Angel rises to far more exalted company

TRAINER Michael Nolan believes it is a make-or-break day for in-form mare Angel Dancer at Eagle Farm today.

Angel Dancer is unbeaten in her three runs for Nolan in benchmark and Class 6 races.

She makes her open company debut on Saturday in the Moet & Chandon Handicap (1400m) which includes several stakes race winners.

Nolan also hopes premier jockey Jeff Lloyd has made the wrong decision getting off Angel Dancer to ride Zin Zan Eddie in the race.

“I have made no secret of the fact I have a big opinion of Angel Dancer. She is a lovely big mare,” the Toowoomba trainer said. “But Saturday will be real test for her.

“She has been good in restricted class races but now she faces the better horses.

“If she measures up we might start talking about going to Sydney for some carnival fillies and mares races but until she does it on Saturday that is all in the future.”

Brisbane trainer Rob Heathcote told owners he has no idea what to expect from his big team of runners today.

The multiple premiershipwinning trainer is usually frank in assessing his horses but with the way Eagle Farm has been in its first two months since returning, he has no confidence in how his runners will perform.

“On paper it looks like I’m taking a strong team to the races but how would you know how they will handle this track?” Heathcote said.

“It’s a mystery. It’s disappointing the way the track has raced and I just hope it comes good in the next few months so we can have consistency.’’

Oberland is the most fancied of Heathcote’s 10 Eagle Farm acceptors and the trainer feels he should be unbeaten this time in.

“Hopefully Sairyn (Fawke) can have him two off the fence in the run and then just bring him to the outside,” he said.

Kelly Doughty’s Flamboyer is on trial for a start in Newcastle’s Cameron Handicap when he runs in the Chairman’s Club Handicap.

He will be ridden by apprentice Matt McGillivray, who intends to take Saturday rides in Brisbane during Sydney’s spring carnival.