With the Brisbane Winter Carnival just over a month away, the action continues to ramp up this Saturday at Eagle Farm with a pair of black-type races on offer.
The Ascot Handicap and Daybreak Lover shape as key form references heading toward some of the Carnival’s biggest race days, and you can find our best bets across the meeting below!
Liberty Steps is one to watch the market on ahead of his second run back.
The Sidestep four-year-old went around over 1200m first-up three weeks ago where he spotted the rest of the field a start before finding traffic in the run home.
He was beaten only 1.6 lengths despite plenty going against him, and also boasts a handy record second-up from a spell.
Having taken on tougher races than this during his career, he’s more than capable of finding the money.
Red Wave presents a pretty convincing case out to his preferred trip fourth-up from a spell.
The Sears-trained five-year-old has progressed nicely getting out gradually in distance, running on late for second a couple of weeks ago coming off a nice patient ride behind the speed.
He doesn’t win out of turn, but if he can get across early from the wide gate and find cover, his fitness should take him a long way.
Ocean Zar looks to have bounced back nicely after failing to finish two back over this same track and distance.
She responded with a gallant runner-up effort behind Majestic Boom on a rain-soaked track a fortnight ago, making this a more suitable assignment back on a firmer deck from a much softer gate.
In well at the weights and likely to get right back early, she should be charging into the finish with any luck.
Solar Apex has had his runs spaced this prep, making up good ground two back over 1400m before attempting a harsh step up in trip two weeks ago where he was beaten just over a length.
Getting back to the mile looks to be a nice middle ground for the Deep Impact six-year-old, along with a little less sting out of the track.
The gate makes this tricky, but now that Justin Huxtable has a feel for him, the pair should be thereabouts if they can land midfield in the early stages.
This race could be anything, but if Sacred Feeling produces her best, she should be the one to beat.
Tony Gollan’s mare has been knocking on the door this prep, finding the money in her last two starts where she’s faced wet tracks on both occasions.
Her won two weeks ago out to 1820m for just the second time was solid, overcoming an awkward start to charge the line late to open up a decent gap between herself and fourth.
The two that finished in front of her that day are good horses in their own right, so I think there’s a bit of merit about her form leading into this.
Outlawed looks as though she’s wanting the extra trip now after sticking to 1200m in all three runs so far this prep.
Robert Heathcote’s mare knuckled down nicely to put up a big challenge in the run home two weeks ago after settling midfield, an effort that indicated she might dangerous out over 1400m with the right setup coming off the speed.
The gate should allow Blake Wheeler to do his best work, and with the claim also in the pair’s favour, I think they’ll prove hard to hold out.
Russian Alliance was a Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial winner on the Sunshine Coast last year before resuming off a lengthy spell on the Gold Coast last month for third.
The filly by Russian Revolution has made limited appearances over the last 12 months, but we have seen her produce some big wins during her short eight-start career.
This is her first look at Eagle Farm, but the rails draw is in her favour coming off a five-week break between runs.
If she settles as one of the backmarkers and is saved for late, she should be finishing over the top at a nice price.
Competitive race with the two favourites coming off likable trials.
No knock on Zarastro, but I thought Prince Of Boom’s efforts earlier in the year were strong, notably holding on late for fourth on Magic Millions Day in The Syndicate race behind Derry Grove.
The way he hit the line in his trial at Doomben last week suggested he’s in for a much better prep, and if he’s somewhere close to the speed again, he should take serious catching.
This is the toughest challenge he’s faced, but it’s tough to get away from Robert Heathcote’s unbeaten gelding Press Link ahead of his fourth start.
The son of Press Statement has proven versatile during his short time at the races, landing on speed when winning by 2.31 lengths fresh at Doomben, before getting back in the run off a wide alley last month on his way to a win over 1200m.
Off those two efforts, he should see out 1400m in his stride, while I love the fact he’s had a trial between starts behind a smart horse in Skirt The Law.