Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - ORIENTE (1) was placed twice during the spring and will be a lot stronger after his brief spell. He would not have missed much work with a couple of recent tune-up trials, winning the last of those. On top. SAGA'S GIRL (5) won a trial by a wide margin prior to being a beaten favourite on debut at Eagle Farm. This will be a lot easier, and she can set the record straight. WINDOW TAPPER (8) fought on nicely fresh up at Toowoomba when finishing fifth and will improve quickly with racing. She should be included in all combinations. TOO MANY THOUGHTS (2) is on debut from the powerful Mark Currie stable. In-form hoop Juston Huxtable picks up the ride and from the pole position, they will be hard to hold out. ZOU ZOUTUKATUKIA (12) the blinkers are on fresh up and she is not the worst for a price.
RACE 2 - KERNEL BOOM (10) ran some good races last prep earlier in the season without winning and looks to have progressed since his break after winning a recent Doomben trial very easily. Both of his career wins have been fresh up and he is the one to beat in this. OBEROI PRINCESS (6) usually holds her form when fit and she was runner-up at the Sunshine Coast just over 7 weeks ago. She has been to the trials since then and from a good draw, she can figure in the finish again. ADALIE (3) has proven to be hard to catch this prep and tends to get back in her racing. If the tempo is genuine here, she can have the last say at a nice each-way price. DEVIL'S RITE (2) had a nice confidence-boosting win at a recent Bell picnic meeting and has won 3 times over 1100m. Stick with him on an each-way basis.
RACE 3 - CURRY LEGEND (3) is a handy gelding resuming from a spell at the right level. He normally takes a run to get ready but did win a recent Sunshine Coast trial very easily which suggests that he is ready to rumble fresh up. On top. KENTUCKY ROSE (7) is at her best over the short course and was not far away at Ipswich when finishing fourth there last time out. She was a winner before that and with Bubba Tilley in the saddle for the first time, she can take this out. JOHNNY UTAH (4) was racing solidly on the picnic circuit during the spring and his recent freshen-up would have done him no harm. He might need the run but having top hoop Justin P Stanley in the saddle is a good lead. Each way. BUCKALTIUS (1) is resuming from a spell and normally comes to hand quickly. He has performed with credit in better fields than this and if ready, he will be hard to hold out.
RACE 4 - SHAKE'N'BAKE (4) has been trying to win a race for some time and has been thereabouts in all 3 starts this prep from the Mark Currie stable since relocating to Queensland from Victoria. Justin Huxtable is in career-best form and could coax that little bit extra out of this gelding where it matters most. FIRE AND LIGHT (2) is another ex-Victorian who should be nearing his peak form after 2 runs back from a spell in Queensland. Bubba Tilley replaces an apprentice and the pair can get the job done this time. DON'T STOP ME NOW (9) had an excuse last time out after being galloped on during the run. Her third on this track before that is the guide to use and she can bounce straight back into the money. CHEERFUL CAT (1) strips fitter second up and can figure in the top 3. MIDNIGHT MADNESS (3) has a good draw and is ready to show something.
RACE 5 - UNLEASH (3) has gone from strength to strength this prep and got the job done in the final stride at Dalby last start when scoring by a nose 11 days ago. She is in a good space and with less weight to carry this time, she can take the next step. MOONAN ME (5) dropped in class and just couldn't hold out the top pick last start when finishing runner-up by a nose. He is actually worse off at the weights this time but does have a senior hoop in Bubba Tilley in the saddle this time. Stick with him. HOKKAIDO (7) is a former handy ex-Victorian gelding who has maintained his good form in 2 starts since relocating to Queensland. He has a good gate and he should break his win drought at short notice. HUSSY EMPRESS (10) is unbeaten in 3 starts on this track ad has needed both of her runs back from a spell this prep. A good draw will help and she is poised to put her best hoof forward. THE CLAIMANT (9) strips fitter second up and is the best of the rest at a price.
RACE 6 - WIREWALKER (2) had been trying to win a race for some time in Victoria before relocating to Queensland late last year and making a winning debut for Mark Currie when scoring as expected by 2 lengths. He won't find this much harder and now that the penny has dropped, he should go on with it. ROCKY RICH (4) was a beaten favourite at Dalby fresh up 11 days ago and was looking for more ground. He won a trial easily before that and with top hoop Justin P Stanley replacing an apprentice, he can take this out. Follow your money. KILDARE (1) is a 6-year-old gelding having only his third career start. He is making up for lost time with a win on debut and a last-start second at Beaudesert 12 days ago. The extra 300m is ideal and he will be right in the finish again. YEAH COPY (10) is next best.
RACE 7 - DARK THINKER (8) has had 2 starts back from a spell over a mile and on each occasion she has been running on and looking for more ground. She is ideally placed third up over a middle distance and only needs a touch of luck in a big field to be the winner here. LUCKY EXCHANGE (1) hardly ever runs a bad race when fit and he was runner-up at Dalby last start and has not missed a cheque in 2 starts over this trip on the track in the past. Each way claims again. ONOMATOPOEIA (3) is chasing down a hat-trick and can get the job done. Watch closely. TWISTED MISTRESS (7) was not far away last start and she has been holding her form this prep. She steps up to a middle distance and can bounce straight back into the money. BILPA MOREA (9) has a handy draw and is well worth including in all combinations.
