WINNO'S WINNERS: EAGLE FARM, 20 FEBRUARY, 2021

By Darren Winningham | Thursday, February 18, 2021

EAGLE FARM RACES – SATURDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2021

Eagle farm this weekend where the track is rated “GOOD” and he rail is 6.5 metres out for the entire circuit. There is supposed to be heaps of rain forecast leading up to the meeting – I do not think that will have any effect on the racing.

A shout out to Jason Taylor who was injured in a pre-race incident last weekend at the Gold Coast – he remains in hospital. Best wishes mate to you and your family – get better soon!

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

The two-year-old runners kick off the program this weekend. A small field.

There is not much exposed form to go on.

Robert Heathcote Racing has Yangari (5) who was rested and gelded since his debut run here back in October. He resumed a fortnight ago and looked like he may have needed the run. Watch for an improvement this week with Ben Thompson aboard.

Habib (1), from the Mark Currie yards in Toowoomba, debuted at the Sunshine Coast as was run down late. Since then, he has been gelded – and there are some gear changes this weekend with a tongue tie and winkers going on. Brad Stewart to ride wikth everything suggesting that he is all set to post a win.

Les Ross Racing has Mishani Enchanted (7) in here with Jimmy Orman on her. The form from the Sunshine Coast three weeks ago has been franked with Glorious Ruby winning last weekend. Isf this filly runs up to that effort she will be very difficult to beat in this first race!

Leaglese (10) is trained by Bryan and Daniel Guy and has Jim Byrne aboard. Second up here this weekend – keep your eye on any betting moves for this runner closer to race day.

Selections:

7 – Mishani Enchanted
1 – Habib
5 – Yangari
8 – Leaglese

Race 2,

The first leg of the Early Quaddie is over 1830 metres.

Again, it is only a small field to go around.

Quality Approach (2) is from Michael Costa’s stables on the Gold Coast. Third up here for the new stable with Jimmy Orman to ride again after they posted a win here a fortnight ago when Orman placed the gelding in a perfect position to run down and comprehensively beat Foreign Territory (1) last start.

He meets Foreign Territory (1) worse at the weights here and Michael Rodd has been put on this Stuart Kendrick runner. He will lead and if he gets away with an easy time in front he may be difficult to run down – do not underestimate this runner.

Daulat Tai Panaziz (6) won here at a midweek meeting over the mile. He steps up in distance and in grade, however, this John Holcombe trained runner is well placed in my opinion in this small field to sprint home late. Mark Du Plessis retains the ride here this weekend.

Selections:

2 – Quality Approach
6 – Daulat Tai Panaziz
1 – Foreign Territory
4 – Joymaker

Race 3

Another small field – this time over 2200 metres.

Matthew Dunn trains Devine Grey (5) who found plenty last start here under the strong urgings of Stephanie Thornton late – he looks ideally placed here again this weekend. Will lead and should prove too good again unless something takes him on in front.

Look for an improved effort from the Matt Kropp trained Romakash (2) who steps up in distance. Larry Cassidy to ride and there is $31 on offer in some markets.

As for the rest – take your pick!

Selections:

5 – Devine Grey
2 - Romakash
3 – Happy Go Plucky
4 – Pleased

Race 4

Class 3 over 1200 metres. There are some dual acceptors here. So, the field may be cut up come race day.

Violet (9) resumes here for Michael Nolan Racing. The mare will be ridden by Michael Rodd and she normally races well fresh. I think at $8 she is a great each way chance.

Blesk (5) is a John O’Shea dual acceptor, but I think he should start here as Sydney - looks like being wet and he races better on a firm track. He has been trialling well, has been gelded and has the blinkers off for the first time. Jim Byrne takes the ride, and he is riding in great form.

Pull Anchor (8) must be respected from the Tony Gollan Racing stables. Gollan trained four winners last weekend! This mare was beaten by a stablemate last start at the Sunshine Coast – a shade unlucky, maybe she can post a win this weekend.

Wren’s Day (4), who resumes for Cody Morgan, has had a couple of trials leading up to this first up effort. Andrew Mallyon is in the saddle. I think he may be better for the outing.

Selections:

9 – Violet
5 – Blesk
8 – Pull Anchor
4 – Wren’s Day

Race 5

Guess what? A small field - over 1000 metres.

Looks a race where last start winner Kylease (3) can win again. Three weeks since she won at the Sunshine Coast for the Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted partnership with Stephanie Thornton aboard.

The topweight Spurcraft (1) will be suited by the small field and will be the one hardest to hold out. Jim Byrne rides for Kelly Schweida.

Selections:

3 – Kylease
1 – Spurcraft
4 – Incincible Al
2 – Royal Witness

Race 6

First leg of the Quaddie this weekend.

A No Metro Win race – these races normally see something heavily supported on the day – so keep your eye on the market as the race gets closer.

What The Fuss (3) is on the quick back up from last weekend and drops back in distance. In both of his Queensland starts he has run into two good performances. The drop back in distance from 1350 metres to 1000 metres does concern me, however, the opposition is not all that strong. Maybe the Kody Nestor trained gelding can post his first win in Queensland.

Upper East Side (11) trained by Kim Buchanan made his Queensland debut last Thursday and ,to be fair, I think the run in Class 5 company at Doomben was very solid. Taylor Marshall remains aboard, and the blinkers go on for this start – at $26 in some markets I think there could be a dramatic improvement this weekend.

Patches (6), from Michael Nolan Racing, does not win out of turn. The record of the gelding probably supports my comment – his last five starts – second in each of them. He gets race conditions to suit this weekend and Jim Byrne aboard to urge him past the post first at Eagle Farm.

