It's with great trepidation that I approach the form for Queensland Oaks Day. Not because I'm scared (The Silk ain't ever scared!) or indecisive about what horses will be competitive but because of the weather. We've had rain throughout the week and it looks like continuing Friday. There is a chance that it will clear Saturday. This generally spells disaster for the Eagle Farm track and the signs aren't good with the track already rated a Slow 7 as at Thursday afternoon. Fingers crossed that the tap gets turned off and we get some racing. I'll be doing my form based on a slow/heavy track.
***Track update Saturday morning: Slow 7.....rain please stay away!***
***Track update Saturday morning: Slow 7.....rain please stay away!***
Race 1 - The opening race sees the 2 year olds race over 1400m. I'll be going with Choisenegger (5). Last start he had an easy time of it on the Sunshine Coast when he won by 3 lengths over 1400m on heavy ground. Although that field was inferior to what he meets in this race, it shows he can run the distance and get through wet ground. I think it also shows that he's finally switched on to the racing game. This horse did run a very close 2nd to Magic Millions winner Real Surreal on debut. He'll get a great run from the inside gate. Other hopes to All Things In Time (7), L'Entrecote (6) and Gypsy Diamond (9).
Race 2 - Markout (11) looks right up to his eyeballs in this race. He loves this distance with 2 wins and a 2nd from 3 starts. He's quite handy at the track with a 33% win rate here. The wet track won't stop him as he's only been out of the placings once in 5 tries on slow or heavy going. He has been hitting the line hard in his recent races and we can expect a similar showing in this race. He won't know himself with only 53kg to carry here after carting 59kg last start. Other hopes to Secret Garden (8), Raeburn (1) and Trajet (7).
Race 3 - Tricky Group 2 race here over 2200m with only 6 horses engaged. I'll go with Lights Of Heaven (5). She won her only start at the distance and has won both her starts at the track. She can also get through the wet, never finishing worse than 2nd in 3 starts on rain affected tracks. With the pace being the key here, she should be able to sit in the box seat and get a great run.
Race 4 - Fire Up Fifi (4) looks extremely well placed here. She steps up to 1500m which looks like she's crying out for. In the 3 runs since resuming, she's hit the line with gusto. Last start was a real "back me next time" run where she was held up for a run before getting clear late to go down narrowly. The wet track won't worry her with 4 quinella finishes from 6 starts on slow or heavy. She draws barrier 1 and jockey Damian Browne will be able to slot her in beautifully to get a peach of a run. Other hopes to Longshoreman (10), Listen Son (2) and Hour Of Peril (8).
Race 5 - Detours (4) enters this race on the back of a strong finishing win in the Silk Stocking 4 weeks ago. She draws beautifully here to get a gun run for the very much in form jockey Kerrin McEvoy. Her record over the 1200m is excellent, winning 5 of 8 starts. She handles a wet track as shown by her record of never being out of the placings in 3 attempts. Other hopes to Classics (9), Dystopia (3) and Bound To Blush (6).
Race 6 - A return to Eagle Farm will see a return to the winner's circle for Sizzling (1). This lad loves Eagle Farm winning 4 from 5. He ran 2nd in the other. The longer straight here really suits his strong finish. He has raced on heavy tracks twice and won them both well. The last of those was when he gave it to a few of these in last year's Sires Produce over this distance. Kelso Wood puts the blinkers on here and I think that will switch him on nicely. Other hopes to Platinum Kingdom (6), Academus (3) and Boban (11).
Race 7 - Gondokoro (4) was enormous last start in the Group 3 Roses. After copping a check she was well back in the run. She then sprouted wings and hit the line at an incredible rate to narrowly go down. The bigger straight here will suit her and I expect her to be hard to hold out. The extra distance here will also suit her given what we saw last time out. Her wet track record suggests she can get through the ground. Other hopes to Dear Demi (1), Vaquera (8) and Soapy Star (3).
