2023 Caloundra Cup Day Tips & Preview

Defiant Spirit has hardly put a hoof wrong since debuting, and he can win the first on Caloundra Cup Day.

The Spirit Of Boom gelding won easily on debut here at the beginning of June, before only just missing over 1200m on Ipswich Cup Day.

Fitter third-up, he can continue his rise through the grades.

I thought that this looked another very winnable race for Stuck With You.

Stuck With You recorded a smart win in BM78 company at Doomben back in April, and he returned from a freshened up to finish second in the Grafton Cup Preview in June.

With improvement for that effort and from the good draw, he can have an impact in something like this.

I’m happy to stick with Ralphie when he goes around in the third on Caloundra Cup Day.

Ralphie recorded three wins in succession, including one in BM65 company here on the Sunshine Coas before filling the minors at his latest on Ipswich Cup Day.

He’s in peak order, drawn well and can have an impact in something like this as well.

Golden Boom rates as a key winning chance in Race 4.

The Spirit Of Boom gelding was excellent during his debut prep back in summer, winning the Gold Edition Plate most notably, and he did win a talent-rich contest at Doomben two starts back, beating home the likes of Spacewalk and Lady Laguna.

He was last seen filling the minors in Listed company, and this does look a weaker contest.

Betting suggests this is going to be one of the more open races on the program, and at publish, we’re faced with $6 the field.

That being said, I’m happy to be with the favourite – Tick Tock Queen.

She won The Gateway back in summer and subsequently booked her place in the Stradbroke Handicap a few weeks ago, finishing a credible eighth.

That was her fourth start back this time, and there’s little doubt that she’s at peak fitness this week for a substantially weaker race.

Luncies is on the short back-up from a dominant win in the Tattersall’s Cup at Eagle Farm last week, and I completely understand the decision to go around again in the Caloundra Cup.

The Iffraaj gelding was excellent throughout the Melbourne Spring Carnival last year and was unlucky not to win a couple of nice feature races.

After going close a few times at the beginning of this prep, he returned to winning form in very impressive fashion at his latest, and I think he’ll be equally difficult to knock off again here.

The Winx Guineas has been won by some outstanding horses in recent years, including its famous namesake, and a typically talented field has been taken again this year.

Soothsayer has been a great horse for Lee Freedman since he returned to Australia, and he’s the one for me in the Winx Guineas this year.

Soothsayer was a strong and consistent performer last time in, recording three wins in succession most notably, and he’s stripped fitter for three back this time, placing twice.

I like that he has been back to the trials since his last appearance, and a mile on the Sunshine Coast looks absolutely perfect for him.

It has been a long time between race wins for Sinawann, but I thought that a race like the Glasshouse Handicap wasn’t beyond him.

Sinawann arrived in Australia to plenty of hype, and while he hasn’t lived up to it, he has been good in some very good races, several times.

He was just a bit too keen in the Wayne Wilson at his latest appearance, but getting back to 1400m this week is ideal, and he’s drawn to receive a nice run under Timmy Clark this week.

I’m going to have something on Fastconi in his first start for Natalie McCall on Caloundra Cup Day.

Fastconi returned plenty of great performances throughout the early stages of his career under Chris Waller, and he won each of his first two back from a break, last time in.

He will need some luck in running from a sticky draw, but there are no real stars engaged in this contest, and Fastconi is certainly up to the class.