Betsy’s set: Eagle Farm Saturday

Race 1

No speed at all and this could be a race where a good ride/tactics win.

The obvious is (6) Connecticut who is about the only horse in form. Poor win strike rate but got the job done at Lismore two back and very good last start behind a good one. This is easier. (1) Kirkeby was solid in the same race but no match. Will like a firm track and claim but lacks upside now.

Only other one I give a winning chance to is (5) Chassagne and I don’t trust her at all. Will strip fitter 3rd up but was said to not handle the conditions last start and it was a good 4.

Selections:
(6) Connecticut
(1) Kirkeby
(5) Chassagne
(4) Punjabi Landing

Suggested Bet: Win (6) Connecticut

Race 2

No great tempo but they are lightly raced and change of tactics would not surprise me.

(8) Diversity beat home (7) Sevilo last start over a very slowly run mile. Both good efforts but slight lean to Diversity as probably leads them again here. Also gets no weight on the back to help out.

I don’t like fillies giving weight to the boys but like the fact (2) Dushenka gets Thompson taking over from the apprentice. Picked up very late last start and looks like the big track is going to be ideal for her (did win only start here). (1) Contingency is another who will be suited by the big track.

Have always liked (3) Lonesome Soul, consistent type and winning hope. (4) Castello Grande is a nice one in the making but might be better ridden off speed in a race with tempo.

Selections:
(2) Dushenka
(8) Diversity
(5) Sevilo
(4) Castello Grande

Suggested Bet: Win (2) Dushenka

Race 3

Even speed but feel first half of the field might be advantaged.

The on top selection has come out which makes this even for me. Don’t like the race much now to be honest.

(4) Mazis has always had a wrap but not lived up to it. Fresh this prep he went like a bomb and might be the making of him. Watch the market but could be on the way up. (9) Brave Call is lightly raced in a good yard and attacked the line fresh (best L200m of the race). May get to second half of the field but will be strong late. Didn’t like (8) Victory Flame last week but he was a dominant winner and have to respect if they run him on the quick back up.

Can make a case for 6,12,13 but you can’t have them all.

Selections:
(9) Brave Call
(4) Mazis
(8) Victory Flame

(6) Second Sun

Suggested Bet: E/W (3) Man Of The Town $13

Race 4

Average sort of race. Some speed but Party For Two should be able to lead them easy enough.

If they let (3) Party For Two lead then she will be very hard to run down. I am certain this is her best trip. Gollan/Lang combo, been freshened for this and can lead all the way. Don’t like the odds on quote though.

Never been big on (4) Maximum Output but he has won two on the trot and carries just 52kg here. Could sit outside leader and give a sight. How forgiving are we with (5) Flag Hall? Poor recovery last start (so fair excuse). Has won here, this is his pet trip and gets winkers on. (7) Hurts So Good has won 4 of 5 on the track and 4 from 5 over the 1000m. Thompson rides and drops 7kg here. (6) Hermanita next best.

Selections:
(7) Hurts So Good
(3) Party For Two
(5) Flag Hall
(4) Maximum Output

Suggested Bet: No bet

Race 5

Good speed engaged and feel this will set up to give them all a chance.

(3) Pre Eminence can let the main speed go and settle just off them. Gets a 3kg claim and this is a very good stable. Lots of things line up for a horse with a good record. Extremely well placed. (2) Find Your Own is a fast horse and they have to go handle bars down. Recent trial was very good and won three in a row before the spell. If the track is playing to the front he will be hard to catch.

(7) Ralphie had done little this prep but attacked the line last start and then trialled like a bomb, watch the market. (12) Petticoat is lightly raced and maps well from a good gate. Probably gets the run of the race and can be strong late.

Good race with another 4-5 winning hopes.

Selections:
(3) Pre Eminence
(2) Find Your Own
(12) Petticoat
(7) Ralphie

Suggested Bet: Win (3) Pre Eminence at $4+

Race 6

Blink and you will miss them, speed everywhere here.

Not much went right for (5) Bossed Up last start but he does have good ability. Comes here 3rd up and gets a race with good speed where he can let them go early and have last shot at them. Just has to use the gate to land in front of 6-7 of them.

(9) Moulin Miss is another Gollan horse and has always had good speed. Draws to be on speed without using any juice. Can be weak late but could be a stronger horse this prep.

(10) Bremel is the X-factor. Won 2 of 3 but had 220 days off. The two wins last prep were easy work after leading. No official trial so is this a sting in the making?

(16) Barberry Spur was excellent in his first preparation. Big maiden winner and then tipped out. This is harder but the recent trial win was good and looks to have a lot of upside to come.

(6) Paleface Ringo has a great overall record and does go well fresh. One to watch the market with but a good run here would not surprise.

Selections:
(5) Bossed Up
(6) Barberry Spur
(10) Bremel
(9) Moulin Miss

Suggested Bet: Quinella 5-6-10

Race 7

Average speed engaged, big field and most should get their chance.

Still sick with (12) Imposant running 2nd last start as a best bet. The run was good and well placed in this at the weights. Still thought he’d sprint a little better last time out. This is no harder and has been solid in the market. Lees/Mallyon combo always a positive thing.

(4) Heman and (14) Little Jeanie ran the quinella last start and both a hope again. Maybe slight lean to Little Jeanie from the inside gate and good map. Heman is very good on his day, as we witnessed last start. Just seems to be a horse I can never find that day, so a few trust issues for me.

(6) Rock Hard Love is always good through the line and has upside. Just gets back and needs luck or a good ride. Can win for sure and surprised at the price.

Selections:
(12) Imposant
(6) Rock Hard Love
(14) Little Jeanie
(4) Heman

Suggested Bet: No bet

Race 8

Good speed here from 3,4,6,9,11,12. Just depends on how keen a few of them are to lead and how silly they want to be.

Would have liked some weight relief for (2) Epic Proportions but can sit off this speed and be good late. Is 1/1 on this track and gets his chance. It all comes down to the ride early and where he lands from the sticky gate.

(10) Anemacore is a horse who you always think wants further but a good chance he is a fresh horse. His fresh record is great (3:1:2:0) and EF suits, can be value. (3) Our Magnus has been very good at both runs back. They have been at Toowoomba, so needs to bring it to town but hard to knock winning form. They look the winning hopes for me in a race that drops away.

Selections:
(2) Epic Proportions
(10) Anamecore
(3) Our Magnus
(11) Hidden Melody

Suggested Bets: Small win bet (2) Epic Proportions

Race 9

Little to no speed here and Free Carry looks to get a picnic up front unless someone changes tactics.

I really want to take on (4) Free Carry but there is no speed and he gets it nice. Also a chance of rain late and handles that as well. Not sure I want to back but takes the keenness out of taking him on too. (2) Keitel has exceptional late splits but just gets too far back in races. From the gate, I can’t see that changing here. Will flash late but needs to be closer.

Gollan doesn’t miss a trick and will put (6) Exceed Speed somewhere in the first 4. Has been very consistent this prep and is a horse that puts his head out and fights. (10) Ocean Zar was back to somewhere near her best last time out. Loves this track (12:4:3:1) and gets along with Moor on top. If she can settle closer she can trouble them. (12) Freeland has been very good and the last win was exceptional. The stable is absolutely airborne and a repeat of that run goes close. Would just like more speed engaged.

Selections:
(4) Free Carry
(12) Freeland
(2) Keitel
(6) Exceed Speed
(10) Ocean Zar

Suggested bet: No bet