Nine races are set to be run and won this Saturday at Eagle Farm.
The track remains a Soft 5 with the rail out 0.5m across the circuit.
As always, our best bets for each race can be found below!
Battlefield has grown a leg since joining Barry Lockwood’s stable at the start of his prep.
The Deep Field gelding resumed in good order to find the money at Doomben over the 1200m trip, beaten just over a length by the impressive Navyonthehighway in a race that has produced solid form since.
He took real improvement into his second-up run here at Eagle Farm a fortnight ago, quickening at the top of the straight to draw 2.5 lengths clear for a pretty soft win in the end.
Looks likely to race on speed again with Robbie Dolan retaining the ride, and I like him back to 1200m now with fitness on his side.
Keen to see what Intuitu can produce third-up on a much dryer track.
Annabel Neasham’s five-year-old has gone up big odds and rightfully so, failing to win a race in close to a year, with recent efforts suggesting another one isn’t exactly around the corner.
That said, he’s had big weight and wide gates to contend with this time in work, while it’s worth noting he won well third-up over further last year.
Fitter now and out to 2200m, I think he can run a cheeky race at each-way odds.
Without Revenge took a little to wind up at the midweek’s last start but eventually got the job done quite well over the track and distance.
The six-year-old gelding out of the Geran yard was given a nice patient steer off the speed, reeling in Weigall Tiger approaching the 100m mark before shifting into fifth gear through the line.
There’s still scope for improvement in his third run back from a spell and he typically goes well on top of the ground.
Probably needs a touch of luck from out wide, but with Kyle-Wilson Taylor proven in the saddle, the pair look hard to beat.
Matisse did it the hard way on return as a short-priced favourite a few weeks ago at Doomben, knuckling down out wide in her final few strides to finally shed the maiden tag.
There’s a touch of class about this filly by Microphone ], and as we saw that day, she’s got a serious turn of foot that makes her the one to beat again.
The wide gate and losing Blake Shinn are two knocks, but there’s no doubt she’ll appreciate 1200m now with fitness on her side.
Looks one of the better bets on Saturday’s program and I’m confident she wins again.
Shooting For Gold looks much better suited back to this class of race.
The son of Shooting To Win has failed to find the money in both runs back at Listed and Group 3 level, finding himself a long way back in the W.J. Healy Stakes a few weeks ago where he was keen early and eventually beaten three lengths.
He’s tasked with another wide gate on this occassion, but does get in well with the 3kg claim put to good use.
Slightly frustrating horse to follow, but with his best, he could make a mess of this field following a couple of key scratchings.
Emperor has had two trials to get ready for his return over 1200m.
Matthew Dunn’s four-year-old wrapped up his prep earlier in the year unplaced in the Country Championships at Grafton over much further, racing up on the speed where he fell away late and was beaten six lengths.
He’s much better suited over these short sprint trips though, as we saw two runs earlier when he came our and won narrowly from a wide gate here at Eagle Farm.
Some slight sting out of the track would be an advantage, while his recent barrier trials have been sharp. Where he gets to from barrier three looks the main query.
Class will likely take Zaphod a long way here in what is a fairly deep staying race.
Kris Lees’ Irish import was enormous on debut at Scone a couple of weeks ago, tucking in behind the speed out go the gates and really finishing strongly over the top to gap his rivals by 2.5 lengths.
His form overseas stacks up having placed in a Group 3 at Leopardstown and a slightly firmer track should be a big plus after tackling a Heavy 10 on debut.
Out over further and fitter now, there’s no reason he can’t win again.
Caspernova looks ready to take the next step now for Robert Heathcote.
This three-year-old son of Spirit Of Boom shed the maiden tag in impressive style on Ipswich Cup Day, sticking to the middle of the track down the straight to put paid to his rivals by 2.5 lengths.
His previous form reads nicely, highlighted by a runner-up effort here at Eagle Farm on debut last November.
Maps to get back in the run from the low gate and can easily go on with the job now if he handles the dry track.
Blazen Boots has been racing well over the mile recently and just needs to get across early from the wide gate to save something for the finish.
The Tavistock gelding was faced with a similar task at Ipswich three weeks ago out wide, shifting out at the top of the straight and charging home to miss out by only half a length.
He’s one that is likely to appreciate an improving track and just needs to settle close enough to the speed to be a factor.