Eagle Farm racing form, odds and free tips, Saturday May 27
THE group one racing moves from Doomben to Eagle Farm this Saturday where the Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup is the feature race.
Formerly known as the BTC Cup, it has been won by many of Australia’s greatest thoroughbreds, including the popular Apache Cat in 2008 and unbeaten mare Black Caviar in 2011.
A field of 14 thoroughbreds will endeavour to etch their names beside the long list of past winners and bookmakers currently have multiple group one winner Black Heart Bart as the hot favourite.
There’s great racing action throughout the day at Eagle Farm with the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes co-featuring on the quality eight-race card.
Sign up with Ladbrokes.com.au for enhanced odds on every runner in the Kingford-Smith Cup and punters can currently get $4.20 for Black Heart Bart, instead of the $3.40 offered in normal markets.
Race 1 – Green Options Racing Handicap (1200m)
Burning Passion is from the James Cummings stable and it didn’t have much luck when finishing fifth fresh up. The Northern Meteor gelding ran fifth in the Hawkesbury Rush behind Feliens, but its form prior included wins at Randwick and at Rosehill. Conditions should suit nicely for this and betting indicates that it will run well.
Rare Occurrence is a winner of five from 16 starts and it has won its last two. The Stuart Kendrick-trained filly has won and placed at Eagle Farm which helps and it showed a good turn-of-foot when winning at Doomben last start. It has drawn wide which hurts, but it’s an each way chance at $10.
Londehero has yet to win from three starts this campaign, but it’s a track specialist which has won three from eight starts here. The six-year-old has been working excellently for this run and it has attracted solid each way support at $7.
Race 1 tip: Londehero to place ($2.50) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 2 – Programmed Property Services Lord Mayor’s Cup (1600m)
It’s hard to go past the form of Religify which has won three of its last four starts. The Chris Waller-trained gelding won the Prime Minister’s Cup last time out at the Gold Coast and there was plenty of class on show as it chased down Siegfried. That’s good form coming into this and seeing out the mile won’t be a concern. Current favourite at $2.60.
Duca Valentinois returned to form with a win in the Scone Cup last start and it’s a confidence runner. The Darren Beadman-trained gelding is having its first start on this track, but it’s an adaptable type which should handle the going. It opened at $5.50 and has drifted to $6, but it should be well-supported come race day.
Mystic Opal has been supported at $7 following an easy win over a subsequent winner. The locally-trained mare has won three of its four starts at Eagle Farm, but this is a massive rise in class from what it has been taking on. Watch to see if it continues to tumble in the market.
Race 2 tip: Religify to win ($2.60) at Bet365.com
Race 3 – Mitavite Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1133969_03]
Qiji Phoenix is a quality Kiwi which has been given the visitors draw. The Logan/Gibbs-trained colt has drawn barrier 23, which isn’t out of the ordinary for the Kiwi runners in Brisbane, but it has enough gate speed to show up in the early stages. The son of Not A Single Doubt is unbeaten from three starts, which includes a last start win in the Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie. There’s no doubting its talent, but the draw makes it tough to take the $7.
Fellow Kiwi Melody Belle has won three from eight starts and has won the Karaka Million and the Group 1 Sires’ Produce at Awapuni. The Te Akau-raced thoroughbreds have already staked their claim in Australia this season and there’s a fair amount of ability with this filly. The daughter of Commands will likely sit just behind the pace and although the $4.50 is a short price, it could be worth taking.
Tangled has looked the goods at its last two and you can’t rule out a Waller-trained runner. The son of Snitzel was impressive when coming from the back of the field at Doomben last start and a repeat of that form will take it close. It has been respected at $6 with bookies.
Race 3 tip: Melody Belle to win ($4.50) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 4 – Channel Seven Premier’s Cup (2200m)
The Chairman has been knocking on the door of a big win and it could come here. The Mick Price-trained gelding ran second behind race-rival Stampede in the Chairman’s last start and it could turn the tables. It will be able to find its feet in the early stages from the wide draw and Brenton Avdulla will get into his work late in the piece. Opened at $4.80 and has drifted to $5.50.
Stampede led them a merry chase last start and despite being challenged in the straight it fought them all off last start. The improving Waterhouse/Bott-trained horse has scored back-to-back wins coming into this and the rise in distance looks right up its alley. It’s by High Chaparral and we’re expecting punters to come for the $3.10 available after opening at $2.80.