Syd’s Footprints (7) from the Barry Baldwin stable has a habit at winning at a big price – maybe this weekend is the race.

Selections:

3 – What The Fuss
11 – Upper East Side
6 – Patches
7 – Syd’s Footprints

Race 7

Over the 1600 metres for the first leg of the treble.

Stuart Kendrick has two nice runners here with some good ability – Way Beyond (2) and Cosmic Gossip (4).

Way Beyond (2) worked home nicely last start to win at his home track at the Sunshine Coast over the mile. He was ridden by Jag Guthman-Chester who stays aboard this weekend. He does go up sharply in the weights, but now he has found that winner’s stall maybe he can post another win.

The stablemate Cosmic Gossip (4) won at her home track as well in a lower grade and a slightly faster time. Michael Rodd remains aboard. She does get back in her races that is a concern when this track has favoured runners in the top five or six as they have come around the corner in the last few meetings.

Jetty (1) looks the likely leader from the Edmonds Racing team. Jim Byrne rode this runner almost to perfection last start in front but was run down late by Tycoon Evie (3) over 1400 metres. The distance is my concern with this runner.

Tycoon Evie (3) stalked Jetty (1) in the running last start and managed to finish off too strongly for that runner. This weekend she is up in weight – but I think that she is going to get better as the races get longer.

Do not underestimate the chances of Cullinan (8) from the Bryan Dais stable with apprentice Leah Kilner aboard – he could be the surprise runner down in the weights.

Selections:

2 – Way Beyond
3 – Tycoon Evie
1 – Jetty
4 – Cosmic Gossip

Rough chance – (8) Cullinan

Race 8

The hardest field of the day. Again, there are a few runners nominated for other races – maybe the race will be decimated with scratchings.

This is an incredibly open race.

Les Ross Racing may hold the key here with his two runners – they both represent some good value, and they do like this Eagle Farm track.

Mishani Rebel (2) is around $21 and Sweet Rhapsody around $12. They both appear out of form by looking at them on the basis of the form guide, but I think they both will appreciate getting back to Eagle Farm and probably on a wet shifting surface.

Mishani Rebel (2) will be ridden by Michael Rodd this weekend and has a three week freshen up. From gate three I think he may take up the running or box seat this weekend and that could be to his benefit.

Sweet Rhapsody (10) has had four weeks off since her last run and drops back from 1200 metres to 1000 metres – the distance is ideal for her. Mark Du Plessis will ride for the stable. She has drawn the rails and I anticipate she will be no further back than say three pairs in the running so she should be ideally placed as well.

Snitzari (5) is from the Kris Lees Racing yards. Has had one run in Queensland for a nice effort. She likes wet tracks and will have stripped fitter for that effort – Andrew Mallyon is aboard and it must be considered.

Better Get Set (8) resumes here – will enjoy the speed drawn in the race and may sprint well fresh and motor home late with Ben Thompson aboard.

Selections:

2 – Mishani Rebel
10 – Sweet Rhapsody
5 – Snitzari
8 – Better Get Set
Rough chances – (9) Jellishot

Race 9

The last race of the day over 1400 metres – with the largest field of the day!

I was on Maddi Rocks (6) last start when she was flying home but could not reel in the leader Sea Raider (5) on a track that clearly favoured leaders. This weekend maybe she can be ridden a little closer and get the chocolates with Jim Byrne retaining the ride. She meets the other runners better at the weights this weekend – so I rate her a great chance.

Stuttering (1) I thought was the likely leader last start here but he offered the lead up to Sea Raider (5) and that was all she wrote. This weekend Robert Heathcote has elected to put apprentice Alex Patis and take three kilograms off – that gets this gelding in nicely compared to last start. He has drawn nicely – if there is a bias expect him to take up the running with this lighter weight and, given the different circumstances, to last time he could be exceedingly difficult to run down.

Edmonds Racing has Baroda (11) back here after a four week freshen up. Rule a line through her last effort at Doomben where she was caught wide and did not finish off the race. The start prior she raced well here at the track and distance – I just think the $12 are good odds for this runner. Ben Thompson will assist her this weekend and if she can get a cosy run, she will be hard to hold out.

Tesarc (13) won here at big odds last start for Mark Currie and Leah Kilner. They combine again this weekend and he gets in well despite the rise in the grade. Mark Currie was very complimentary of the run and he thought that his work leading up to the first up run was up to the mark to win the race – and he did! He is a genuine chance here – just a worry about the second up record.

Sea Raider (5) got all the favours last start here when he led and held on when the track favoured leaders – IF the same circumstances arise this weekend, he could just pull their pants down again – Stephanie Thornton to ride.

Selections:

10 – Maddi Rocks
11 – Baroda
1 – Stuttering
13 – Tesarc
Rough chances – (5) Sea Raider (6) Enterprise Prince
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Jockey’s Challenge

Tough field this weekend = Jim Byrne, Jimmy Orman, Stephanie Thornton and maybe even Michael Rodd. I may just stay with Jim Byrne to get the nod here.

Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)

1,2,6 / 2,3,5 / 5,8,9 / 1,3 - cost is $54 to $1

Value Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)

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

Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

3,6,11 / 1,2,3,4 / 2,5,8,10 / 1,10,11,13 - cost is $192 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

3,11 / 1,2,3 / 2,5,10 / 1,10,11 - cost is $54 to $1

Treble (races 7 to 9)

1,2,3,4 / 2,5,8,10 / 1,10,11,13 - cost is $64 to $1

WINNO V FLEMO

WINNO got FLEMO last weekend (he was on holidays) so I will claim a WIN. Hopefully, he is back this week! Be sure to check the up to date and amended tips each Saturday morning on Facebook after any track changes and scratchings where I will post our selections and any late mail!

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