WINNO'S WINNERS: EAGLE FARM, FEBRUARY 4
By Darren Winningham | Friday, February 3, 2017
Eagle Farm this week! The rail is out 8 metres for the entire course. The track is rated Good. The sun is out. The skies look clear and it would appear the weather man is saying it will be HOT … Damn HOT!
Well this week – a few stories around – the retirement of champion jockey Darren Gauci in Melbourne and then there was the announcement of a $10 Million ‘but in’ race over 1200m at Randwick. An interesting concept!
NB: As this form assessment was made prior to race-day, please check final fields and track conditions for any changes on the day.
Race 1
Watch out, it is one of these stayers’ races to start us off this week! Look, I have no confidence in the race – I am going to go wide here and tip Explosive One (10) currently around the $51 mark in the early markets. I thought the run at the Gold Coast was good behind Rocknet and I think the horse will be suited over the longer distance and bigger track. Josh Oliver is riding well and maybe the mare can produce something this weekend. I also like Scarlet Poet (11) who was impressive over a similar distance last start at Doomben.
Charles The Third (12) came from well back here last start and finished behind the winner Morendi (3) who is up in weight this week. I see that Beau Appo has been given the call up to ride the four year old gelding this week. Beau has been in tremendous form of late in Toowoomba and did ride this horse three starts ago to victory at Toowoomba.
I know I have gone wide here but I just think that because these races are so unpredictable I would go for some value. The three horses in the market are Morendi (3), currently at $4.40, Courts Star (2) at $7 and Walwa (9) at $3.80. They all command some respect so don’t let me turn you off backing one of them if you like them.
Selections: 10-11-12-9 rough chances 2 and 3.
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Race 2
This is the two year old race for the day. On exposed form Ten Foot Tall (9) looks like she could be the one to improve off her first up run. She was only beaten 3.7 lengths when resuming. Three first starters have caught my eye ... Citrain (5) trained by Bruce Hill with Jeff Lloyd engaged to ride, Trestrail (7) trained by Matthew Dunn, to be ridden by Jim Byrne, and Beraht (1) trained by Stuart Kendrick and to be piloted by Ryan Wiggins.
There has been some early support for Trestail (7) is being backed from $4 into $2.80 in the early markets.
Selections: 5-7-9-1.
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Race 3
Quatronic (6) comes off a three month break – last time in he showed some good form winning two out of three starts in that preparation, including a win at Rosehill. The Matthew Dunn trained gelding comes off a solid barrier trial win at the Gold Coast on 17 January 2017. Looks well placed here for this first up assignment and has been well backed into $3 currently. Vienna Queen (4) can sometimes be inconsistent in her runs but Lani Fancourt seems to have a good association with the Tony Gollan trained mare riding her for four wins. She comes off a nice win at Doomben last start and will probably race handy here this week.
I Am Boss (5) is first up here from a spell and generally races well fresh - and does have a win to his credit here at Eagle Farm. The other Tony Gollan runner is Vienna Royale (7) to be ridden by Jimmy Orman – the five year old gelding has been off the scene for around nine months but may show something here if he is forward enough.
Selections: 6-4-5-7.
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Race 4
Prompt Return (4) comes back in grade here after a good run behind Target In Sight in the Magic Millions sprint. The lethal combination of Toby Edmonds and Jeff Lloyd join forces here with this gelding. I was impressed by the victory last start of Skylimit (11) – the stallion is trained by Tony Gollan and Jimmy Orman has been assigned the ride this week. Just recently this trainer and jockey paired for a midweek victory, their first win together. I think that this relationship may flourish in years to come. This horse may test this lot here. Divine Service (10) to be ridden by Luke Tarrant comes off a solid win last start at the Sunshine Coast – the five year old gelding is down in weight here and this could assist him against this higher quality field.
I do have some interest in Guest of Honour (2) who has had a stable change from David Hayes in Victoria to the Matthew Dunn stables at Murwillumbah. The eight year old gelding must have settled in well to his new surrounds down there – recently he did come out and win a barrier trial at the Gold Coast. His best form is over longer distances, however, look for him to be flashing late here with the speed on in the race.
Selections: 4-11-10-2 rough chance 3.
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Race 5
I think this may be a match race between the Chris Anderson trained Mystic Opal (6), who won so well last start here by 3.5 lengths, and the Tony Gollan trained Princess Charm (14), who won well at the Gold Coast the week prior to Magic Millions. I am leaning towards the Gollan runner – I just thought her run at the Gold Coast was amazing and looked like she has some improvement in her. That being said, with the rail out 8 metres if they are leading and winning on Saturday, I would swing to Mystic Opal (6) as Princess Charm (14) gets back and will be flying home late!
