Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - The babies kick us off. PROVOKER (2) hit the frame at Eagle Farm on debut when well in the betting and where there's smoke there's fire. Draws low and can feature with natural improvement. LOCKYER (1) hails from a handy family (full to G2 winner Strasbourg) and will be better with that first-up run now in the locker. Top-three candidate with any luck from the wide draw. BRUTAL GLORY (3) just missed the placings on debut and gun hoop Rodd sticks in the saddle. Shapes as a leading contender. WANNABE BRUTAL (13) showed improvement in his first preparation and has tuned up for this with a recent trial placing. In the mix.
RACE 2 - Tricky race to assess with a few of these at the races for the first time. Of the raced brigade READY FOR THE TRIP (1) resumes here but the form he showed in his first preparation was good enough to feature in a contest like this. Can run a race while fresh in a contest decimated by scratchings. HAPPY WINS (13) just missed the placings over this track and trip on debut when well in the market and won't need to improve much to play a role in the outcome. Rates a serious threat. WANT TO BE PROUD (18) went down by the narrowest of margins last time out in a career-best performance. Top-three commodity. SKORPIOS ISLE (11) strips fitter second-up and cannot be discounted.
RACE 3 - ALPHA BRAVO (5) is one from one around this circuit, will be rock-hard fit for this and draws low for gun hoop Maloney. Ticks plenty of boxes for a contest like this. Former NSW galloper FOURTH SPARGO (7) is having her first run for the new stable but should find this easier than what she faced down south. Respect any market activity. MAKE IT SO (11) has won two of her past three and it's hard to knock mares in form. Rates among the leading hopes. MILTON ROAD (1) goes well for jockey Mallyon who has three wins and a placing from just seven steers. Can run a race while fresh. CRESSBROOK (18) saves his best form for this distance range and may make his presence felt.
RACE 4 - The well-related NAVY PILOT (1) (full to 2xG2 winner Tiz Invincible) wasn't disgraced at Group 1 level two back before shedding the maiden tag in emphatic fashion at Eagle Farm last time out. Is sure to have derived a stack of confidence from that victory and winning hoop Maloney sticks in the stirrups. Looks very hard to toss. CALL DA VINCI (2) broke the maiden status over this track and trip at the latest effort and looks to have plenty of ability. Can go right on with the job now. NORTH POLE (3) also hails from a handy family (half to G3 winner and G2 placed Global Quest) and gets winning rider Jones back in the irons from the low draw. In the mix. THE BEAR (4) strips fitter second-up and may earn a cheque.
RACE 5 - Competitive contest at the pointy end. ECLAIR ENCORE (2) is a consistent conveyance who is yet to miss the top-five in eight career efforts and looks ready for the step-up in trip here. Mallyon was in the saddle for the last-start victory and sticks. Can continue the rich vein of form. EXISTENTIAL BOB (4) broke the maiden status last time out and will have derived a stack of confidence from that well-deserved win. Gets the deadly Waller/Maloney combination and should be going very close again. Kiwi FREDDIE TIME (1) is having his first local run but has shown enough across the ditch to warrant consideration in a race like this. Respect any market confidence. LOVEY DOVEY (8) got the maiden out of the way here two back before just running into one better at the latest effort. In the mix. SANCTUARY STORM (10) strips fitter third-up from the spell and may earn some minor money.
RACE 6 - ROLL UP (5) absolutely relishes the Ipswich circuit here with six wins and a placing from just eight outings. Tuned up for this with a recent trial and a strong showing while fresh would not surprise. HOLLYWOOD NORTH (2) will be rock-hard fit for this, draws favourably in gate three and gets some weight relief with the 2kg claim. Plenty to like about his prospects. DEMON AWARD (6) saves his best form for this distance range and draws the inside marble. In the mix. COMMANDMENT (16) hails from an astute stable and shouldn't be underestimated while fresh.
RACE 7 - The penny may have dropped for SIMPLY EXCELS (3) this campaign with two wins and two placings from four starts and winning rider Maloney stays on top. Is one from one over this course and distance and looks to have plenty of upside. Will be right there when the whips are cracking. MALARINA (11) is an honest galloper who has only missed a drum once in nine career outings and that was a close-up fourth before the spell. Doesn't know how to put in a poor one and can make her presence felt again. GIN A TONIC (2) saves his best form for this distance range and will strip fitter third-up from the spell. Top-three contender. PRE EMINENCE (1) is a last-start winner over this track and trip and shouldn't be underestimated.
RACE 8 - Former Victorian CHOSEN LEGEND (4) has hit the frame in both runs since joining the new stable and looks to be working up to another victory. Stripe fitter third-up now and shapes as a leading contender. TREVENSON (3) has hit the top-five in nine of ten career efforts and is usually thereabouts. Draws the inside alley and looms as the main danger. DEEP DAWN (11) has won over this course and distance and gets Melbourne Cup winning hoop Dolan in the saddle. Shouldn't be left out of calculations. SUNNY DISPOSITION (12) has hit a bit of form of late and looks one for the exotics players. TECHNA (14) is a last-start winner who shouldn't be slept on.
