Eagle Farm will again play host to Queensland’s major metro meeting on Saturday with a nine-race card.
The track is currently rated in the Heavy range following up to 150mm of rain on Friday, while the rail is out 5m across the circuit.
For thoughts on every race, continue reading our Eagle Farm tips and preview below.
Island Magic gets in well with the claim of apprentice Bailey Wheeler on board.
Tony Gollan’s mare has been outstanding since returning from a let-up last month, placing at Doomben on a wet track behind Tikka Ready, before unleashing with a handy turn of foot to get up in her final few strides on the Sunshine Coast a couple of weeks ago.
This is her first look at Eagle Farm, but she has trialled here in the past and just needs to settle handy to be a real factor.
Drawn a soft gate and proven over this trip, she ticks a few boxes at a price
Ain’t He Grand has been up for a while, but he continues to race well with a win and a couple of placings over his last four starts.
He made up some decent ground to finish down the order in the Subzero on Magic Millions Day two runs back, a performance he improved on here at Eagle Farm in his latest where he was again seen doing his best work from the tail to finish second.
The claim sees him in with only 60kg’s under Bailey Wheeler, and with some solid wet track form on the resume, he shouldn’t mind some sting out of the track if the rain comes.
Ryan Maloney and Uncommon Valour combine again following a narrow win last start over the same distance range.
Despite the soft gate, the pair tracked five-wide into the turn, eventually settling in behind the leader to find an extra gear late and win right on the line.
I think we’ll see the pair land midfield with good early pace expected, and providing the track isn’t too wet, they should be hitting the line hard.
Blue Spinel was all class on return here a few weeks ago, winning by a clear two lengths after overcoming a three-wide sit in transit.
The Hellbent mare is two-from-two now on her home track and is unlikely to find this race much tougher with Angela Jones dropping a kg in the saddle.
As we saw during the winter last year, the rise to 1200m should be right in her wheelhouse, while any rain about likely strengthens her claims.
Bravely gets his first look in town coming off an impressive maiden win at Grafton first-up a couple of weeks ago.
The three-year-old by Zoustar took up the lead approaching the final furlong, booting clear to win by nearly half a length with plenty left to give through the line.
He could face similar conditions here with the chance of rain, and with some relief at the weights, I’m confident he can measure up in an open affair.
Plundering gets the blinkers off ahead of his second start in Queensland.
The son of Shooting To Win wasn’t much chop last time out in a small field at Doomben off a four-week break, beaten 5.5 lengths after some problems at the gates and over-racing throughout.
This does look a nice bounce-back assignment for Annabel Neasham’s four-year-old though, especially with some likable form around Louisville and Felix Majestic in Sydney.
He’s much better than mid-week metro level, so we should see him back to his best here.
Captain Fenkel is a gelding racing with plenty of confidence for trainer Marcus Wilson.
The son of Kermadec went around at a short price two weeks ago over 1400m, leading all the way and eventually drawing clear to gap his rivals by over a length in the end.
He gets his chance at a hat-trick now, and based on what he showed through the line last time out, I doubt the rise to the mile poses any issues for him.
Tough to know what to make of Castillian now, but we know his best is certainly good enough to win a race like this.
Tony Gollan’s gelding hasn’t won in well over a year, but he has gone close in his last two attempts placing at both Randwick and Kensington.
The inside gate is a big advantage here, and so too is the added chance of a wet track. If he can settle handy under Ryan Maloney and save something for the finish, maybe he finally breaks through.
Warp Speed was solid on return at Eagle Farm a fortnight ago, getting away awkwardly but still finding the line well to finish two lengths off the in-form Daytona Bay.
The seven-year-old by Star Witness tends to do his best work with a run under his belt, while he also warrants big respect over the mile with a couple of wins under his belt.
Barrier 3 should see him settle midfield with James Orman no stranger to winning in the saddle.