Chocante ran on well enough behind Stampede last start and it should have improved with the effort. The Kiwi runners typically take one run to get acclimatised to the conditions and it should be ready to show its best. The Counties Cup winner knows how to stay and that’s a big positive for this.
Race 4 tip: Stampede to win ($3.10) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 5 – Mullins Lawyers Grand Prix Stakes (2200m)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1133969_05]
Prized Icon tried its best behind France in the Inglis Guineas, but its winning strike rate is becoming an issue for punters. The James Cummings-trained colt has won three of its 19 starts and it has been facing top notch company and it should find this slightly easier. It will land in a good spot during the run and be tough to beat at $3.70.
Shocking Luck showed its real class when scoring a 2.8-length win at Doomben last start. The Autridge/Richards-trained Kiwi couldn’t have been more impressive in the Rough Habit Plate and there’s no reason why the son of Shocking couldn’t win again. Opie Bosson rides from a good barrier and it has firmed in from $3.40 to $3.
Order Again was no match for Shocking Luck last start, but it should improve with the fitness. The Brian Smith-trained gelding hasn’t finished out of the money in three starts at Eagle Farm and it’s bred to see out the distance, being by Iffraaj and New Zealand mare Glass Half Full. Not without a chance at $6.
Race 5 tip: Shocking Luck to win ($3) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 6 – Glenlogan Park Stakes (1300m)
Egyptian Symbol opened up at $6.50 and has drifted to $7, but it remains a popular pick. The Bjorn Baker-trained mare goes in and out of form, but it finished fifth behind Secret Agenda in the Sangster and group one form is good at this level. It won at Wyong four starts back and despite having never run here, Eagle Farm should suit nicely with the big straight.
Raiment is the form runner having won three of its last four starts. The Beadman-trained filly scored an impressive 4.5-length win at Randwick in the James Carr Stakes and it has adapted to the winter conditions well. Drawing barrier 15 at this time of the day might not be the worst outcome and bookmakers have it short at $3.20.
Eckstein resumed with a solid run for fourth at Scone and the drop in weight brings it right into contention. The Kurt Goldman-trained filly finished third in the Magic Millions Guineas which came after three consecutive wins. There’s no denying its ability, but this isn’t an easy field and we’d want more than the $7.50 on offer.
Race 6 tip: Raiment to win ($3.20) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 7 – Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1133969_07]
Black Heart Bart didn’t quite show its best in The Goodwood, but it will be better for the run and the extra distance. The Weir-trained champion is a 16-time winner, but it has yet to show any form on rain-affected ground. That has forced bookmakers to move its opening odds of $3.30 to $3.40 and we expect those odds to continue to drift.
Derryn has been labelled as Lindsay Park’s top Brisbane winter hope and there was plenty to like last start. The three-year-old flashed home behind Redzel in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 which followed its win in the Arrowfield at Randwick. That form is tops for this and punters will be enjoying the $7 on offer considering it has two wins on rain-affected tracks.
Clearly Innocent extended its unbeaten run at Scone last start, but this is harder and it isn’t Scone. The Kris Lees-trained gelding flew home to beat Snoopy in the Luskin Star, but there wasn’t much to like about its form prior and we’re prepared to risk it at the odds of $7.50.
Race 7 tip: Derryn to win ($8) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 8 – Sky Racing Fred Best Classic (1400m)
Good Standing is the loose favourite at $6 following its win at Doomben last start. The Cummings-trained colt was dominant in victory, but it should find the opposition a little harder to handle here. Drawing barrier 18 has made it even harder, but don’t discount its class.
Kiwi runner Heroic Valour was only narrowly beaten by a nice type at the Gold Coast and with form around Start Wondering, it shouldn’t find this too tough. The Te Akau-raced colt finished third in the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton and NZ staying form has been superior this season. Must be respected at $6.50 after opening at $5.50.
Tessera flashed home in the Gold Coast Guineas and put the writing on the wall for this. The Beadman-trained gelding didn’t have the best of luck in the straight, but it picked up late and it could add some value at $8.
Race 8 tip: Heroic Valour to win ($6.50) at Bet365.com