A great day of racing on a good Eagle Farm surface. Let’s run the eye over the card and some of the notable performances, excuses and horses to follow.
Race 1
Not a lot to note here. Cavalry Man was horribly unlucky at Doomben last start but made amends with a deserved win. Rachel King gave him a perfect ride, producing him at the right time to turn the tables on Express Payment. Of the others, Diamond Epic still doesn’t look to have returned as the same horse we saw last preparation.
Race 2
Favourite backers never got a look in. Now Is The Hour led as expected but had excuses, with the stewards reporting the gelding travelled well before weakening noticeably when asked for an effort. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a slow recovery and mild right nasal discharge.
Soothsayer had been building nicely through the preparation following a lengthy break and continued that progression with a deserved win. Verdoux was well supported in betting but only receives a pass mark.
Race 3
Most riders wanted to avoid the inside, but Rachel King aboard Monte Supreme took the opposite approach. Settling near the tail, she saved every inch of ground before charging through to win. The horse always finishes strongly and the ride made all the difference.
Steady Ready ran well in second and looked back to something close to his best form. Tonkin, the equal favourite, had plenty of excuses. He raced wide throughout and, after missing the start slightly, was unable to settle as prominently as intended. He also failed to respond when asked for an effort and made respiratory noises after the race. A post-race examination confirmed upper respiratory concerns.
Race 4
Declan Bates might not receive the same attention as some of the more high-profile jockeys, but he continues to deliver on the big stage. He is striking at 20 per cent from his past 50 rides with an ROI of +26.3 per cent.
He gave Voynichese a lovely run in transit and the mare proved too good at $17. Glenorchy and West Coast both ran well but were no match for the winner. Overall, it didn’t look the strongest Listed race of the carnival.
Race 5
Many questioned whether Earn To Burn could run a strong 1200 metres at this level around Eagle Farm. Not only did he run it out, but they made it a genuine staying test by rolling along early. He proved too tough.
Platinum Pantheon was good last start and arguably even better here, racing wide for much of the journey and producing one of the strongest efforts through the line. Sequista was the horse that should have finished closer after being held up on a couple of occasions.
Race 6
I’m still in the fetal position after making Churchill’s Choice one of my best bets of the day. She looked hopeless on the turn, last and off the bridle, before producing the fastest final 200 metres of the race and only just missing. One more stride and she wins.
I don’t think I’ve ever managed to get Surfin’ Bird right. I thought she was below her best this preparation but she produced a terrific performance to win. Hyperbolic was enormous again and looked significantly over the odds at $19. She looks set to run another big race next start. Declichy Boulevard was more than good enough second-up and may be the horse to follow from the race moving forward.
Race 7
These looked more like the A-graders of the carnival, although I wasn’t completely sold on the race overall. Sun God and War Eternal paired off late and put a couple of lengths on the rest. Both were solid performances without getting too carried away.
Race 8
Take a bow, Declan Bates. It was a superb ride aboard Fireball Miss, producing her at exactly the right time and allowing her turn of foot to do the rest. She had the form on the board and rewarded those who stayed loyal after her win in The Roses.
Panova was excellent in second. She’s a classy mare and looks the type Chris Waller can build through a preparation before having her peak for one or two major targets. He seems to do it every preparation.
Race 9
I had Boomtown Boss as one of the better bets of the day and thought he was excellent despite conditions not suiting. He was shuffled back to near last turning for home in a slowly run race, making the task extremely difficult.
I loved the way he attacked the line and, while he may not make a Stradbroke, there’s a good race for him during the carnival when he gets the right tempo. Uncommon James bounced back to his best, racing on speed and finding enough to hold them off. Oak Hill saved ground along the inside and loomed as the winner before just missing.
