WINNO'S WINNERS: EAGLE FARM, DECEMBER 11, 2021

By Darren Winningham | Friday, December 10, 2021

Eagle Farm this weekend with the track rated “soft.” The rail is in the true position for the entire circuit. Rain and storms have plagued the South-East for the past few days – again they are forecasting storms late on Saturday – let us all hope they stay away, and we can get the program completed!

Lots of small fields this weekend so I will try and keep it brief … plus, the LONGINES Hong Kong International Race day is on Sunday – my focus will be there this weekend. The number 1 day of racing in Hong Kong has drawn some exciting fields for their amazing Group 1 program. I just wish I was over there!

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

Race 1

The first race is over the mile.

Chris Munce Racing has Smart Meteor (5) in the race with Jaden Lloyd to ride. Second up here – loves Eagle Farm and the distance. The other thing in his favour is the small field. He normally settles back and makes a run late – the smaller field should see him get his chance to win.

So Taken (6) is trained by Chris Waller. Ultra-consistent with three placings in his last three starts. Ronnie Stewart will ride. Hasn’t had a run on this track – but does have solid wet weather form.

Couldn’t Refuse (7) is trained by Desleigh Forster and will be ridden by Jim Byrne. Goes well here and again the small field makes his chances appealing. Look for him to sit handy from barrier 2 and maybe kick in the straight and leave the others lamenting.

Selections:

5 – Smart Meteor
6 – So Taken
7 – Couldn’t Refuse
9 – Cosmic Gossip

Race 2

A small field of eight runners to face the starter over 1400 metres.

Vella Velocita (3) is a Stuart Kendrick runner to be ridden by Jake Bayliss … a last start winner on his home track in good fashion. Has raced well previously and looks like he could take the step up to win on a Saturday.

Our Red Planet (6) is trained by Paul Butterworth and Larry Cassidy will ride. He failed last time out at the Sunshine Coast, however, there were some excuses. His previous run was here over 1400 metres and he stormed home to finish second. A repeat of that effort would see him right in this.

Hold the phone! – well, Mark Currie trains Telephone Booth (5) who won last time out at Ipswich leading all the way. Taylor Marshall retains the ride and does have an excellent strike rate with Currie when they team up in Brisbane and especially on this track.

Selections:

3 – Vella Velocita
6 – Our Red Planet
5 – Telephone Booth
1 – Artero

Race 3

Only eight runners here. The Phelan Ready for the two-year-old runners - the male edition.

Palazzo Spirit (1) is trained by Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted. This Spirit of Boom colt made an exciting debut back in October when he led and was too good for them. He looks the winner here at set weights. It is wonderful to see Baylee Nothdurft has got his weight under control and is back riding this runner. Baylee is a great talent and whilst we know he constantly faces issues with his weight it is good to see he has the right support around him to ensure that he can continue in the saddle.

Swiss Exile (7) is a first starter for Annabel Neasham and will be partnered by Ryan Maloney. A solid trial win at Canterbury a fortnight ago keeps this runner under notice. Drawn well in barrier 3 – yet another solid chance. Neasham does have a habit of bringing them to QLD for a hit and run mission.

Hard To Say (2) is from NSW and trained by Jason Deamer. His effort on debut in the Breeders Plate in October at Randwick was amazing. He resumed on a bog heavy track at Rosehill and didn’t appreciate the surface. If he has travelled up well and settled in it would not surprise me that he could cause an upset to the favoured Palazzo Spirit (1). Ben Thompson will ride and at $7 is super odds for mine.

Selections:

1 – Palazzo Spirit
7 – Swiss Exile
2 – Hard To Say
4 – Inequality
Rough chance – (6) Proud of You

Race 4

A 1000 metre sprint here. This time the Calaway Girl for the two-year-old runners - the female edition.

Desleigh Forster trains Exo Girl (1) who is undefeated in two career starts – Jim Byrne will ride. The set weights make this runner very appealing. Just concerned with barrier 9 and the possibility of some other runners pestering her in the lead this weekend. In saying that maybe she can settle and let others go and still be too good for the opposition. One thing is for sure that Jim Byrne will have plenty of options up his sleeve to get her first past the post!

