WINNO'S WINNERS: EAGLE FARM, JANUARY 21
By Darren Winningham | Friday, January 20, 2017
This week we are back at Eagle Farm with the rail out 6.0m the entire course, a forecast “Good” track and a Bureau of Meteorology (that is the weather man) posting an extreme warning for a major rain event on Saturday afternoon. Flash flooding – lots of rain and well anything else that sounds scary. With that in mind the races may not last that long at Eagle Farm, or they might at least be affected by the rain event, so I will be brief this week as I have no confidence with the varied weather reports.
A quick mention of the Jeep 2017 Magic Millions Day – it was hot, damn hot! There was some great racing, great fashions and some wonderful scenes both on and off the track. Magic Millions has now become a Carnival over a week – with so many events to attend. I was impressed!
Houtzen won the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic – declared by Winno as well! Congratulations to the Toby Edmonds stables and his team for such a wonderful training effort and a wonderful performance from the filly. Jeff Lloyd was just brilliant summing up the race and winning it, I think, in the first 200 metres when he crossed and took her to the lead.
Tye Angland rode a double on the day. He won the Magic Millions Guineas on Flying Jess at around $81. I suppose the other noteworthy mentions should go to the Greg Hickman trained Private Secretary from a last place on the turn to a barnstorming run down the outside to win. Mr Hickman assures me he has found his tie ups and his wallet that he has lost in recent weeks! The horse is part owned by Tony Bonello who invited me in to meet his family after the race – I have shared the photo this week – it is special to see families at the races!
Then one more performance that must be noted has to be the training effort of Joe Pride in getting Target In Sight back to win first up in such an impressive fashion – perfectly ridden by Brenton Avdulla.
Well they were some of my highlights – well hold on, just one more – Mr Grant Bell and Mrs Keiley Bell were at the track and it is always special to catch up with these two wonderful people!
I know, I know – there is one more highlight for me ... Michael “Muppy” ... “Hell Yea” Hellyer winning the Magic Millions Country Cup on Irish Constabulary – a great mate and wonderful talent who tries so hard in this competitive jockey ranks in South East Queensland. It was a joy to see him win a feature race and listen to the eloquent words honouring his father and his family Linda and Everly. Now I am calling him out – a challenge to go toe to toe with Winno in a special “60 seconds with Winno” – you know where and how to find me “Hell Yea”! I will not challenge him to a game of poker – I have got him covered there as well!
NB: As this form assessment was made prior to race-day, please check final fields and track conditions for any changes on the day.
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Race 1
We start off this week with a two year old race. Crusher (5) destroyed, well actually humiliated, the field in her first race start at Toowoomba. She was well supported that night and looks a stand out here. Jim Byrne was a spot unlucky last weekend at the Gold Coast – Winno had a sneaky wager on Perfect Dare at $101 and just got beaten by a nose. I think this week Jim will kick off the program with a win here. Cabeirian (2) is well bred for speed out of Snitzel and looks a danger. I note that since the markets have opened the colt has been well backed from $14 to $9. There must be some confidence from the Kelly Doughty stable. I think you should look for an improved performance from the Stuart Kendrick trained Zukaz (6) – the colt ran well against Houtzen a few weeks ago at the Gold Coast and maybe this week will be ridden a little quieter here. The Rockhampton galloper, the Tony McMahon trained Paradis Imperial (1) cannot be any more impressive with four wins from four starts – the filly comes to the big smoke this week to show her best!
Selections: 5-2-6-1
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Race 2
Citations (5) trained by Greg Hickman and to be ridden by Luke Dittman could be one to improve here after a credible performance at the Gold Coast two weeks ago. War Baby (7) has been slowly working her way back up to this distance where she has performed well – she does have a good record here at Eagle Farm as well and has Magic Millions winning hoop Jeff Lloyd aboard! Another one that I think that is looking for the 2200 metres is the Garnett Taylor trained Bold and Groovy (9) – has a rider change with Ryan Wiggins on board for the first time. Maybe a dark horse in the field. The horse that has been in consistent form is Walwa (13) and the mare comes off two recent wins here to step up to Saturday city grade – can she make the quantum leap?
Selections: 5-7-9-10, rough chance 13
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Race 3
Kahleesi (7) looks well placed here this week with the claim for apprentice Tiffani Brooker – has been racing consistently in recent weeks and trainer Bruce Brown has the mare going in fine fettle. War Jet (1) I think just didn’t appreciate the tight turning Gold Coast track last weekend when defeated in the last race by Target in Sight – despite the weight here the Joe Cleary trained gelding looks well placed too! Magic Millions winning team Toby Edmonds and Jeff Lloyd combine here with Fiery Heights. The four year old gelding does race well here and could be a chance. I have noted some serious support for Heartbreak Harry (11) the early markets opening at $16 and being smashed into $8 currently. I’m Alone (13) is trained by Troy Pascoe and I see that Scott Galloway is coming to town to ride the five year old gelding – after having ridden it for a hat trick of wins. I am sure that one of the owners Kurt Croft will be out celebrating in China Town in the Valley with a massive plate of chop suey if his horse wins!
