THE QUADDIE

RACE 5

— MAIDEN (1400m)

Empire Games put in a solid effort on debut when second in a 1200m Sunshine Coast Maiden and gets his chance to break through for his initial win here with Daniel Griffin booked to ride. Holly Run has finished second at his two race starts at the Sunshine Coast and can also figure in the mix and will get a nice run from an inside gate. The Chris Waller-trained Royal

Fighter is facing the starter for the first time and has had three barrier trials in preparation. Real Appeal showed plenty of improvement at his second race start with a second in a 1350m Doomben Maiden.

SELECTIONS:

3 Empire Games, 4 Holly Run, 7 Royal Fighter, 11 Real Appeal

RACE 6

— BM65 HCP (1400m)

Catalina Miss ran on from the back for a much-improved second in a 1350m Doomben Benchmark 65 Handicap and gets her chance to go one better on her home track. One More Cast is fitter for one run from a spell, has won second-up in the past and look for improvement. Bucephalus will appreciate a slight drop in weight but is up in class following a fifth in a 1200m BenchMark 62 Handicap at the Gold Coast. Burbank ran a handy first-up third in a Doomben BenchMark 70 Handicap and will find this easier than his last start eighth in a 1350m Doomben Class 6.

SELECTIONS:

7 Catalina Miss, 8 One More Cast, 5 Bucephalus, 3 Burbank

RACE 7

— CLASS 1 (1200m)

Gandiva scored a 1200m Maiden win two starts back at Murwillumbah before finishing sixth in a 1200m Doomben Class 1. Glen Colless should give the filly the run of the race from the inside gate. Deep Echo was a Ballina Maiden winner two runs back then finished just behind the placegetters when fourth in a 1200m Murwillumbah Class 2 and will strip better for the run. Canusee drew wide last start when out of the money in a Doomben Class 1 but will get a better run from gate two with Daniel Griffin in the saddle. Katy Boom has won a Coast trial in preparation for her return.

SELECTIONS:

13 Gandiva, 11 Deep Echo, 2 Canusee, 6 Katy Boom

RACE 8

— CLASS 1 (1200m)

Sugar Zone is fitter for one run back from a spell when fifth in a 1000m Sunshine Coast Class 1 on a heavy track and will strip fitter here. Dixon Bay broke through for his Maiden win at double-figure odds last start at Doomben over 1050m and has Luke Dittman on top back on his home track. Cinco Star was runner-up twice at Murwillumbah before finishing 11th in a 1200m Doomben Class 1 but expect a better effort with the blinkers going on for the first time today.

Tierra Del Fuego was given a freshen up after winning a 1200m Lismore Maiden in November.

SELECTIONS:

12 Sugar Zone, 9 Dixon Bay, 8 Cinco Star, 6 Tierra Del Fuego