Feature racing heads a little further north this weekend and the Caloundra Cup headlines an excellent program on the Sunshine Coast!
With races like the Winx Guineas and Glasshouse Handicap also drawing strong fields, there’s plenty of value to be found in betting, and you can find my complete 2022 Caloundra Cup Day Tips below.
Jakama takes winning form into the first on Caloundra Cup Day and looks well placed to make it two in a row.
The Collate gelding has improved with each of his three starts back this time and was rewarded with an impressive win on Ipswich Cup Day.
He takes his place in this contest at peak fitness and requires only even luck to be in the finish again.
Renouf will take plenty of improvement into her second campaign start at the Sunshine Coast this week and looms as a key winning chance.
The daughter of Street Boss ended her last prep with a lovely win here at the Sunny Coast, and I really liked the way she hit the line for fourth when resuming a couple of weeks ago.
She typically keeps her best for this track and we can have an each-way play at the price.
Kingston’s Here resumes in the third on Caloundra Cup Day and looks the one to beat.
The Rich Enuff gelding was nothing short of outstanding last time in, winning each of his first three starts and ending his prep a close second behind Montenegro Man at Doomben.
His recent trial suggested that he is ready to fire fresh and this looks a lovely launchpad for him.
Muschialli is another resuming galloper with winning claims on Caloundra Cup Day.
The Tony Gollan-trained returned some lovely performances last time in, winning at Doomben and finding form around some above average gallopers most notably.
He is yet to miss placing at this point of his prep and he has had the benefit of a trial leading up to his return.
Pomade hasn’t been seen at the races since February, but he showed ability during his debut prep, and I think that he can return a cheeky fresh effort in Saturday’s two-year-old feature.
The Kris Lees-trained gelding won on debut at Doomben and went to the paddock after a luckless run in the Inglis Millennium.
He’s returned a couple of handy trials in the lead-up to his return and the $11 about him at publish looks a bit of value.
I’m going to jump back on the Bartholomeu Dias train for his Caloundra Cup tilt.
The talented stayer has been a notable performer since arriving in Australia, and the change in scenery to Annabel Neasham’s yard has already heralded a metropolitan win this time in.
He was last seen finishing a credible fifth in the Ipswich Cup, and getting out to a mile and a half looks ideal at this point of his prep.
The Winx Guineas has been won by some outstanding gallopers in recent seasons, none better than its namesake, and I am confident that Battleton will join the honour at the Sunshine Coast this week.
Battleton ended his 2021 preparation credible fifth in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, and he hasn’t missed placing in three starts back this time.
A repeat of his last-start effort for second behind Kiss Sum on the Gunsynd Classic last time out would be good enough to win this, and he is my best bet on the program
This is an outstanding edition of the Glasshouse Handicap and there is a case to be made for several, including Buffalo River.
Buffalo River has been a great horse for the Moroney yard throughout his career, and while the Stradbroke Handicap proved to be a bridge too far most recently, he looked decent in his first two starts back.
This is a drop in class, the booking of Jockey Jim is positive and he can have an each-way play at around the $14 mark.
This is a tough way to end the day with a number of leading contenders drawn awkwardly.
That being said, I thought that Excelman was an intriguing runner, and I am going to have something on each way.
Excelman hasn’t been seen at the races since January, but his fresh form is excellent, and he struck in the Greys race on Melbourne Cup Day when resuming last time.
His recent trial was sound and he certainly has the class to win something like this.