There are a couple of runners here that may or may not take their place in the field so these will be need to assessed on race day – the two that interest me the most are Better Golightly (11) and Enzina (12).

Mingle (14) is a first starter for Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted – she had a great win in a barrier trial earlier in the week – Boris Thornton to ride. Can the stable take out the two features two-year-old races on the program?

Rose of Shiraz (2) is trained on the Gold Coast by Gillian Heinrich. A striking all the way win at the Sunshine Coast on debut in a very fast time. Anthony Allen stays aboard here. A repeat of that effort would see her very hard to beat here. She was friendless in the betting on debut starting at $26 – she will not be those odds this weekend.

Heroic Angel (4) won on debut in Townsville for Kevin Hansen. Justin Stanley will ride here again here this weekend. She settled back in her debut run and stormed home late to destroy the opposition. She gets conditions to suit this weekend with an abundance of speed in this race and the opportunity to get home late.

Modele (9) has the blinkers going on this weekend. She was heavily supported on debut here six weeks ago. It may pay to follow this filly with Ryan Maloney going aboard after Jimmy Orman fractured his hand in barrier trials earlier in the week – get well soon Jimmy!

Selections:

1 – Exo Lady
2 – Rose of Shiraz
9 – Modele
4 – Heroic Angel
Rough chances – (11) Better Golightly & (12) Enzina

Race 5 THE GATEWAY

The set weights make Apache Chase (1) a moral for mine. Trained by Desleigh Forster and will be ridden by Jim Byrne.

He was super in the Golden Eagle and normally races well fresh. Loves Eagle Farm and should just get out in front as he normally does and make the opposition chase him.

Chris Munce Racing has Palaisipan (8) in the race. A good win last time out at Ipswich. She will be right in this race. Luke Dittman will ride again.

As for the rest take your pick!

Selections:

1 – Apache Chase
8 – Palaisipan
9 – Dzsenifer
5 – Good Chat

Race 6 JAMES SQUIRE JUST NOW

The first leg of the Quaddie. A nice field of fillies and mares has been assembled for this race.

This is a very open race. I think with the rescheduling of the Tatts Classic back one week - and raced last weekend – the form of most of these runners backing up out of that race last weekend appears solid.

I did notice the Robert Heathcote trained East Asia (10) surging home late along the fence at Doomben in that race last weekend. The rail was off so to see her making ground in that section of the ground probably alludes to the fact that the run was very good. Ronnie Stewart will ride this weekend.

Expat (3) resumed at Rosehill on a heavy track carrying a mammoth 59.5 kilograms for Mark Newnham. She like to jump and lead and from barrier 7 here this weekend I expect Ben Thompson to adopt similar tactics. She has an exceptional record with 6 wins from her 10 starts. She does look a solid bet in this first leg of the Quaddie.

Fleet Dove (8) was wonderful lats weekend in the Tatts Classic. A solid effort at huge odds of $26 with Samantha Collett riding. She is down on the minimum again this weekend and does have a solid second up record. Just some concerns that she is racing at Eagle Farm where she has had no success in two starts.

Eloquently (5) comes out of the same race for trainer Steven Tregea and she will have Anthony Allen riding again. She does handle this track and regardless of the surface she will cope. Third up now here this weekend and on the quick back up she looks well placed.

Georgie’s Pride (7) is trained by Desleigh Forster. It is not impossible that Desleigh could train a winning back-to-back treble here this weekend if her runners get some luck. That would be the same for Jim Byrne who rides this mare. She has a tremendous record at this track and will handle a shifting surface.

Tycoon Evie (6) is on the quick back up from last weekend for trainers Rex Lipp & Nick Hahn. Mark Du Plessis will keep his association with her. She thrives at Eagle Farm and I wasn’t upset with her efforts last weekend in the Tatts Classic where she finished the race off very strongly – maybe the 1300 metres is what she is looking for. Regardless she will be better over longer distances in the coming weeks.

Expat is the pick – but a tough race to start the Quaddie – play wide for mine.

