Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - FLYING MIKKI (1) has made an impressive start to his career stringing three wins together on the bounce and has tuned up for this with a recent Gold Coast trial victory. Gets the services of Rodd on board to navigate from the sticky draw and can continue on his winning ways here. The penny has dropped for PAYLINE (10) who has won his past two including a dominant win over this trip at Doomben last time out. Racing with a lot of confidence now and has to be included. Former Godolphin galloper ATMOSPHERE (5) is drawn to get all the favours from the inside alley and must be respected from the Bruce barn. Respect any market confidence. FIRE LANE (12) is a bit of a hit-or-miss type but can feature if she brings her best
RACE 2 - THE RIGHT WAY (1) has hit a purple patch of form winning his past two outings including an eight-length romp at Toowoomba at the latest effort. Winning hoop Donald sticks in the irons and looks ready for the step-up to the 2500m now. Rates the testing material. CHASSAGNE (8) has hit the top two at her past six starts and should be at her peak now fourth-up from the spell. Goes well for Thornton and looms as the main danger. LATELY (3) was a touch disappointing last time but the form prior was good enough to feature in a race like this. Worth another chance. TAVISTORM (5) has been thereabouts in recent outings and looks a must for the multiples. SHEZADANDI (6) is a two-time winner here and only needs luck from the draw to be prominent.
RACE 3 - TENZING (1) was a touch plain at Eagle Farm last time out but go on the dominant Doomben victory over the mile journey two back. Will be rock-hard fit now and should get a cosy run in transit from gate five. Sure to be right there when the judge calls a halt. MADAME ODETTE (10) is one from one around this circuit and has placed two from three when racing second-up. Gets Duric on and should play a role in the outcome. BLAZEN BOOTS (12) loves this distance range with two wins and a placing from four attempts and will be high on confidence following the last-start Doomben win. Top-three conveyance. EVOCATOR (8) has just missed the placings at the past couple and may earn some minor money again. BETTCHA THE CROWN (5) best of the rest in a wide-open affair.
RACE 4 - ROCKRIBBED (9) resumes here but has a handy first-up record with two wins and two placings from just five attempts. Revved up for this with a recent Deagon trial victory and a bold showing while fresh is expected. MAJESTIC BOOM (12) hasn't put a hoof wrong winning all four outings to date including saluting here last time out. Thompson has been in the stirrups for three of those wins and it's hard to ignore winning form. Looks a serious threat. DAYTONA (14) is one from one over this track and trip and rarely puts in a poor one. One for the exotics players. NAVAS TWO (4) strips fitter second-up from the spell and shapes as one of the leading hopes.
RACE 5 - Former Hong Kong campaigner OUGHTON (10) has looked good at the past couple of local outings and should be cherry-ripe now fourth-up from a break of almost a year. Winning rider Stanley stays on deck and saves his best form for this distance range. Should be there at the business end. THE FACE (6) failed in the Buffering before the spell but the three victories prior were full of merit. Gets 1.5kg off with the claim and can return in winning order. The well-related WARBY (15) (half to G1 winner and stallion Captivant) is a three-time winner over this journey and gets in well at the weights. Definite winning hope on best form. STANDING ORDER (11) is one from one over this track and trip and is better than recent efforts suggest. Worth another chance. SAILOR'S SECRET (2) is yet to miss a place in five goes over this course and distance and cannot be discounted.
RACE 6 - Group 2 placegetter HEDGED (2) is an honest commodity who has only missed the top four once in ten career starts and is yet to put in a poor performance. Make up a bunch of ground last time so the step-up to the 1350m here is ideal and looks ready to return to the winner's list. MISS ARIA (8) brings hot Victorian form to the table and is a three-time winner over this trip. Must be respected. GOLDEN DECADE (3) goes well for Maloney who has two wins and a placing from four steers and should get a soft run from the inside marble. Top-three candidate. Multiple Group 2 winner CIFRADO (1) has a bit of class on his side and will be doing his best work late. FORTUNEER (12) rounds out the selections.
RACE 7 - The $250,000 Listed Ipswich Cup. LUNCIES (1) wasn't disgraced when fifth in the Group 3 Lord Mayors Cup and should find this assignment a touch easier. Strips fitter third-up from the spell and gets Maloney on from the soft draw. Ticks plenty of boxes. REGAL LION (10) was too bad to be true last time out but is one from one over this course and distance and has placed at Group 1 level before. Worth forgiving. BROOKHAVEN (14) gets in lightly at the weights and his best form would see him playing a major role in the outcome. Has to be included. DUNE FORTY FIVE (5) will be at peak fitness now and may trouble the judge from the low draw. KING FRANKEL (4) next in line in a race with only a handful of chances.
RACE 8 - The $200,000 Listed Eye Liner Stakes. WATEGOS (7) really comes into contention now with the scratching of Yellow Brick. Is two from two over this distance range and is drawn to get a perfect run in transit from the inside alley. Should be going very close. Group 2 winner JIGSAW (2) has been thereabouts in all four runs this preparation and looks to be nearing another victory. Sure to go well. FANCIFY (14) has won her past two in impressive fashion and you can't ignore mares in form. Definite top-three prospect. BLAZE A TRAIL (3) resumes here but has a handy first-up record and may run a race while fresh. LOST IN TRANSIT (12) will be rock-hard fit for this and can trouble the judge.
RACE 9 - Wide open affair to close out the nine-race card, the $160,000 Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic. Hard to knock the form of MIDNIGHT IN TOKYO (6) this time in with a win and two placings from three runs since the spell and will be looking to salute on the quick back-up here. Has two wins and four placings from nine attempts at the trip and looks the one they all have to run down. PARTY FOR TWO (11) has placed at Group 2 level and should be at her peak now. Top-three conveyance if she brings her A-game. BEZIQUE (3) is knocking on the door of another victory and looks well-placed in this. In the mix. TYPHOON TAAVI (13) hails from a handy family (half to G1 winner and stallion The Mission) and is looking for four wins on the bounce. Cannot be discounted.
