New Zealand visitor Sacred Star is the early favourite for the last race on a big program at Eagle Farm this Saturday, the G2 QTC Cup. The 4yo will contest this race first up from a spell but his NZ record is strong and a recent barrier trial was enough to confirm for punters that he’ll be ready to produce fresh. In an open affair, he is $4.20, just in advance of Bennetta at $5.50 with Gerald Ryan’s in-form pair of Hot Snitzel and Dances On Stars are $8 and $11 respectively.
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1. HOT SNITZEL – T Angland (2)
Two excellent efforts first up on soft tracks, resulted in a second to Flamberge in the G3 Sebring Stakes and decisive 1 ¼ length win in the G3 Hall Mark Stakes. The 5yo gelding then stepped up to the WFA BTC Cup where he over-raced and hung in up the straight before running second to last (4.4 lengths) behind Famous Seamus. He raced more genuinely up on the pace at his next and most recent, the Doomben 10,000 but simply found the grade too strong, weakening on the turn to eighth (3.7 lengths) to Spirit Of Boom. Better suited back to this grade, drawn well and any cut out of the track would assist.
Odds: $9.00
2. BELLTONE – C Munce (12)
Winner of the G3 BRC Sprint (1350m) last season, the 8yo ran a great race first up four weeks ago, making ground from well back in the field to run fourth (1 ¾ lengths) in the Listed Prime Minister Handicap (1300m) behind Dances On Stars. Has won two second up and hasn’t missed a place from five runs. A touch of luck from an awkward draw will see him figure in the finish.
Odds: $26.00
3. DANCES ON STARS – B Avdulla (3)
4yo stable-mate to Hot Snitzel, Dances On Stars has been in very solid form this time in and was rewarded for his consistency with a length victory in the Listed Prime Minister’s Handicap (1300m) two starts back. He was then caught a little wide in last fortnight’s BRC Sprint but chased River Lad and Benny’s Buttons, who both controlled the race from on pace, valiantly and finished fourth (3.4 lengths). Can’t be dismissed on current form.
Odds: $11.00
4. ALMA’S FURY – J Byrne (6)
The 6yo gelding tackles this race first up from a twelve week spell and he can produce a run fresh as indicated by his G2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) win when off a eight week break and his sixth (3.1 lengths) in the G2 The Shorts in 2012. Will be having his first start for the in-form Gollan Stable and from gate six, should be able to tag the speed and is capable of producing a bold run.
Odds: $12.00
5. SACRED STAR – T Bell (4)
He rounded out his last campaign by finishing third in the G1 Thorndon Mile and second in the G1 NRM Sprint (1400m) which was a WFA event, meaning he was assigned a hefty 59kgs. Has been tuned up with a winning barrier trial two and half weeks ago and will be steaming home late. Plenty to like about his chances.
Odds: $4.20
6. STEEL ZIP – (11)
A regular competitor in races such as this and whilst competitive more often then not, he doesn’t win many of them. He flashed home to run third (1/2 length) in the Toowoomba Weetwood before being ridden closer to the speed in both the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup and G3 BRC Sprint, where he finished tenth (5.5 lengths) and fifth (4.2 lengths) respectively. Will get back from gate eleven and his last start on this track, which he performs well on as a rule, saw him run a head third to subsequent G1 winner Tiger Tees.
Odds: $26.00
7. BENNETTA – (5)
4yo General Nediym mare returned with a promising third behind Flamberge and Hot Snitzel in the G3 Sebring Stakes (1200m) before finding the class of the G1 All Aged Stakes a touch too rich, finishing sixth of eight (4.6 lengths) behind Hana’s Goal. Carried 57kgs in the All Aged and drops to 53kgs here where, the good draw and likelihood of a better track should see her produce her best – which has been good enough to match the likes of Sharnee Rose and Red Tracer in the past.
Odds: $5.50
8. LUCKY HUSSLER – J Taylor (8)
Was the target of plenty of support first up in last fortnight’s BRC Sprint where he started the 15/4 favourite. The 4yo by Husson settled in a good spot form a handy draw but it was evident a long way out from home that he was struggling. He struggled in the straight and finished eleventh (6 ¾ lengths) behind River Lad. That was the fourth time in succession that as favourite, he has let punters down and happy to see him bounce back to form after last week rather than backing him to do so.
Odds: $17.00
9. DOUBTFILLY – (1)
Ran a great race first up in the Listed Bribie Handicap where from the tail of the field, the 4yo Not A Single Doubt filly finished strongly out wide to run third (1.5 lengths) behind Pure Purrfection and Metallurgical – both of who raced without much luck last week in the Listed Chief De Beers. Takes on a stronger field here and gets back in the run so will need some luck from gate one. These two factors combined should restrict her to a place chance at best.
Odds: $13.00
10. PHELAN READY – (13)
Still searching for that elusive third career win more than five years since his registered his second! He’ll tackle this race first up from a sixteen week spell with the aid of a five length winning barrier trial on the Sunshine Coast under his belt. Will get back and be steaming home.
Odds: $17.00
11. BLACK CASH – (10)
Kicked off last campaign by winning three of four and was then stepped up by his Gold Coast trainer Kelly Doughty, to some Listed sprint races. The best of those efforts was a third (1.2 lengths) behind Someday in the Listed Brisbane Hcp (1600m) last December. Drew the second to widest gate in a field of sixteen when returning to racing last fortnight in a BM 95 and the early effort to take up a forward position told first up, and he felt the pinch late running ninth (4.1 lengths) Will strip fitter but still yet proven at this level and this race is a competitive one.
Odds: $21.00
12. MASTHEAD – G Boss (8)
Returned from several season in Singapore with a very good third (1.2 lengths) behind Hurrara at Hawkesbury and then finished fourth to Mighty Lucky in the Listed Luskin Star at Scone a fortnight ago. Only beaten ¾ length last start but had his chance that, if he was going to win, he would’ve. Still only one win from his last twenty-one starts but has registered nine placings during that time. Might get a little gun-shy close to the line and in a race of this depth, he can’t afford to.
Odds: $12.00
13. MISHANI STEALTH – (9)
Couldn’t done anymore than what he did when second in a BM 95 (1200m) a fortnight ago, his first run in over a year. Fitter for that run but this is a significant step up in grade and only assigned a 1kg less than his comeback run.
Odds: $13.00
14. ARCHITECT – A Spinks (14)
Been racing since December last year and has posted two wins from fourteen starts during that time. He has hit the line in good style at his last two runs, finishing third (1.4 length) to Agitate in the Listed Mick Dittman Stakes and last week, fourth (1 length) to Eastern Prince in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes. Can flash home but needs it all to pan out for him to win.
Odds: $51.00
RACE OVERVIEW
A very competitive way to finish a good day’s racing. Bennetta should get all the required conditions needed to produce her best here. A dry track, nice weight and a solid tempo up front will all be in her favour. New Zealand runner Sacred Star should be treated with the utmost respect. A repeat of his recent NZ runs will see him prove hard to hold out and the recent trial suggests he is wound up. Steel Zip could get thrown in for some value here. He has been ridden to close to the speed at his previous two starts and his form from earlier in the year, reads well from this. Ryan’s pair of Hot Snitzel and Dances On Stars round out selections.
- BENNETTA
- SACRED STAR
- HOT SNITZEL
- STEEL ZIP