Race 8 - What a doozy we have to finish! If my motto wasn't "involvement is the key" I'd give this race a miss. As they say, "Go wide in your quadrellas punters". So in the spirit of getting involved, I'll be supporting Startsmeup (5). It has a tremendous record around this distance and races well at the track. It's wet track form statistically doesn't look fantastic but on closer inspection, the majority of those races it drew outwards of barrier 11. It's by no means a mug when it rains. It enters this race on the back of an unlucky yet fast finishing 2.1 length 7th. Will be finishing off strongly. Other hopes to Galah (16), Decision Time (2) and Miss Stellabelle (11).
***With the scratching of Decision Time (No Robes Get Out Special), I'll promote Griffon (12) to the other hopes***
Best Bets
Race 2 - Markout (11)
Race 4 - Fire Up Fifi (4)
Race 5 - Detours (4)
Race 2 - Markout (11) looks right up to his eyeballs in this race. He loves this distance with 2 wins and a 2nd from 3 starts. He's quite handy at the track with a 33% win rate here. The wet track won't stop him as he's only been out of the placings once in 5 tries on slow or heavy going. He has been hitting the line hard in his recent races and we can expect a similar showing in this race. He won't know himself with only 53kg to carry here after carting 59kg last start. Other hopes to Secret Garden (8), Raeburn (1) and Trajet (7).
Race 3 - Tricky Group 2 race here over 2200m with only 6 horses engaged. I'll go with Lights Of Heaven (5). She won her only start at the distance and has won both her starts at the track. She can also get through the wet, never finishing worse than 2nd in 3 starts on rain affected tracks. With the pace being the key here, she should be able to sit in the box seat and get a great run.
Race 4 - Fire Up Fifi (4) looks extremely well placed here. She steps up to 1500m which looks like she's crying out for. In the 3 runs since resuming, she's hit the line with gusto. Last start was a real "back me next time" run where she was held up for a run before getting clear late to go down narrowly. The wet track won't worry her with 4 quinella finishes from 6 starts on slow or heavy. She draws barrier 1 and jockey Damian Browne will be able to slot her in beautifully to get a peach of a run. Other hopes to Longshoreman (10), Listen Son (2) and Hour Of Peril (8).
Race 5 - Detours (4) enters this race on the back of a strong finishing win in the Silk Stocking 4 weeks ago. She draws beautifully here to get a gun run for the very much in form jockey Kerrin McEvoy. Her record over the 1200m is excellent, winning 5 of 8 starts. She handles a wet track as shown by her record of never being out of the placings in 3 attempts. Other hopes to Classics (9), Dystopia (3) and Bound To Blush (6).
Race 6 - A return to Eagle Farm will see a return to the winner's circle for Sizzling (1). This lad loves Eagle Farm winning 4 from 5. He ran 2nd in the other. The longer straight here really suits his strong finish. He has raced on heavy tracks twice and won them both well. The last of those was when he gave it to a few of these in last year's Sires Produce over this distance. Kelso Wood puts the blinkers on here and I think that will switch him on nicely. Other hopes to Platinum Kingdom (6), Academus (3) and Boban (11).
Race 7 - Gondokoro (4) was enormous last start in the Group 3 Roses. After copping a check she was well back in the run. She then sprouted wings and hit the line at an incredible rate to narrowly go down. The bigger straight here will suit her and I expect her to be hard to hold out. The extra distance here will also suit her given what we saw last time out. Her wet track record suggests she can get through the ground. Other hopes to Dear Demi (1), Vaquera (8) and Soapy Star (3).
Race 8 - What a doozy we have to finish! If my motto wasn't "involvement is the key" I'd give this race a miss. As they say, "Go wide in your quadrellas punters". So in the spirit of getting involved, I'll be supporting Startsmeup (5). It has a tremendous record around this distance and races well at the track. It's wet track form statistically doesn't look fantastic but on closer inspection, the majority of those races it drew outwards of barrier 11. It's by no means a mug when it rains. It enters this race on the back of an unlucky yet fast finishing 2.1 length 7th. Will be finishing off strongly. Other hopes to Galah (16), Decision Time (2) and Miss Stellabelle (11).
***With the scratching of Decision Time (No Robes Get Out Special), I'll promote Griffon (12) to the other hopes***
Best Bets
Race 2 - Markout (11)
Race 4 - Fire Up Fifi (4)
Race 5 - Detours (4)
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