WINNO'S WINNERS: SUNSHINE COAST, JULY 14, 2018

By Darren Winningham | Friday, July 13, 2018

SUNSHINE COAST SATURDAY 14 JULY 2018

The track is rated as “HEAVY.” The weather is forecast to fine up over the coming days – but I doubt whether we will get a track upgrade prior to the meeting. The rail is in 5 metres out for the entire course.

With nine races to do this weekend and a heavy track – forgive me for the small preview. I think we may be on a hiding to nothing and there will probably be many scratchings come race day!

Remember to make a note - there is Grafton on Sunday – the last day of their Carnival!

Just want to say – How good was State of Origin this year? Three great games – a NSW win but a competitive and even series. I look forward to 2019!

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

Short and sweet here. The Robert Heathcote runner Privlaka (2) loves the wet and was a solid second here last start in the Glasshouse Handicap when beaten by Jamaican Rain.

The placings – take you pick.

An odds-on favourite to start the day – Boris Thornton in the saddle!

Selections: 2-6-7-4

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Race 2

I am staying with Super Sauve (6). He held on here to come away a winner last start despite a protest being lodged against him. He is proven in the heavy and looks well placed again. Brad Stewart remains aboard this weekend.

Tan Tat Diamond (5) is more comfortable on a soft track – so he may struggle if it is a bog. With the claim for Boris Thornton he gets in well. Boris may be able to ride the first two race winners if he gets any luck!

Frequendly (7) swamped them last start on a wet track at Doomben last weekend. Jim Byrne found the fast lane out wide on the track on that occasion. He walks the tracks each week – maybe he can find another fast lane to see this Les Ross runner salute again. The stable has been on fire in recent weeks with several winners.

Selections: 6-5-7-10

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Race 3

Tarzan (2) was touted to be heading to the Kirby over the Grafton Carnival however, the stable elected to keep him here and run him this weekend.

Tumbler (4) from the Barry Lockwood stables comes out of the W.J.Healy at Doomben 3 weeks ago. That form was franked on Wednesday at Grafton with the amazing win of Havasay in the Ramornie. He is rightly odds on here with Corey Bayliss aboard who claims 3 kilograms.

Ringo’s A Rockstar (3) is the logical danger. Ronnie Stewart rode him to perfection last start here when sitting off the speed before swooping wide and late and going away to win easy. I think that if you don’t like the tomato sauce odds of the favourite then this runner is a good gamble at $6.

Selections: 4-3-2-1

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Race 4

This is a QTIS 2-year-old race.

Zoustyle (6) from the Gollan stables made a good debut midweek at Doomben a fortnight ago. He was sent out a very short priced favourite and won like a good thing. He is prohibitive odds again here this weekend and Brad Stewart stays in the pig skin.

The other runner that ran on the same day in a different race was Red Chase (6). He is back on his home track and apprentice Stephanie Lacy remains aboard. Her 3-kilogram claim will come in handy here and therefore he should be respected.

There are some silly odds on offer about this runner presently with $12 around – something each way to beat the favourite may not go astray! If the speed is on I think it really does bring Red Chase (6) into the race as he will get back and power home late.

Parko (12) faded at Ipswich after drawing wide and crossing them and having to do some work. He could not burn the candle at both ends. He has drawn wide in barrier 12 this weekend – I wonder whether we may see some more conservative riding tactics?

Winter Passage (15) finished behind The Fire Trap (engaged at Rosehill Saturday race 1 – number 1) last start here. The run was solid, and I think that form out of that race will stand up. He is a good each way chance and should fill a place.

Selections: 5-6-15-3 rough chance 2

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Race 5

Bluebrook (13) backs up here looking for consecutive wins at the track. Last start here he won over 1400 metres with Jimmy Orman in the saddle. Jimmy is currently on holidays in Hong Kong probably enjoying the local cuisine and local sights. With him away Kelly Schweida has booked Mark Du Plessis who comes off an awesome win on Thursday in the 2018 Grafton Cup. A jockey in form and a nice three-year-old going well – a good winning combination!

Now if Bluebrook struggles at the mile – watch out for the Kris Lees trained Our Gravano (7) who ran a great second here last start behind Ruling Dynasty (who came out and won last week). Jeff Lloyd is back from his working holiday in South Africa and will be looking to get a win on the board.

The Matthew Dunn Racing runner Realing (12) and the locally trained Victory Eight (3) round out my top four selections.

Selections: 13-7-12-3

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Race 6 The Queen’s Cup 3200 metres

This is the feature race on the program. On a heavy track I expect it to be a real slug fest over the final 200 metres.

Megablast (1) from New Zealand won the Caloundra Cup here a fortnight ago. He is trained by Nigel Tiley and with fellow kiwi in the saddle Damian Browne could they create history and win both races? This runner is a total duck – he swims and when he smells rain he grows another leg! His runs on soft and heavy tracks have yielded all his ten career starts! I think that he will be very difficult to beat here this weekend!

The other fact is that First Crush ran second to him last start and came out and won the 2018 Grafton Cup on Thursday. History was created there as well with jockey now trainer Chris Munce the first individual to ride and train a Grafton Cup winner!

