SKY RACING’S QUEENSLAND TURF EXPERT NATHAN EXELBY ANALYSES TODAY’S EAGLE FARM ACTION
RACE 6 HARRISON MENSWEAR HANDICAP
(1400M) Mister Larabee ($3) is a promising three-year-old and this trip looks like suiting now after he was dominant at the end of 1200m on his home track last start. Will enjoy a soft run off the inside. Enterprise Keren ($5.50) did a good job finishing off behind Miami Fleiss in strong figures at the Gold Coast. She’s just continued to improve this calendar year and she’s come back better than ever. Is a winner over the Eagle Farm 1400m, so just needs a touch of luck from the draw. Danezel ($4.20) was flattered by the leaders stopping and the race ended up being run in modest figures, but he did put them away impressively and has obviously come back better.
SELECTIONS: 10 Mister Larabee, 6 Enterprise Keren, 9 Danezel
RACE 7 NUDGEE COLLEGE OLD BOYS CUP
(1400M)
Really good race for this time of year. Apache Chase ($2.20) and Emerald Kingdom ($4.40) will try and control in front, while Our Playboy ($6.50) will sit out the back and hope they overdo it in front to allow him to get home. Apache Chase was terrific winning the Weetwood – easily his best career effort over 1200m. Now steps up to 1400m, where he boasts a win over Ayrton at level weights. Drawn for Jimmy Byrne to have options when Emerald Kingdom crosses and get the upper hand. Emerald Kingdom was terrific in the Stradbroke, while Our Playboy didn’t have much luck until decimating his Winx Guineas rivals. All three are up to better races than this.
SELECTIONS: 2 Apache Chase,
1 Emerald Kingdom, 3 Our Playboy
RACE 8 XXXX QUEENSLAND CUP (2406M)
No stars, but a very competitive Queensland Cup, headed by Honorable Spirit ($2.40), who has been a bit of a revelation in the past three months, just lifting the bar all the time. He was very good at Toowoomba and this is no harder. If he sees the 2400m out, he looks the likely winner. Navy Cross ($4) can be the danger. Obviously amiss the day he dropped out here, then turned it around winning at the Gold Coast and he’s trialled very well since that win. Crosses to be on speed and now he’s won a race may well go on with it. Lunasnit ($7.50) was solid at Toowoomba and has a hope on that. Top Order ($9.50) races consistently and goes well at this track.
SELECTIONS: 2 Honorable Spirit, 3 Navy Cross
RACE 9 STORY BRIDGE HOTEL HANDICAP
(1200M) Can Ingear put two good runs together? She hasn’t managed that for a long time, but Tony Gollan has given her plenty of time since the tough win here 35 days back. Still, at $2.30 against a better field, she makes no betting appeal to me. Guntantes ($6.50) is a lazy 658 days between wins and has a few convictions, but he was very good early last prep and the recent trial suggests he’s in very good shape for this. Happy to spec him here. Full Nelson ($6) has turned the corner this prep and goes in as a hope again, while Boom Spender ($7) can improve. She Za Boss ($8) is good enough, but banking on her needing a run.
SELECTIONS: 3 Guntantes,
1 Full Nelson, 8 Boom Spender