Caloundra track grey area for Megablast
When you’re racing for A$200,000 total stake the place money is still top class and that’s all New Zealand’s Megablast might be running for in tomorrow’s P.J. O’Shea Stakes in Queensland.
The talented grey made a reasonably good Australian debut when sixth at Doomben’s Chairman’s on May 12 on a track a bit better in condition than he prefers. He strikes a much wetter this time with the day’s racing being — mercifully — transferred from Doomben to the Sunshine Coast track at Caloundra.
Fine weather is predicted for the area for today and tomorrow, but the track has already had a soaking and was yesterday rated at a heavy 10. That is sure to improve, but it’s doubtful it can get back to anything like firmish.
That is going to suit the Chris Waller-trained Egg Tart perfectly. It took a while for the mare to race herself into form this preparation, but her close second to stablemate Comin’ Through in the Doomben Cup showed she has got there and then some. The Doomben Cup effort was right up to Australian group one form and that puts Egg Tart up and beyond the opposition this time.
Additionally, Egg Tart loves a track affected by rain. The Doomben Cup footing was firm and she has won all three of her starts on the heavy.
There is no mystery why the Australian TAB has listed Egg Tart at $1.60 with Tradesman ($6) the only other runner quoted above double figures. Megablast is at $12.
If Egg Tart gets the dollars, as expected, it will still have a New Zealand flavour.
Waller flew Leith Innes across to ride the classy mare in the Doomben Cup and Innes retains the ride this time.
Kaharau is a great old toiler with 10 New Zealand wins, but at weightfor-age at this level he looks outclassed.
His stablemate, the dashing Prom Queen is a much better chance in Race 1, a 1000m sprint for 3-year-olds. She finished second in her Australian debut at Doomben and gets a 3kg allowance this time from her 60kg topweight.
With no northern race meeting tomorrow, the focus will be at Wanganui where the $50,000 J Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes and $50,000 AG Challenge Stakes take centre stage.
It took Qiji Express a couple of starts to quit maidens among the juveniles, but he was stiff on at least one occasion and his clear-cut Hastings victory last start entitles him to take favouritism this time.
Wekaforce left the opposition behind in winning by a margin at Ruakaka on debut. That was on decent footing, which won’t be the case here, but the ability is there.
One who will handle thee conditions is the Lisa Latta-prepared Secret Allure, who has drawn close in.