Get set for a huge Saturday of racing at Eagle Farm and Rosehill! Our Neds best bets are locked in and ready to guide you through all the action across the tracks.
KING PEDRO (9) was stiff not to win over 2000m here last start.
The Tom Charlton-trained gelding settled near the rear of the field before looming large in the straight, only for his momentum to be checked by the eventual winner. He rallied strongly, but ultimately missed victory by a nose.
That followed an excellent second-up run where he finished a neck second over 2100m at Gosford.
He rises in class but drops 5kg to just 54.5kg and will strip fitter given he was five weeks between runs.
| 9. King Pedro (2) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 54.5kg 2×722T: Tom Charlton | |||
| Recent form sound. At the latest run 2nd of 9 at this track Bm78 on June 13 over 2000m, on a slow track; nose behind Nobler carrying 57.5kg at $4.40. Before that ran on from midfield; 2nd of 16 at Gosford Bm78 on May 9 over 2100m, neck behind Monopolistic carrying 58.5kg at $12. Proven at the trip and due for a change of luck. | |||
SUN WORSHIPPER (4) looks a live chance after an eye-catching run in the Listed Ipswich Cup.
The Matt Kropp-trained mare finished strongly there to run 2.39 lengths away in third, and she now gets onto the quick back-up.
That setup clearly suits, as she won the Magic Millions Shootout over this course and distance earlier this year under similar circumstances.
Plenty of her rivals are stepping up from a mile, but she is rock-hard fit after racing over 2000m or further at her past three starts.
Ben Thompson takes the ride, and if he gets her into clear air in the straight, she can give this a big shake.
| 4. Sun Worshipper (6) J: Ben Thompson 56.5kg x6503T: Matt Kropp | |||
| Last start 3rd of 12 at Ipswich in the LR Ipswich Cup on June 20 over 2150m, slow going 2.5 len behind Kaluakoi carrying 53kg at $21. The start before that ran second last of 14 at this track in the G3 Prem Cup on May 30 over 2400m, slow going 17 len behind Alalcance carrying 54kg at $31. Can feature on the quick back-up. | |||
SUN GOD (2) is building nicely and gets his chance to turn the tables on War Eternal.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding resumed at Scone two starts ago and found the line strongly to win the Listed Luskin Star Stakes by a nose.
Last start in the Listed Spear Chief Handicap, he settled near the tail, charged home and hit the front, only for War Eternal to fight back and beat him by a head.
War Eternal is flying and chases a fourth win in a row, but Sun God meets him 2kg better at the weights and should take plenty of improvement third-up.
He will not want the track too wet, but from the draw, he should be able to stalk War Eternal and get every chance.
| 2. Sun God (1) J: Nash Rawiller 58kg 31×12T: Chris Waller | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up won by a nose at Scone LR Luskinstar May 16 over 1300m defeating Point And Shoot carrying 53kg at $15. Second run from a spell 2nd of 11 at this track in the LR Spear Chief on June 6 over 1500m, head behind War Eternal with 59kg at $4.80. Very honest and gets all the favours from an inside gate. | |||
MANAAL (3) was stiff not to win the Group 2 Moreton Cup when resuming last start.
The Michael Freedman-trained mare enjoyed a nice run in transit but could not secure clear air in the straight, and when she finally did, she was squeezed inside the final 100m by the eventual quinella horses before finishing 1.23 lengths away in third.
Her second-up record is excellent, with three wins and a second from five starts, and all three victories have come at Group 2 level.
The rise in distance looks ideal, and she won the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ over this trip earlier in her career.
Ben Melham should be able to land in the first half of the field and give her every chance.
| 3. Manaal (9) J: Ben Melham 57kg 229×3T: Michael Freedman | |||
| Second run back. First-up after three months 3rd of 11 at this track in the G2 Moreton Cup Swp on June 6 over 1200m, 1.2 len behind Uncommon James carrying 56kg at $7. Previously second-up 2nd of 10 at Randwick in the G2 Guy Walter on February 28 over 1400m, slow going 0.8 len behind Verona Rose carrying 59kg at $3.40. Honest mare who will be thereabouts again. | |||