WINNO'S WINNERS: EAGLE FARM, QLD OAKS DAY

By Darren Winningham | Thursday, June 4, 2026

EAGLE FARM races this week with nine races scheduled for decision featuring the Group 1 SKY RACING QUEENSLAND OAKS on a track that is rated as ‘Soft’ with the rail out 2m for the entire circuit.

The other thing is that it is QLD Day! Happy Birthday QLD – enjoy the wonderful sports extravaganza that is on over the entire weekend.

NB: As these selections were made prior to race-day, please check for any changes to track conditions and for any scratchings on the day.

Race 1

A BM90 race over 1800 metres to start us off.

Selections:

13 – Express Payment
14 – Diamond Epic
17 – Cavalry Man
11 – Kaluakoi
Rough chances – (4) Rotagilla & (9) Galano

Race 2

A BM85 race over 1200 metres.

Selections:

8 – Soothsayer
9 – Now Is The Hour
10 – Verdoux
17 – Balance The Books
Rough chances – (4) Restonica & (15) Surprise Honey

Race 3 MORETON HIRE LIGHTNING – LISTED

An Open class race over 1000 metres at Listed level.

Selections:

6 – Monte Supreme
2 – Flying Destiny
9 – Zouperb
7 – Sunrise
Rough chance – (11) Tonkin

Race 4 THE SHOW A HEART – LISTED

A two-year-old race over 1500 metres – Listed level.

Selections:
8 – Mystical
11 – Saxon Spirit
9 – Shintono
6 – Glenorchy
Rough chance – (13) Voynichese

Race 5 XXXX QLD DAY STAKES – LISTED

A three-year-old race over 1200 metres at Listed level.

Selections:

5 – Miss Freelove
6 – Agarwood
11 – Sequista
13 – Shady Road
Rough chances – (10) Mercy Me & (16) Chains Of Love

Race 6 MAGIC MILLIONS NATIONAL CLASSIC – LISTED

First leg of the Quaddie. A fillies and mares race over 1600 metres.

Selections:

9 – Declichy Boulevard
2 – Pinito
1 – Churchills Choice
5 – Surfin Bird
Rough chance – (7) Hyperbolic & (14) Margots Deel

Race 7 SKY RACING SPEAR CHIEF HANDICAP – LISTED

A Listed race over 1500 metres. First leg of the Treble.

Selections:

5 – Harrys Yacht
12 – King Zephyr
4 – Sun God
18 – Cranky Harry
Rough chance – (19) Mickey’s Medal

Race 8 SEVEN QUEENSLAND OAKS – GROUP 1

The feature race is over 2200 metres at Group 1 level.

Chris Waller Racing is looking to win Group 1 winner 202 – can he succeed? His team has two genuine chances – Panova (1) and Chispa (8).

Panova (1) won the Australasian Oaks (Group 1) in South Australia last start over 2000 metres. She has had a 6 week freshen up and a recent trial – she will be ready for this mission. I just have some concern with her getting the distance of the race here. Ben Melham will pilot her with James McDonald suspended.

Chispa (8) is the stablemate. Last start a serious effort in The Roses (Group 2) at Doomben over 2000 metres. She was storming home late – the run had back me next start written all over it – she looks ideally placed here – Jamie Melham gets the chance to beat her husband home and post a Group 1 win in QLD-on-QLD day!

Fireball Miss (3) won The Roses at her last start. She let down superbly and streeted the opposition late. The run may have been accentuated as the pace was slow and they really walked throughout. Ciaron Maher trains her and Declan Bates will ride again. I really am struggling to separate my top two selections.

Paltrow Miss (4) is the stable mate with Craig Williams aboard. She was a solid third in the Australasian Oaks (Group 1) won by Panova (1). She has had a 42 day freshen up as well – but you can rest assured that the Maher team will have her cherry ripe for this effort. She has drawn terribly in barrier 22.

Grand Omaha (7) is trained by Matt Laurie and Mark Zahra will ride her. She is only lightly raced – this will be her ninth career start – a solid effort in The Roses finishing third – keep safe.

Parvenu (11) is trained by Graeme Begg – Daniel Stackhouse in the saddle. She was slow away in The Roses. She looked like she may have needed the run. They have made some gear changes here – she looks well placed.

Selections:

3 – Fireball Miss
8 – Chispa
1 – Panova
7 – Grand Omaha
Rough chances – (4) Paltrow Miss & (11) Parvenu

Race 9 LADBROKES MORETON CUP – GROUP 2

A Group 2 race over 1200 metres. The last race on a great day of racing.

Manaal (2) is a proven Group 2 performer – he meets a solid field here first up. Michael Freedman trains him – he has been trained out of the Gold Coast for the past month with two excellent trials in the lead up to this race. Ben Melham has the ride. He is drawn well and the speed map suggests that he will be in the first seven in the running. He has a heap of gear changes – so he must have trialled well with them – I like him to finish off the day.

If there is to be an upset here, keep your eye on the Hayes trained Oak Hill (1) with Daniel Stackhouse to ride. He was desperately unlucky in the BRC Sprint (Group 3). Was held up in the straight at a vital stage – with the wider open track at Eagle Farm look for him to be storming home late at around $31.

King Of Sparta (10) is trained by Peter Snowden. He went around in the Ortensia at Scone last time. He can be tardy from the gates and he was there – slow away and then had absolutely no luck in the straight – just running into a wall of horses in front of him, and he went to the line hard held and untested. Jason Collett will ride.

It is an open race – play wide – other chances include The Inflictor (7) and Hidden Wealth (3) trained by Tony Gollan who seems to be making it a trait by winning the last race on the program.

Selections:

2 – Manaal
1 – Oak Hill
10 – King Of Sparta
7 – The Inflictor
Rough chance – (3) Hidden Wealth
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Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)

8,9,10,17 / 2,6,9 / 8,9,11 / 5,6,11,13 - cost is $144 to $1.

Value Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)

8,9 / 2,6 / 8,11 / 5,6,11 - cost is $24 to $1

Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

1,2,5,9 / 4,5,12 / 1,3,7,8 / 1,2,7,10 - cost is $192 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

1,2,9 / 5,12 / 1,3,8 / 1,2 - cost is $36 to $1

Treble (races 7 to 9)

4,5,12 / 1,3,7,8 / 1,2,7,10 - cost is $48 to $1.

BIG 6 (race 4 to 9)

8,11/5,6/2,9/5,12/1,3,8/1,2,9 - cost is $144 to $1

Jockey Challenge

Some good jockeys in town this weekend with James McDonald on the sidelines with a suspension from Hong Kong. It is an open field - Tommy Berry, Rachel King, Jamie and Ben Melham and local jockey Cejay Graham have a solid book of rides.

I think it will between the Melham’s – just keep it in the family – a slight edge to Ben Melham – the last race could seal it for him.

WEEKEND UPDATE

I will post some late mail this weekend. Be sure to check the up to date and amended tips each Saturday morning on Facebook after any track changes and scratchings!

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