Plot Twist (6) comes off 3200 metres win at Randwick three weeks ago on a heavy track. He is trained to the minute by Peter & Paul Snowden and they have gone to their Queensland ace and booked Jim Byrne for the ride. This runner gets in well at the weights and the 6-kilogram difference may well be the deciding factor in the final furlong.

Kris Lees has brought Doukhan (5) north to contest the race and booked Jeff Lloyd. He finished second to Plot Twist (6) in that race in Sydney. He has had one more run since over 2400 metres and didn’t fire on that occasion.

I see that Stephen Lee, now training on the Gold Coast, elected to by-pass the Grafton Cup on Thursday instead coming here for this race with Anton En Avant (2) to be ridden by the 2018 Ramornie winning jockey Matthew McGillivray. This runner like the wet conditions and normally races very well - not pulling or doing many things wrong in a staying race.I think if there was a surprise it could very well be this runner.

Selections: 1-6-2-5

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Race 7

This is a tough race – may have to take the field in your Quaddies and Trebles!

The two Steven O’Dea runners look well placed here. Makes You Think (9) is two from two career starts and has had two recent barrier trials to get ready for this first up assignment. I think over 1000 metres this So You Think gelding will scoot hard and be in the race for a long way.

The other runner is an Aquis Farm runner Totally Charmed (12) who is third up from a spell. He has won on soft ground but is untested on heavy tracks. He gets in well with the 3-kilogram allowance for Boris Thornton. There appears to be some speed in the race and he could track nicely into the race late.

Red Hearts (15) is around the $31 mark in some markets. Ronnie Stewart is aboard, and he has a habit of jagging a long-priced winner. This mare has wet track form and likes the heavy conditions. She is second up here this weekend and she has run 2 seconds in both second up performances.

Raiden (9) is from Kris Lees Racing. He has been making a habit of bringing horses north and getting the Queensland prizemoney of late – this runner should race well and has the services of Jeff Lloyd. The stable mate Cordoned (1) has had 4 a freshen up with 4 weeks between his last run – another runner to keep your eye on.

Jetsonic (2) had every chance last start here but that was over 1200 metres. This Tony Gollan runner does prefer the 1000 metres scampers and he gets back to a distance and track conditions that suit this week.

Selections: 9-12-15-5 rough chance 2

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Race 8

Pressway (15) is another Steven O’Dea runner that looks well placed with Paul Hammersley to take the ride. Last start he was defeated here by Shogun Sun (engaged in race 9). I think that form from that race appears to be strong. I am hoping that he could jag a win here. Steve O’Dea could have a nice race to race double here if he gets any luck.

Bon Rocket led them up here last start on a heavy track when run down late by Bluebrook (engaged in race 5). This Michael Lakey runner, with Brad Stewart in the saddle, could lead them again and prove difficult to run down.

The top weight The Overdraft (1) is from the Heathcote stables and won here last weekend on a heavy track. He has a quick turnaround, but the run appeared not to be a gut buster. He would not be backing up unless he has done well back in the stables.

The stable mate is Downloading (7) and they are betting $51 about this runner in some markets. Michael Murphy is aboard and his claim will assist him here. He does race very well at this track and has performed well on heavy surfaces – do not leave him out of your exotics and Quaddies!

Deer Mountain (15) from the Toby Edmonds stables looks like she is working into form – maybe a rough chance.

Selections: 11-2-1-7 rough chance 15

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Race 9

Last race – tough affair. I think you had better hope you are in front come this race!

It is a bit of a lottery for mine. The topweight Shogun Sun (1) won well here last start and must be respected again.

Then you have the locally trained Stuart Kendrick trained Italia Bella (3) who comes back to her own age this start after contesting the Glasshouse Handicap here a fortnight ago. On paper the run looks terrible and you would probably bypass this runner. She can go well on her home track and the stable has always had an opinion of her – maybe this weekend will see a change of fortune.

Emsie Is A Star (6) is the likely leader here. I am thinking that the track may be chopped up by now and this David Vandyke runner may be able to be rated nicely in front by apprentice Corey Bayliss and steal some cheap sectionals. Bayliss’s his claim gets her in nicely here.

Chapter and Verse (8) from the Desleigh Forster stables motored home late three weeks ago when runner up to The Bostonian. He could place here.

Don’t Leave Me Out (14) previously got too far back on the wet track – overlook and forgive that run. He was second up as well and may have needed the run. He has placed before third up.

Tziporah (15) won on debut at Ipswich. She steps up in grade but will be assisted by the 3-kilogram claim for Stephanie Lacy. Coming from the Toby Edmonds stables on the Gold Coast you must respect her.

Selections: 6-1-3-8 rough chances 14 and 15

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Jockey Challenge

This could be a battle between Jim Byrne, Boris Thornton and Brad Stewart. I think I will have something on Brad Stewart this week!

Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5 NSW only)

5.6 / 3,4 / 3,5,6,15 /7 ,12,13 - cost is $48 to $1

Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

1,2,6 / 5,9,12,15 / 1,2,7,11 / 1,3,6,8,14,15 - cost is $288 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

1,6 / 9,12,15 / 1,2,11 / 1,3,6 - cost is $54 to $1

Treble (races 7 to 9)

5,9,12,15 / 1,2,7,11 / 1,3,6,8,14,15 - cost is $96 to $1

Good luck and good punting!

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