2023 Queensland Guineas Day Tips & Preview

Just four horses will contest the first on Queensland Guineas Day, but one of them is a former Melbourne Cup contestant, and he’s going to be the one for me!

Serpentine hasn’t been seen at the races since finishing down the order in the race that stops a nation last year, but he did return some nice performances last time in, including a second placing behind Surefire in Group 3 company.

He’s had the benefit of a couple of trials leading up to this race and I love that he is launching over 2200m.

Typhoon Taavi looks tough to beat in Race 2.

The Tony Gollan-trained mare raced well south of the border last time in, but the decision to change stables and move north immediately paid dividends when she kicked clear to record a dominant win at Doomben earlier this month.

This is harder, but it’s also the next logical step, and she is open to plenty of improvement.

King Kapa has recorded fours wins from as many starts back this time and has opened a $1.65 favourite in betting ahead of this one.

I don’t think he’ll be beaten, but that price is far too short for me, so I am going to stay out from a betting perspective.

Party For Two will have her first start for Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted in the Dalrello Stakes and looks tough to beat.

The Sidestep filly was a revelation for Sunshine Coast horseman Damian Batters during her first prep, recording some dominant wins up here in Queensland before going south to finish second in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude F.

She finished down the order in the Blue Diamond which led to a switch in stables, and agree with that or not, I think she probably wins this race and makes the decision look justified.

The consistent Spirit Queen takes her place in Race 5 on Queensland Guineas Day and looks capable of winning.

Spirit Queen hasn’t missed placing in her last six trips to the races, breaking her maiden on the Sunshine Coast most notably and only just missing at her last two.

She steps out this weekend in peak order and is drawn to receive every chance under the in-form Benny Thompson.

Yasuke is still sweating on a run in this BM75 Handicap, but he needs only one more scratching, and he will be the one for me.

The Maurice colt was freshened after finishing midfield in the Group 2 Autumn Classic at Sandown back in February, and returned to action for an easy win at Warwick Farm earlier this month.

With improvement and getting up to Queensland, I think he’ll take plenty of beating in something like this.

Antino has opened an odds-on favourite in betting for this one, but there’s still plenty of meat on the bone in my opinion at $1.85 (available at publish).

Antino has hardly put a hoof wrong since making his debut, winning five of six starts and finishing third in The Gateway on the other occasion.

His fresh performance suggested that he has returned in similarly devastating form, and I think he’ll only improve for it.

Paulele was unlucky not to record a Group 1 victory during last year’s Brisbane Winter Carnival, and I think he’ll make his presence felt again when he returns in Saturday’s Victory Stakes.

Paulele was a multiple Group 1 placegetter before finally breaking through in the Winterbottom Stakes in Perth late last year, but he clearly needed his first run back this time when eighth in the Challenge Stakes.

I like that he has been freshened and sent back to the trials since that, and this is obviously a far weaker race. The $10 about him in Victory Stakes betting (at publish) is overs, and we can have an each way play.

An excellent edition of the Queensland Guineas with plenty of winning chances, but I’m siding with The Fortune Teller over a mile.

The Fortune Teller has improved for three starts back this time and quickened late to score in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes on Day 1 of The Championships.

This is probably a weaker race, and I can’t find any reason why he won’t be able to go on with it.