Saturday’s Tattersall’s Tiara marks the last Group 1 of the racing season, and what a race it promises to be.
Cosmic Endeavour is out to become the fourth three-year-old in the last five years to claim the 1400m weight-for-age feature but there are plenty of classy mares standing in her way.
Last year’s winner Red Tracer is out to bounce back from a below-par showing in the Stradbroke Handicap while ultra-consistent stablemate Catkins is eyeing off a maiden Group 1 win.
Steps In Time resumes and will take plenty of catching as per normal while Avoid Lightning looks well in the mix for the Les Bridge stable.
There’s plenty of value in the race, particularly the $14 available about Avoid Lightning, although I’m looking elsewhere on the Eagle Farm card today.
Earlier on in the day, Scone trainer Paul Messara looks set for a breakthrough win with talented juvenile colt Limehills lining up in the Breakfast Creek Hotel Stakes (1400m).
He resumed for his second career start in the Listed Hampden Stakes (1200m) here two weeks back, settling towards the back and winding up late on to miss by less than a length.
Pinch River ran fifth in that race and came out last weekend to win at Ipswich, giving the form a healthy boost.
Gai Waterhouse’s Bayrock is taking plenty of market share as is usually the case with this stable, and she comes into this off a narrow miss at Randwick two weeks ago in the wet.
I don’t quite think that form is as strong as the Hampden Stakes, and I’m more than willing to have a crack at the $2.90 about Limehills today.
The next race on the card, a Benchmark 85 Handicap (1400m), has thrown up a nice price about Spurs And Sashes who is chasing a fourth-straight win.
She’s currently priced at $5.50, despite carrying just half a kilogram more than her impressive last-start win in similar at Gold Coast three weeks ago.
Spurs And Sashes has improved with each run during her impressive winning sequence, and links up with Tommy Berry today which is a major boost.
She’s drawn inside, and should be well suited to the spacious Eagle Farm track.
After Baron will be tough to beat as always while Escoffier also comes into this off a win at Gold Coast, but Spurs And Sashes looks the one to beat with the light weight.
Help yourself to a bit of the $5.50 while it’s still available.
Earlier on in the day, Agitate has come up favourite in the Hardy Brothers Jewellers Handicap (1200m) and I’m pretty keen to take him on again.
He’s currently a $3.80 chance but that’s far too short given his big weight, and the fact he’s failed to run out the 1200m in his last two starts.
He’s one of the quickest horses in Queensland and should be well clear at some point in the straight, but a couple of these are fully capable of running him down.
Palmera Lad was only beaten 1.4L in the Queensland Guineas three weeks back and that form out of that race has been very strong.
He’s back in trip which may not suit, but he’ll benefit from the hot tempo and should be flying late.
Architect has threatened in his last couple and looks ready to win now while Smoke Hazard ran down Agitate at Gold Coast 12 days ago and can beat him home again today.
I’m happy enough working around the Kelly Schweida speedster again in this.
BANKER: Race 3 No 2 Limehills @ $2.90
BET OF THE DAY: Race 4 No 11 Spurs And Sashes @ $5.50
LAY OF THE DAY: Race 2 No 1 Agitate @ $3.80
