Eagle Farm race-by-race betting preview | Saturday, May 29
| What | Queensland Derby Day 2021 |
| Where | Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007 |
| When | Saturday, May 29, 2021 |
| First Race | 11:34pm AEST |
| Conditions | Track: Good 4 | Rail: True |
| Watch Live | |
After two weekends of Group 1 racing at Doomben, we now cross Nudgee Rd and see two top-flight events run and won at Eagle Farm this Saturday. Both the Kingsford Smith Cup and Queensland Derby have attracted big fields that ooze class, while the other eight races also reek of quality. The track is rated a Good 4, but with fine and dry conditions around, we could see an upgrade to a Good 3. The rail is in the true position for the entire course, so we expect it to play evenly. HorseBetting.com.au’s Queensland form analyst has previewed every event on this nine-race program, which is set to kick off at 11:34am AEST.
Race 1 – Class 6 Plate (1400m)
The opening race of the day is a pretty handy Class 6 Plate over the 1400m, and although Fashchanel brings winning Sydney form to the table, we are keen to side with one of the locals. Profit has always been a consistent galloper, and his first-up record certainly isn’t one to boot. Drawn in barrier seven under James McDonald, the son of Dundeel is likely to settle in midfield on the outside of runners and get a lovely cart into the race. His previous first-up defeats came at the hands of The Harrovian and Alligator Blood, so the Chris Anderson-trained gelding has to be respected here.
Selections: 6-10-9-12
Race 2 – Benchmark 85 (1200m)
In a race that lacks speed, we are happy to side with Scott Morrisey’s Dr Why Not. The four-year-old son of Love Conquers All has won three of his last five starts, along with runner-up performances behind Weona Smartone and Axe. Madeleine Wishart will take the gelding to the front from barrier 12, and we are hoping nothing will get past. He loves Eagle Farm and the 1200m should suit.
Selections: 7-9-8-14
Race 3 – Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1400m)
All eyes will be glued to the TV at 12:44pm on Saturday afternoon as current Stradbroke Handicap favourite Ayrton looks to gain a spot in the field by winning the Fred Best Classic. The boom horse is up against some quality three-year-olds, and while we admit he has the class to win this race, we don’t want to take on the $1.65 to find out. Count De Rupee appears to be a much better bet after a strong win at Rosehill last time out. The son of Real Impact finished a close second to Marway at the start prior and now comes to Eagle Farm third-up, which should see him close to peaking. Not An Option is the other runner in double figures who we can make a decent case for.
Selections: 8-9-10-3
Race 4 – Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m)
One race we are not keen to get too invested in is the Lord Mayor’s Cup, as it is full of ‘those’ horses that are just always around the mark but don’t threaten to win. One mare who has the class and finds herself in a winnable race is Vanna Girl. The four-year-old mare won The Roses on this day last year at this track and trip, and now she faces a severe drop in class from an AD Hollindale Stakes field that included Zaaki. Hang Man also has Zaaki form and can threaten here, while Aliferous and Shop Til I Drop might be the overs in the race.
Selections: 6-4-12-13
Race 5 – Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2400m)
The Premier’s Cup offers the stayers a key lead-in to the Brisbane Cup, which will be run on Stradbroke Day. Le Don De Vie bolted in to win the Warrnambool Cup last start, beating subsequent Flemington winner Heart Of Puissance by 2.5 lengths. From barrier six, Mark Zahra is going to take this gelding to the front, and without too much pressure, we expect him to dictate terms and be too strong again. The son of Leroidesaminaux has some pretty solid form since coming to Australia, so hopefully he can add a Premier’s Cup to his repertoire.
Selections: 2-7-5-6
Race 6 – Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m)
The two-year-olds will have their final lead-up into the Group 1 JJ Atkins when they contest the $1,000,000 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes on Saturday. Gleneagles bombed the start first-up at Hawkesbury but was still too good for the likes of Overpass, who has gone on a winning streak of three straight races since. The David Payne-trained colt went around at Hawkesbury in his next start in the Clarendon Stakes and was too good for Hoover Lucy, who has since finished second in the Carter Stakes at Doomben. With plenty of speed on here, Jason Collett will get Gleneagles into a lovely spot from barrier four as the horse chases his third straight win.
Selections: 5-3-8-10
Race 7 – Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m)
The first of our Group 1 races is the Queensland Derby, and what a race it is shaping up to be. Can Explosive Jack win a historical fourth derby in the one season and give John Allen his second consecutive Queensland Derby? Can one of Chris Waller’s six runners get the job done? Or will a local spoil the party? Kukeracha is one horse who has been trending upward, and with the booking of James McDonald, his chances have nearly doubled. The son of Night Of Thunder finished third in the Queensland Guineas and then backed that up with a luckless runner-up performance in the Rough Habit Plate last time. From barrier two, he should get a lovely run into it. Explosive Jack cannot be dismissed, while the likes of Horrifying and Let’s Karaka Deel will definitely see out the trip.
Selections: 3-1-8-2
Race 8 – Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m)
The Kingsford Smith Cup (aka BTC Cup) has attracted a field of 16 runners, including South Australian powerhouses Gytrash and Savatoxl. James Cummings has three runners in the royal blue of Godolphin, while local trainer Tony Gollan also has a three-pronged attack. Niccanova won the Group 2 Victory Stakes first-up at Eagle Farm and stays at weight-for-age level here, so we could not believe when he went up as a $15 chance. The son of Nicconi has placed in the Stradbroke and now gets his chance to win his maiden Group 1. Drawn wide in barrier 11, James Orman will get back and have the seven-year-old charging home late. Victorem trialled nicely at Deagon in the lead up to this, while Savatoxl and Savatiano can run out a strong 1300m on the speed.
Selections: 8-6-3-13
Race 9 – Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m)
The final race on Derby Day is for the fillies and mares over 1200m. Intrepidacious was only just beaten last time out in the Bright Shadow Stakes by Outback Barbie, and in a race that shapes similarly to that, we are confident that Tim Clark can pinch it on the John O’Shea-trained mare. Drawn in barrier four, she can go forward and be too good for them. Wonderful Riri is a consistent mare who will be in the finish, while Splendoronthegrass can fire fresh at big odds.
Selections: 9-13-12-3
Eagle Farm quaddie tips for QLD Derby Day
| Eagle Farm quadrella selections | |
|---|---|
| Leg 1: | 1-3-5-8-10 |
| Leg 2: | 1-2-3-6-8-9 |
| Leg 3: | 1-2-3-6-7-8-10-13 |
| Leg 4: | 3-9-12-13 |
| Investment | $960 for 100% |