A rare quiet Saturday at Eagle Farm with just eight races and smaller-than-usual fields for headquarters. It made for a fairly plain day on paper, but there are better horses on the way with strong trial activity across Queensland – expect the quality to lift sharply over the coming weeks.
From a punting perspective, there were still a couple worth noting moving forward.
MR BUSTER (Race 3)
He’s just a winner, simple as that.
If there was a race to knock him off, it was this one first-up, but he still found a way. Drifted back to last in the run, looked in a tricky spot, but travelled into it strongly and finished over the top with a well-timed ride.
He’s gone to another level since arriving in Queensland and clearly hates getting beaten. That racing pattern gives him versatility, and he’s the type you can follow with confidence wherever he pops up next.
FIRST EMPIRE (Race 5)
Beaten fair and square on the day, but there’s still upside here.
He looks like a horse with more to give, and it wouldn’t surprise if a gear tweak, potentially headgear, helps him sharpen up that finishing effort. The key positive is how well he settles in his races, which gives him a solid foundation to build on as the prep progresses.
He’s one I’d be happy to stick with in the right setup next start, especially if there’s any sign of improvement with gear or intent.