Time to Torque (4) won well first up at Eagle Farm three weeks ago and has franked that form with another recent win at Doomben. Stable strapper and superstar Luke Milligean will probably turn up and strap the gelding. Dee Nine Elle (13) won well first up at Rosehill. Second up she has no luck at the same track so forget that run – then she stepped out at the Gold Coast on Magic Millions day and was beaten only 3.4 lengths in a blanket finish in the race won by Private Secretary. She is in here with a serious chance. I do note that my top three selections have all well supported in the early markets and have all firmed.
Selections: 14-6-13-4 rough chance 10.
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Race 6
Again this could be a race in two between Havasay (5), trained by Liam Birchley and to be ridden by Damian Browne, and the Dale and Billy Healey trained Our Story (12). Both have been well supported in the early markets since they have opened on Wednesday. I am going to lean towards Havasay here, with his recent run on the Gold Coast on Magic Millions day. He does get back though and, as with the last race, if they are not coming from behind then the task may prove too much.
The other runners that should be considered are Candika (15), trained by Steven O’Dea, and Naranja (9), trained by John P Thompson. These two will be coming from the rear of the field as this is their pattern of racing – it could be the charge of the light brigade over the final 100metres! I know that Billy Healey will be up me as well but Our Story (12) has a poor second up record – that may be a disadvantage here – but really if you are looking for an on pace runner she may be the one to be on. It is an open race. Tough field here people!
Selections: 5-15-12-9.
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Race 7
A brief welcome back to Gina Mitchell – who suffered a serious shoulder injury in July 2016 – this week she returns to the track – not in the saddle but as a strapper for Moon and the Stars (15) for her boss Harold Norman. I am sure we will see that gleaming smile when she leads the horse around in the parade ring! I like the recent form of Beatniks (5) and she probably may be best suited over the mile here this week. Do not underestimate the Kelso Wood trained Yoho (7) who will race on the speed – you can be assured of that! If they are leading this is one to be backing! L’Entrecote (2) raced without much luck last start. I think you can look for a sharp improvement here this week – Damian Browne will be keen to avenge the defeat of two weeks ago!
Selections: 5-7-2-9.
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Race 8
My North Queensland spies tell me that this one is special! Tyzone (4) makes his way to the city for his first run with an impressive record of 5 wins from 7 starts – the gelding has never been out of a place in these starts! In the early markets as much as $16 has been bet. Rich Affair has been scratched so there has been a shuffle in the markets. However, the Roy Chillemi trained gelding has been well supported firming into $9. I am going with my men in the north here and putting him on top! The class runner is Ringo’s A Rockstar and with the three kilogram claim for apprentice Brooke Ainsworth he gets in well here – make no doubts this will still test them all here.
Spring Tycoon (6) was a nice run first up – he has a poor second up record but he could be storming home last down the outside. Vital Love (8) steps up in grade but comes off two nice wins recently. She is trained by John and Chris Meagher and is to be ridden by Ronnie Stewart who has tasted success with this trainer in recent weeks. Oink (2) looks well placed here – I cannot find any barrier trial form and Miss Daisy (Mr Grant Bell – Tim Bell’s dad) won’t give Winno a leg up here – so I am not sure of his chances. But be certain that if he is forward enough Paul Hammersley will be stalking the leaders and waiting for his chance to swoop and knock them all off! It is a tough race to finish off the program – good luck!
Selections: 4-1-6-8 rough chance 2.
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Early Quaddie (Races 1 to 4 NSW TAB only)
9,10,11,12 / 5,7,9 / 4,5,6 / 4,10,11 - cost is $108 for $1
Quadrella (races 5 to 8)
6,13,14 / 5,9,12,15 / 2,5,7 / 1,2,4,6,8 - cost is $180 to $1
Small Quaddie (races 5 to 8)
14 / 5,15 / 2,5,7 / 1,4,6 - cost is $18 to $1
Mad Quaddie (races 5 to 8)
6,14 / 5,15 / 2,5 / 1,2,4 - cost is $24 to $1
Treble (races 6 to 8)
5,9,12,15 /2,5,7 / 1,2,4,6,8 - cost is $60 to $1
Jockey Challenge
I am going to put Jeff Lloyd on top from Jim Byrne – it is the South African V The Queenslander – who will reign supreme?
Good luck and good punting!
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