The Q22 betting tips & strategy | Eagle Farm Cup | June 12, 2021
| What | 2021 Eagle Farm Cup |
| Where | Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007 |
| When | Saturday, June 12, 2021 | 1:53pm AEST | Race 5 |
| Prizemoney | $1,200,000 |
| Distance | 2200m |
| Status | Group 2 |
| Race Conditions | Standard Weight For Age | Three-Year-Olds & Upwards |
| 2019 Winner | Kenedna (3) | Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Jockey: John Allen (57kg) |
| Watch Live | |
HorseBetting’s Queensland form analyst previews the inaugural running of the Q22 at Eagle Farm this Saturday. The $1,200,000 event over 2200m has attracted a strong field of 16, headed by Doomben Cup winner and Cox Plate favourite Zaaki ($1.50). Toffee Tongue ($11) is the only other runner worth noting according to the market after her runner-up effort to Zaaki last time out. Le Don De Vie, Brandenburg, Homesman and Spirit Ridge are likely to lead, while Zaaki should get the perfect drop on the leaders again.
The Q22 betting preview
A quick Google search will tell you that bank interest is about 2%, which makes the $1.50 available with the top bookmakers for Zaaki all the more appealing. The six-year-old import stamped himself as a horse to follow when he flashed home in the Doncaster Mile in his Australian debut, but he then left punters confused when beaten by Paths Of Glory at his next start. However, with what we have seen from this Annabel Neasham-trained gelding since, you’d swear Winx was out of retirement. A win in a quality Group 2 AD Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast by 2.25 lengths was then backed up by one of the most brilliant Group 1 victories you will see anywhere on the planet – a seven-length romping in the Doomben Cup in what was a sit-and-steer job for James McDonald. This looks an easier race on paper, while Neasham is confident the horse goes better on dryer tracks. We are extremely happy to play at the short odds.
Warning was a nice winner of the JRA Plate at Doomben four weeks ago, and while the strong finish was pleasing to see, it did come on his favoured wet track. Rising to 2200m will suit this VRC Derby winner, as will the decent tempo from barrier six, but the Eagle Farm surface is of concern. The Anthony Freedman-trained four-year-old had been out of form for a long time, with his last win prior to last Saturday coming in 2019, so we have to question his honesty a little bit. He’s the pick of a bad bunch to play the exacta with.
When markets went up, we were a bit surprised to see the betting odds for Brandenburg go up at $17 and then drift shortly after. We had the Doomben Cup placegetter closer to $13 after a game run in defeat. Ridden by Regan Bayliss in the Cup, he really took the bull by the horns and made it a genuine test, which caught most runners either napping or well beaten a mile from home. Drawn in barrier 10 with Rachel King back in the saddle, the John Sargent-trained four-year-old could be ridden in a similar way this weekend, which we can only see as a positive. Brandenburg clearly stuck on well, albeit finishing 9.3 lengths off a very dominant winner, and three weeks between runs should have freshened him up nicely. He is not the worst, for sure.
Best bet for 2021 Q22
| $100 betting strategy | |
|---|---|
| $100 win | Zaaki |
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1371556_05]