Selections: 7-1-5-11, rough chance 13
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Race 4
I am torn between two runners here – the Liam Birchley trained Lady Jetsetter (9) to be ridden by Ryan Wiggins (she will handle the wet as well – she grows webbed feet if it rains) and the Les Ross trained Frequendly (10) to be ridden by Ronnie Stewart who has a good record here at Eagle Farm. Lady Jetsetter is $8 and Frequendly is $41 – would say have something on each of them each way! Hard Stride (1) to be ridden by Emma Ljung has been racing without luck – has drawn wide in barrier 12 but does have the three kilogram claim for Emma – she may ride him off the speed and come late here from the wide barrier. El Sasso (5) has a tongue tie on this week and is the race favourite in early markets. The gelding does have a good first up record but I am prepared to lay him this week. Executed (2) trained by Krystle Johnston is an interesting runner – second up here after being defeated on his home track last start by Sundance. Has drawn well here this week. This is the one that could knock them all off!
Selections: 9-10-1-2
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Race 5
This is the opening leg of the quadrella. It is a Class 3 race ... **sigh**! My two top selections will handle a wet track – so there is nothing to fear here if the rain comes. They are Jetsonic (5) and Drumbeat’s Choice (3). In fact I may declare Jetsonic (5) at around the $9 mark – this week has a significant gear change of a tongue tie being added by trainer Tony Gollan. Drumbeat’s Choice (3) has drawn barrier one and will get the run of the race from there with apprentice Rebecca Williams on board. There are some rough chances here – Spiral (12) trained by Stephen Lee after a stable change from John O’Shea. The other one is Tempete Rouge (16) trained by Matthew Dunn – the three year old filly is looking for a hat trick of wins here.
Selections: 5-3-1-6, rough chances 12-16
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Race 6
I like the Mick Price trained Alter Call (4) to be ridden by Jim Byrne. The danger is obviously Ringo’s A Rockstar (1) who was grand last start at the Gold Coast when ridden by Chris Parnham. Spring Tycoon (3) always races well fresh and has had a recent barrier trial – the colt maybe primed for a big first up run here. There has been some serious support for the Tony Gollan trained The Ambassadore (10) being backed from $16 to $8 since markets have opened. Where there is smoke there may be fire!
Selections: 4-1-3-10, rough chance 8-9
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Race 7
So all of my four selections here will do okay if the track is damp come race time. Well even if we are racing – maybe it will be flooded by then and all roads cut into and out of the track and I will just have to set up in the bar and watch the interstate races! L’Entrecote (3) just did not fire last start at the Gold Coast. Damian Browne gets back aboard this week – he has a tremendous record on the gelding with 3 wins and 2 placings from only six rides on him. Bodega Negra (4) soundly beat L’Entrecote last start at the Gold Coast so he must be a chance here. Watch out for one here trained by Rob Heathcote – he has been searching to get back into form – that is Lordag (6). It should be noted that the gelding has been backed from $5 to $4.40 since markets have opened. Yoho (11) for the Kelso Wood yards looks like he is back to his best distance this week – 1600m. Should be ridden in front by Tegan Harrison and I think he does run better ridden that way when dictating terms to his rivals.
Selections: 3-4-6-11
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Race 8
The last race of the program – well the one that is scheduled if we get this far! Princess Charm (19) should get a run here and was exciting winning at the Gold Coast two weeks ago. She is only a lightly raced four year old mare but I think she may go on with it here this week. Forgotten Years (6) was beaten by Princess Charm last start on the Gold Coast but there were some excuses - being drawn wide and not really getting a good run in the straight. He may progress this week. Mystic Opal (11), trained by the inform Chris Anderson, may have better luck here after not much luck last start at Doomben – she does have a good win on the board here at Eagle Farm in early December. Umgeni (12), I keep saying, should have better luck at Eagle Farm – he does have some good slow track form but has not been tested in heavy going if the rains come. Sabkhat (3) and Denarius (4) are drawn awfully in barriers 19 and 16 respectively and Paul Hammersley and Andrew Spinks will need some luck from out there.
Selections: 19-6-11-12, rough chances 3-4
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Early Quaddie (races 1 to 4 NSW TAB only)
2,5 / 5,7,9 / 1,5,7,11 / 1,9,10 - cost is $72 for $1
Quadrella (races 5 to 8)
1,3,5,12,16 / 1,3,4 / 3,4,6 / 6,9,12,19 - cost is $180 for $1
Small Quaddie (races 5 to 8)
1,3,5 / 1,4 / 3,6 / 6,19 - cost is $24 for $1
Mad Quaddie (races 5 to 8)
5 / 1,4 / 3,6 / 19 - cost is $4 for $1
Treble (races 6 to 8)
1,3,4 / 3,4,6 / 6,9,12,19 - cost is $36 for $1
Jockey Challenge
This week it is going to be a battle supreme. Damian Browne only ever takes four rides on a program and he looks to have some great chances – he probably will be a good price as well. The other two are Robbie Fradd and Jim Byrne who both have a solid book of rides this week.
Good luck and good punting.
See you all next week – I am busy building an Ark just in case these rains hit South East Queensland – do not despair I have packed my NSW and Bulldogs jerseys!
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