The $175,000 Listed City Of Ipswich Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) shapes up as a very competitive feature at Ipswich on Saturday.
Nite Rocker was very good behind Charlie Boy in the Group 3 BRC Sprint at Doomben two starts back before having no luck when back in trip at the same course last start.
The Lloyd Kennewell-trained runner travelled wide the entire race on that occasion and faded in the straight in what was a definite forgive run.
The Adelaide based runner has a solid career record and looks to have a bit more upside than a few of these, having only stepped out for 14 career outings.
Going back up to 1350m will suit and from the good draw he could find himself in the lead today with not much speed engaged.
Rick McMahon goes back on board and on his effort two starts back, Nite Rocker rates well clear on weight adjusted Timeform ratings.
Looks a fairly competitive affair but if Nite Rocker can find anything near his best form he should be hard to beat in this.
Trainer Wez Hunter has elected to back Smokin’ Joey up off a solid effort in the Group 1 Stradbroke (1350m) behind Srikandi last start.
Made decent ground in the straight on that occasion after getting back and third up is open to improvement on that effort.
The only Group 1 winner in the field and best form previously has come over the 1350m trip.
With Damian Browne going on board first time, would expect him to get back in the run and with not much speed engaged may struggle if he gets too far back.
Has to give theses a bit of weight but has shown enough to suggest he can fight out the finish in this company.
Gundy Spirit for the Tony Gollan stable is another who is coming off a poor last start run but has produced solid form this campaign in tougher company.
Also comes out of the BRC Sprint two starts back when hitting the line strongly for fourth and was not beaten far in the Listed Prime Ministers Cup at the Gold Coast.
Struggled to make ground behind Strawberry Boy in the Lord Mayor’s Cup at Doomben last time out but the drop back to 1350m will certainly suit here.
Career record at the trip is strong having won four of 10, placing on a further three occasions and on best form rates well against these with only 54kg to carry.
Tim Bell, who has a good record on the four-year-old gelding remains on board and would expect him to get back again from barrier 11 and run on strongly.
Ulmann ran a very good race behind Winx in the Sunshine Coast Guineas last start and that form stacks up well here.
Winx went on to win the Queensland Oaks by a big margin and the Peter Moody stable must be respected when bringing one north.
Drop back in trip off a freshen up should not pose any issues and he looks a very big danger in this company.
Riva De Lago resumed in good order with a listed win at Sunshine Coast last start and has since had a four week freshen up.
Jim Byrne and Robert Heathcote combine with Byrne going on board for the first time.
Riva De Lago possesses a good record at the trip and previously has run well when second up.
Form last time in was consistent against similar opposition to this and if he runs up to what he produced when resuming at Sunshine Coast last start he should be around the mark.
At the big odds of $150-1 Neo finished down the track in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 at Doomben last start in a race that was a bit above his ability.
Won in Listed company prior to that at the Gold Coast before a midfield finish at Doomben over the mile, injured during the race.
Hard to know what impact that injury had in the Doomben 10,000 but on his best is worth an each way ticket and can make his way into the finish with some luck.
Pillar Of Creation has been around the mark in similar company his last two, running on well to finish third behind Riva De Lago last time out.
Meets him better at the weights here and despite not having won in almost a year, his form stacks up pretty good in this and from barrier 2 will get a nice run off the pace.
Daph ‘N’ Alf the best of the rest on the back of a first up win at Mackay but will have to show significant improvement on that run to feature here.
Good Luck!
