Queensland Oaks Day betting preview & top tips | Eagle Farm
| What | Queensland Oaks Day |
| Where | Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007 |
| When | Saturday, June 5, 2021 |
| First Race | 11:29am AEST |
| Feature Race | Race 8 – 2021 Queensland Oaks |
| Watch Live | |
HorseBetting’s Queensland form analyst, Nick Lloyd, has previewed all nine races at Eagle Farm on Saturday for Queensland Oaks Day and brings you his best bets for the day as well as his top four selections for every event on the card. The track is rated a Good 4 and the rail is out 2m for the entire course, which should see the track play quite evenly all afternoon. The first race is set to jump at 11:29am AEST, with the Group 1 Queensland Oaks scheduled to go at 3:53pm.
Race 1 – TAB VENUE MODE BENCHMARK 80 Handicap (1810m)
The opening race of the day is quite the lottery if you try to look around the favourite, Prince of Aragon. The John Thompson-trained gelding is looking to make it four straight wins, but he drops back in distance from 2000m to 1800m. Cellarmaid comes out of the same race but loves Eagle Farm with a win and three placings from four goes here. Southern Swing, Traduce and Incentivise are all looking to add to their picket fence as well. We think Safin is due to get into the winner’s stall, and with Baylee Nothdurft on from barrier four, he should get every chance at the $21 quote.
Selections: 6-4-7-9
Race 2 – The Phoenix (1500m)
The two-year-olds get their chance at a $125,000 race on Saturday in the second running of The Phoenix. Tutukaka has had just the two career starts for two runner-up performances, including a second to Tiger Heart in his Australian debut last start. The Tony Pike-trained half brother to Melody Belle was the first horse beaten over 1400m after stalking the talented Tiger Heart, but after looking like finishing closer to last than first, he kicked on gamely to close well late. The 1500m trip should suit, and with Michael Cahill on board from barrier eight, the son of Tavistock is going to get a great run outside the leader.
Selections: 5-9-1-11
Race 3 – QTIS Gold Jewel (1300m)
Best value bet at Eagle Farm
A field of 10 interesting runners do battle in the third; we say ‘interesting’ because there are eight runners in single figures, yet only two horses have won a race in the past two months. One of those runners is Red Bloom, who comes off a three-length victory at Ipswich in good style a fortnight ago. Drawn in barrier six with Rachel King aboard, this four-year-old mare is going to get a terrific run in transit on the back of a hot tempo and comes into the race in winning form, which is more than anything else in the field. On their day, any of these runners can win, but Red Bloom is the one we want to be with on Saturday.
Race 4 – Listed Lightning Handicap (1000m)
Blink and you’ll miss it. The fourth race of the day sees the open sprinters go toe-to-toe over the 1000m, and it presents a terrific betting opportunity. Boomtown Lass is a bulletproof mare who goes well at Eagle Farm and gets in with only 54.5kg with Glen Boss aboard. The five-year-old has drawn the carpark in this, but her early speed should see her up on the lead and able to control terms. Hail Manhattan jumped out brilliantly last week at Doomben but might find the 1000m too sharp first-up.
Selections: 5-6-1-7
Race 5 – Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m)
The 2021 Moreton Cup is the only other Group race on the program on Saturday outside of the Queensland Oaks, and while the prizemoney is only $200,000, the 1200m sprint offers ballot exemption into next week’s Stradbroke Handicap. Varda was ultra-impressive when winning the Chief De Beers Quality two weeks ago over 1110m at Doomben with 54kg and now drops half a kilogram into this. Kerrin McEvoy stays aboard, and from barrier two this four-year-old mare should get every chance to win again.
Selections: 8-1-6-4
Race 6 – Listed Spear Chief Handicap (1500m)
Best bet at Eagle Farm
We’re hoping this is an easy watch for favourite backers. Anthony & Sam Freedman saddle up their consistent four-year-old gelding Groundswell in the Listed Spear Chief Handicap, and from barrier nine with Nash Rawiller aboard he should be able to simply jump, lead and win. The son of Fastnet Rock was a Listed winner at Morphettville over 1400m two starts back, and after being a touch disappointing over the 1350m at Group 3 level at Doomben a fortnight ago, he should relish stepping back out to the 1500m and down in class to Listed level. Goldifox and East Asia can finish off strongly too.
Race 7 – Magic Millions National Classic (1600m)
Next best bet at Eagle Farm
We see it happen time and time again – a mare dropping from Open grade back to Fillies & Mares company – and on Saturday that is the case for Wendy Roche’s Nettoyer as she competes in the 2021 Magic Millions National Classic (formerly known as the Sapphire Stakes). The seven-year-old is a dual Group 1 winner with blowout victories in both the Doncaster Mile and the Queen of the Turf Stakes, where she beat an Epsom Handicap winner in Probabeel. The daughter of Sebring was good when fourth behind Zaaki in the Doomben Cup two weeks ago and now drops back to race the mares at weight-for-age level over her pet distance, 1600m. James McDonald is a jockey in form at the minute, and from barrier four Nettoyer should get a dream run just off the pace. The $6 is overs.
Race 8 – Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m)
The sole Group 1 race on Saturday’s Eagle Farm card is the Queensland Oaks for three-year-old fillies over 2200m. The race favourite, Bargain, had the perfect Oaks trial when second in The Roses on May 22nd over 2000m and should be extremely appreciative of the rise in trip and the big straight at Eagle Farm. Josh Parr knows the Ocean Park filly well, and from barrier four she is going to land in a great spot. Duais beat home Bargain in the Australian Oaks seven weeks ago but is a while between runs and has to overcome the wide barrier. Good Soize and Splendiferous can add value to the exotics, while we believe Charms Star is the best of Chris Waller’s six runners.
Selections: 3-1-7-8
Race 9 – Listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m)
A quality field is set to go around in the final race of the day, with 11 three-year-olds engaged over 1200m in the 2021 Queensland Day Stakes. Desleigh Forster’s stable is flying of late, as is her filly Georgie’s Pride. The daughter of Better Than Ready has now won five of her last six starts, all of which have been at Eagle Farm – very much a ‘horses for courses’ type of surface lately. Jim Byrne has an exceptional record on the three-year-old and will have to produce a good steer from barrier 13, but if she can find the front and stride out like she so often does, Georgie’s Pride is going to take a power of beating.
Selections: 12-3-1-11
Eagle Farm quaddie tips for Queensland Oaks Day
| Eagle Farm quadrella selections | |
|---|---|
| Leg 1: | 1-9-11 |
| Leg 2: | 1-3-5-7 |
| Leg 3: | 1-2-3-6-7-8-11 |
| Leg 4: | 2-12 |
| Investment | $168 for 100% |