The Ladbrokes Cox Plate may have the racing world’s attention, but there’s a full card to assess at Eagle Farm this Saturday, with 10 races scheduled for the Ladbrokes Spring Racing Carnival.
Heavy rain has moved the meeting from Doomben to Eagle Farm. The track drains far better, but a Heavy 10 will still test every runner. The rail is out 1m, and proven heavy-track form could be crucial.
The meeting is in real danger of not going ahead. If it does, we’ll be looking for runners who can handle the conditions and keep finding the line.
There’s only one runner in this field with race experience, so SHE HAD A PLAN (7) is among a big group making their debut.
The Tony Gollan yard has her, and she showed enough in a recent Sunshine Coast trial to suggest she’s ready to go.
The Spirit Of Boom filly led before putting her rivals away easily to win by 3.14 lengths.
She’s out of a Commands mare, which gives her some encouragement to handle the wet track.
| 7. She Had A Plan (4) J: Angela Jones 54.5kg T: Tony Gollan |
TARAVIA (5) has gone close in his past two starts, finishing second to Captain Maverick by a neck and then a head.
The closer of those runs came in a stronger race over this course and distance. He went for home a touch early, and ‘The Captain’ picked him off late.
He won his only previous start on a heavy track before joining the Todd Pollard stable, which is a welcome tick given the conditions.
He’s backing up quickly and should be able to settle near the speed for Ben Thompson.
| 5. Taravia (5) J: Ben Thompson 58kg 31522 T: Todd Pollard |
READY FOR AIMEE (9) has been a reliable performer this preparation, with two wins and a second from four starts.
She comes into this looking for consecutive wins after overcoming an early hold-up in the straight to score by just under a length over 1350m at Doomben.
Her three starts at Eagle Farm have yet to produce a placing, though none came over this distance.
She’s finished in the quinella in all five attempts at the trip, and Bella Youngberry can use her early speed and good draw to find a handy position.
| 9. Ready For Aimee (4) J: Bella Youngberry 53kg 01241 T: Tony Gollan |
GAULTIER (10) has picked up where he left off since returning from a lengthy break and looks well placed in Brisbane.
The son of Exceedance resumed with a close second at Hawkesbury, then broke his maiden at Goulburn.
Chris Waller brought him north two starts ago, and he went close again, finishing a nose second over 1400m at Eagle Farm after being caught in the final strides.
He should now be at peak fitness and can get a nice run among the first few for Ryan Maloney.
| 10. Gaultier (3) J: Ryan Maloney 58.5kg 21523 T: Chris Waller |
TWISTED QUEEN (17) has made a consistent start to her time with Jack Bruce, placing in all three runs for the stable.
She worked home well over 1650m at Doomben last start, but All Kinds Of Folk proved a touch stronger and beat her by just under a length.
Her two runs before that were also sound, with a third to the flying Lockyer and a second to Perfect Play over this distance.
She’s on the quick back-up, but gets in with just 53.5kg and has Emily Lang aboard.
| 17. Twisted Queen (6) J: Emily Lang 53.5kg 35322 T: Jack Bruce |
First-time blinkers could be the change that helps STRADA VARENNA (16) finish off her race.
She drew level with Mercian over this course and distance last start, but didn’t go on with it late and was edged out on the line.
The Tony Gollan-trained mare had won over the same course and distance three starts earlier, then finished a head second at Doomben.
By Street Boss, she has breeding that suggests she’ll handle the heavy going. Bella Youngberry’s claim brings her weight to 54.5kg.
| 16. Strada Varenna (4) J: Bella Youngberry 54.5kg x7122 T: Tony Gollan |
COOL GENT (1) should take improvement from his first-up run, when he found the line well over 1000m at Eagle Farm.
The heavy conditions look a plus for the Adam Barling-trained gelding. He won the Listed Oxlade Stakes last preparation, showing he can handle wet going.
On that occasion, he settled a long way back over this course and distance before charging home to win by three-quarters of a length.
There looks to be plenty of speed engaged, which should help set the race up for him.
| 1. Cool Gent (3) J: Ron Stewart 60kg 419×8 T: Adam Barling |
FLEETWOOD (1) has put together three successive placings and looks ready to turn that consistency into a win.
Two of those efforts came over this course and distance, where the Tony Gollan-trained gelding chased home the speedy Moulin Miss to finish just over a length away in second.
His heavy-track record is a major positive: he’s yet to taste defeat in those conditions.
Jade Hampson’s 3kg claim helps, and the wide draw may be less of a concern if the inside starts chopping up as the meeting wears on.
| 1. Fleetwood (8) J: Jade Hampson 58.5kg x4232 T: Tony Gollan |
GET READY LASS (8) did plenty right last start over this course and distance to finish 1.64 lengths second.
The Chris Anderson-trained mare drew wide, couldn’t find cover and raced three and four wide throughout.
She still found the line strongly, and her course-and-distance record includes a win just two starts ago.
A better draw should give Mark Du Plessis the chance to settle her in a prominent position.
| 8. Get Ready Lass (4) J: Mark Du Plessis 56kg 79312 T: Chris Anderson |
ALL KINDS OF FOLK (14) gets conditions to suit and looks a strong chance to close out the card on a high.
The Todd Pollard-trained mare hit the line with gusto over 1600m at Doomben last start, winning with something in hand.
She’s unbeaten on heavy ground, with a first-up win at the Sunshine Coast last preparation and a victory at Randwick to finish that campaign.
With just 52kg on her back, she’ll take some holding out.
| 14. All Kinds Of Folk (7) J: Cejay Graham 52kg 21×51 T: Todd Pollard |
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