For the first time this season, two Group 1 feature races headline a meeting in Brisbane!
Kovalica has stamped himself as the one to beat in the Queensland Derby and will start a clear favourite in betting, while the Kingsford Smith Cup could be the more open feature of the season.
You can find all of my thoughts and 2023 Queensland Derby Day Tips below.
I’m keen to give Yasuke another chance in the first on Queensland Derby Day.
Yasuke finished midfield in the Rough Habit Plate at his last start, having filled the minors in a couple of decent Benchmark races at his two previous appearances this time.
He steps out this week in peak order and will relish the drop in class.
Antino has recorded two wins from as many starts back this time and can make it three when he takes his place on Queensland Derby Day.
The Redwood gelding has won six of seven starts, which his only miss being a still credible third in The Gateway back in December.
He has improved with each of his two back this time and with any further improvement, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
Serpentine is a month between runs, but his fresh effort was outstanding, and the form has been franked!
The Galileo gelding only just missed in the Group 3 Lexus Stakes on Derby Day last year before finishing down the order in the Melbourne Cup, and produced a tough performance to knock off hot favourite Kalapour over 2200m here on Guineas Day.
Kalapour his since come out and Chairman’s Handicap at Doomben, and I’m only expecting this bloke to improve as well.
It has been a while between drinks for multiple Group 1 placegetter Young Werther, but I love that he is being campaign in Brisbane this time in.
Young Werther produced several typically smart performances during his spring campaign last year, running third in the Turnbull Stakes most notably, while ending his year with a luckless run in the Melbourne Cup.
He is a winner at this point of his preparation previously, and I love that trainer Danny O’Brien is electing to kick him off over the 1800m at Eagle Farm in the Lord Mayor’s Cup.
Yellow Brick can book his place in the Stradbroke Handicap field by winning the Fred Best Classic on Saturday.
The three-year-old son of The Mission has been an absolute revelation for Tony & Maddysen Sears, winning six of eight starts and placing on the other two occasions, including a close-up second in the Magic Millions Guineas back in January.
He returned to win the Gold Coast Guineas three weeks ago, and any improvement on that effort would find him extremely difficult to beat again.
Cifrado was excellent in the Champagne Classic last time out, and the BRC Sires’ Produce is the next obvious point of call.
The Encryption colt broke his maiden easily at Ipswich first-up this time, and he worked home well into third in the Dalrello Stakes second-up.
That came before what was easily his best performance to date, and I am confident that he’ll take his place this week in peak order.
At around the $10 mark (at publish), we can have an each way play.
Kovalica has well and truly stamped himself as the one to beat in this year’s Queensland Derby, and after drawing ideally on Tuesday, I’ve put him on top.
Check out my full race preview and complete 2023 Queensland Derby Tips RIGHT HERE.
This is fast turning into one of the most exciting feature races of the season, and an excellent field has been taken for the Kingsford Smith Cup again!
I’ve landed on A Case Of You, but check out my preview and 2023 Kingsford Smith Cup Tips RIGHT HERE.
I’m going to have something on Sneaky Five at a double-figure quote in this year’s Helen Coughlan Stakes ($10 at publish).
Sneaky Five is yet to strike in two starts back from a break, but she has improved for each of them, and she was less than two lengths behind the winner in the Bright Shadow Stakes a fortnight ago.
Fitter third-up from a good draw and under Jimmy Orman, she gets plenty of ticks!