughlan Stakes field, importantly as many of her leading rivals have drawn awkwardly.
The Shooting To Win mare beat home a classy BM78 field at Caulfield when resuming this time and arrived in Brisbane for an agonizingly-close second behind Outback Barbie in the Bright Shadow Quality a fortnight ago.
Fitter third-up, she can win again.