The 2024 Queensland Racing Carnival draws to a close this Saturday with the running of the Caloundra Cup Day meeting at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club.
We’ve witnessed some great racing over the past few months during the Carnival and this Saturday’s meeting looks no different, headlined by the Listed Caloundra Cup, Group 3 Winx Guineas and the Listed Glasshouse Handicap.
Unfortunately, showers are forecast every day leading up to and including race day so the track will be very heavy.
We’ve run the rule over each of the nine races and provided our selections below.
Tricky way to start the day at the Sunshine Coast with only one of the 14 two-year-olds having raced on a heavy track.
Toowoomba galloper Shows A Sign (2) was brave when debuting over this course and distance on Sunshine Coast Cup Day in January.
Despite being in the wrong part of the track, he fought on well after leading to finish 1.2 lengths third to El Morzilla.
The son of Capitalist recently returned at Ipswich where he showed a clean set of hooves to bolt in by 4.3 lengths over 800m.
He has the early speed to counter the wide gate.
Black On Beauty (4) returned in great order two starts back at Ipswich where she proved too strong with 60kg on her back in a 1.3 length victory.
The Tony Gollan-trained mare gave a good sight in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic over this distance last start but was swamped late after sitting on a hot speed to finish two lengths fifth.
She’ll strip fitter and did win over this distance in a stronger race at Eagle Farm two preparations ago when third-up.
Ryan Maloney is back onboard and should be able to settle in a forward position.
Punch Lane (3) got too far out of his ground last start over 1350m at Doomben before savaging the line to finish a head second.
The Melbourne visitor will appreciate the bigger Sunshine Coast track having won on over this distance at Caulfield last preparation.
He’ll strip fitter and won third-up when last in work at Geelong when carrying this big weight.
While he’s up in weight, this is an easier field than what he has been facing.
In yet another tough race, I’m going with Hakkai Maru (7) who has a terrific record over this course and distance.
The daughter of Maurice has won four of her seven starts here including four starts back when charging home in the heavy conditions for a length win.
Since finding the line strongly in the quickest final 600m of the race at Doomben, she has been back to the trials where she worked stylishly to the line to just miss the win.
She looks ready for a peak performance third-up.
Golden Boom (2) has come back this preparation in great form.
The Tony Gollan-trained four-year-old gelding overcame the outside gate at Doomben first-up when winning the Listed Chief De Beers by half a length.
He then ran well last start when running on strongly for second behind Steady Ready in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm.
He’ll strip fitter third-up and has a good record over this course and distance.
Ryan Maloney can settle just behind the leaders before presenting in the straight.
Know Thyself (5) could very well be undefeated after four races if not for an unlucky second two starts back at Canterbury.
The Autumn Sun gelding bounced back in a big way last start over 1400m on a heavy Randwick where he let down powerfully to win by 5.3 lengths.
That run indicated he’ll love a mile as does his breeding.
He’ll strip fitter third-up and Rachel King can give him the run of the race.
Murwillumbah trainer Daniel Bowen has At Witz End (3) running through brick walls this preparation.
Besides ‘trainer error’ resulting in a disappointing performance in the Group Moreton Cup, the rising nine-year-old has been in the form of his life with four wins from his past seven starts.
That includes last start when storming home to win the Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich and four starts ago when loving the wet conditions here in the Listed ATC Cup.
There doesn’t look to be a great deal of speed in the race which should allow Sam Collett to find a prominent position from an outside gate.
Hezashocka (2) will appreciate dropping back to a Handicap after finishing down the track in the weight for age Group 2 The Q22 last start.
Two starts back the Price and Kent Jnr-trained son of Shocking held on to win the Group 3 Premier’s Cup over this distance at Eagle Farm. There were six lengths back to third.
He races extremely well on heavy tracks having won two and placed third twice in four races.
One of those heavy track wins came just four starts ago in the Listed Gosford Cup.
Payline (8) can bounce back after racing three wide throughout over 1100m at Ipswich at last start and finishing 3.3 lengths fifth.
The Chris Munce-trained son of Shooting To Win was in hot form before that winning back-to-back races impressively by 3.3 lengths at Doomben and here.
While he’s yet to face a heavy track, he has won well on a Soft 6 and run well on rain-affected surfaces previously.
With just 54kg on his back, he should be fighting out the finish.