2024 The Gateway Day Tips & Preview

2024 The Gateway Day Tips & Preview

Racing returns to Eagle Farm on Saturday, with ten races set to be run and won.

The Gateway will headline the program, with the $300k feature guaranteeing the winner their spot in the 20205 Stradbroke Handicap.

With black type features, the Tails Stakes, Just Now and the Bribie Handicap also to be contested, there’ll be no shortage of talent on the day.

South East Queensland has copped a deluge of rain in recent weeks but as one of the best draining tracks in the country, we should see it come back in the soft by raceday.

The rail will be in the true position and our thoughts and selection on each race can be found below.

Race 1: (12:13pm AEST) WIDDEN QTIS 2YO HANDICAP 1200M

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 1 Lockyer

J: James Orman (59kg) T: Tony Gollan

There was a lot to like about the debut performance of Lockyer and he’s sure to have taken plenty of benefit from the experience.

Over the 1000m dash at the Sunshine Coast, the son of I Am Invincible raced very green throughout but fought strongly in the straight to finish a close second and put up a big gap back to the rest.

He’s since been given a 1000m trial where he did everything right and won the heat under very little pressure.

With natural improvement and the rise to 1200m, he looks a top chance here.

Race 2: ( 12:48pm AEST) NOVA 106.9 BM70 HANDICAP 1800M

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 11 Jealous

J: Mark Du Plessis (56.5kg) T: Robert Heathcote

Jealous has been racing well and comes off a decisive victory over 1800m at the Sunshine Coast.

Taken right back off the wide gate, she settled well and weaved a path through the field, extending strongly in the straight to score by half a length.

Whilst the margin wasn’t grand, she always looked to have the race in her keeping and the first two did clear out from the rest of the field.

An improving type, she certainly relished the rise to 1800m last time and looks well placed to repeat that performance.

We know she’ll handle any conditions and Mark Du Plessis stays in the saddle.

Race 3: (1:23pm AEST) SEVEN BM78 HANDICAP 2400M

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 1 Up And Under

J: Ryan Maloney (60kg) T: Chris Waller

Up And Under presents hard fit and will get conditions to suit.

The Chris Waller trained gelding settled a long last two runs back at Rosehill and found dead ends when making his run home.

He had his first Queensland start a fortnight ago over the 2200m at Doomben where he was strong through the line to finish second, just finding one better on the day.

The step back up to 2400m looks ideal and he’s drawn to enjoy a cosy run in transit from the inside alley.

Ryan Maloney partnered him last start and he’ll again do the steering.

Race 4: (1:58pm AEST) SEN BM85 HANDICAP 1200M

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win Market Mover

No. 14 Ten Trinity Square

J: Robbie Dolan (52kg) T: Mark Currie

Ten Trinity Square remains unbeaten with three raceday appearances and looks set for bigger and better things.

A late bloomer, the beautifully bred son of I Am Invincible made his debut back on New Years Day where he recorded a dominant 4.5 length victory at Toowoomba before heading to the paddock.

He returned in October putting together back to back wins with a combined margin of 6.6 lengths and has earned his crack at a race like this.

All three of his runs have been over the 1000m at his home track so this is big step up for him but he’s done everything right and has done it with ease.

The way he worked through the line last time suggests the rise to 1200m won’t be an issue and he gets in with just 52kgs for Robbie Dolan.

Best of the day

Race 5: (2:37pm AEST) LADBROKES JUST NOW F&M LISTED 1300M

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 3 Cigar Flick

J: Bailey Wheeler (58.5kg) T: Chris Waller

Cigar Flick hasn’t been far away in two runs back from a break and will find this easier than what she’s been contesting.

Resuming in the Group 3 Begonia Belle down the Flemington straight, she was held up at a vital stage but charged late into fourth and no doubt should have finished second.

She then contested the How Now at Caulfield and powered home late into fifth, after settling at the tail.

A quality mare, she’s in top form, she has won at her only appearance here and has drawn to get the right run.

Race 6: (3:12pm AEST) U&U RECRUITMENT TAIL STAKES LISTED 1500M

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 4 Bettcha The Crown

J: Samantha Collett (55.5kg) T: Desleigh Forster

Bettcha The Crown is racing in red hot form and looks well placed to make it three straight.

A winner of six races, the Casino Prince gelding has always shown plenty of natural talent but looks to have gone to new level this time in.

He worked home strongly two starts back, getting over the top of I Am Artie late and last time, out to the mile, he settled closer in the run and fought gamely to hold of the challengers after hitting the front at the top of the straight.

He drops 4kgs on his latest win and gate three will see afforded every chance under Sam Collett.

Race 7: (3:52pm AEST) THE STAR GATEWAY WFA 3YO & 4YO 1400M

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 2 Transatlantic

J: Angela Jones (59kg) T: Tony Gollan

Transatlantic comes off a dominant all-the-way at the Sunshine Coast and looks well placed to make it back to back victories.

The Tony Gollan trained gelding didn’t have the best of luck when resuming over 1200m here but with the rise in trip and nothing left to chance last time, he proved far too good.

A son of Snitzel, he’s put together a very tidy record and looks a horse on the rise.

He handles all conditions, the 1400m looks to be his sweet spot and from the inside draw, he wont burn any petrol early.

Race 8: (4:32pm AEST) SKY RACING BRIBIE HANDICAP LISTED 1000M

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 1 Rothfire

J: James Orman (61kg) T: Robert Heathcote

Rothfire makes his much anticipated return to the races.

Robert Heathcote’s group one winning son of Rothesay has been plagued by injury throughout his career yet has continued to perform well at a high level.

Second in the last years Stradbroke Handicap behind Think About it, he then returned in the Spring to finished the runner up behind Imperatriz in the McEwan.

A class galloper, the biggest query here is whether he’s at his best but he’s looked sharp in two recent trials and he just loves it here at his home track.

Jimmy Orman will do the steering and the seven year old is sure to make his presence felt.

Race 9: (5:12pm AEST) MAGIC MILLIONS JAN 2025 QTIS 3YO BM70 HANDICAP 1400M

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 6 Thundering Soul

J: Andrew Mallyon (56.5kg) T: Kris Lees

Thundering Soul has been finishing off his races well and is sure to relish getting out to 1400m.

The son of Spirit of Boom powered home late into third after settling well back over 1000m at Scone and then headed to Wyong where he was always wide and when making his run home, was badly hampered by the eventual winner.

He’ll appreciate getting onto a bigger track and whilst this is a big jump in grade, he looks very progressive and has drawn to get the right run.

Andrew Mallyon takes the mount for Kris Lees and he looks a great each way chance at a nice price.

Race 10: (5:47pm AEST) IMPRESSU BM78 HANDICAP 1400M

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 16 Tavs

J: Angela Jones (55kg) T: Mark Currie

Tavs has been placed in both outings for the new stable and I think he’ll relish getting out onto the big Eagle Farm track.

Formally trained in Sydney, the son of Dundeel was terribly unlucky over the 1350m at Doomben in his first start for Mark Currie and he was doing his best work late there last time.

His previous form does read a bit ‘hit and miss’ but he hasn’t always had the best of luck and looks to have settled in well in QLD.

He looks well suited here at 1400m and I don’t think the wide gate will be too much of a concern as he’ll get back and be hitting the line strongly.

Tips, recommendations and commentary are for entertainment only. All prices are Fixed win odds. We provide no warranty about accuracy or completeness. You should make your own assessment before placing a bet. Odds are correct as of 12/02/2025 11:28:02pm AEST and subject to change.