Selections:

3 – Expat
5 – Eloquently
8 – Fleet Dove
7 – Georgie’s Pride
Rough chances – (6) Tycoon Evie & (10) East Asia & (12) Ingear

Race 7 THE BRIBIE

First leg of the Treble. They will go fast here over 1000 metres. No place for the faint hearted in this race!

Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted have three runners in this race – Shooting For Gold (3), Totally Charmed (5) and Kylease (6). Here goes the WINNO curse – I think that they could trifecta the race!

Shooting For Gold (3) was scratched at the barriers last weekend when he reared and threw off jockey Boris Thornton. He has a soft barrier trial on Tuesday this week and is undefeated in three starts at Eagle Farm. He will be right in this race!

Totally Charmed (5) is second up here after a great effort on resuming at the Sunshine Coast three weeks ago when beaten by Zoustyle (who won last weekend). Ben Thompson will ride him this weekend – has a solid second up record, however, has not posted a win yet at Eagle Farm. In saying that he has never been out of the placings in five starts here.

The one I like is the longest priced runner of the trio – Kylease (6). She will be around the $11 mark and Ronnie Stewart will ride her this weekend. She resumed here in dynamic form winning on Melbourne Cup day. Since then she went to Kembla Grange and was solid in the WARRA where she was not disgraced finishing three lengths behind Eleven Eleven. She gets in nicely at the weights and has drawn well in barrier 5.

Usmanov (1) resumes here for Edmonds Racing. Baylee Nothdurft will ride him again – he has a superb record on the gelding with 9 rides for 5 wins and 2 seconds. He loves Eagle Farm and always races well fresh. He is weighted up to his best but if there is any track bias and the leaders are winning, he will be very difficult to beat.

The Odyssey (2), trained by Kelly Schweida and part owned by Darren Wilson, must be respected. He has had two solid barrier trials in the lead up to this race. Ryan Maloney will ride him for the first time. He just cannot be left out – he is a warhorse that just will not lie down late if he is any chance of winning. Madness in the odds-on offer as well at $11. He will let them go hard in front and will be getting home late out wide.

Simply Fly (12) is a chance as well. Solid recent efforts and much be considered.

A tough race – but the form out of this race will be worth following in the coming weeks.

Selections:

6 – Kylease
3 – Shooting For Gold
5 – Totally Charmed
1 – Umanov
Rough chances – (2) The Odyssey (12) Simply Fly

Race 8

This is very open – could be a rough result. Class 6 over 1200 metres - these races can cause a few upsets.

Like Tony Gollan’s pair here – Mass Destruction (13) and Garibaldi (7).

Mass Destruction (13) resumes with Stephanie Thornton to ride. He normally comes to hand quickly in his preparations and does race well at Eagle Farm. He had a solid barrier trial six weeks ago and looks ideally placed here this weekend. Speed on in the race should suit him as well. Barrier 12 should see him probably midfield running seventh or so – looks a nice chance at each way odds.

The stablemate is Garibaldi (7)

Dusty Tycoon (14) is trained by Robert Heathcote and will be ridden by his in-form stable apprentice Leah Kilner – her claim will come in handy here late for this MiRunner. The mare loves to lead and get her own way out in front. She has drawn well in barrier 3, so should be able to ping the gates and dominate the speed. If she gets her own way in front and they leave her alone she could hold on late – but there will be plenty of runners flashing late looking to knock her off!

Garoppolo (12) is trained on the Gold Coast by Maryann Brosnan. Has two wins at Eagle Farm and a recent barrier trial win at the Gold Coast. There has been solid support for this runner since the markets were posted. The 2-kilogram claim for Jaden Lloyd will be crucial. I just am concerned where he may end up in the running from barrier 16. If they are not making ground and winning as well that will cause some drama for this runner.

Boomtown Lass (10) may show up as well – keep safe.

Selections:

13 – Mass Destruction
14 – Dusty Tycoon
7– Garibaldi
12 – Garoppolo
Rough chances – (10) Boomtown Lass

Race 9

The last race of the day – hopefully the storms stay away!

Then again, a No Metro Win race to finish off the day – maybe we should keep your cash in your pocket!

Jakama (6) won last time out at Ipswich on a heavy track for John Dann – he was ridden by Samantha Collett on that occasion and she retains the ride here. That effort would suggest that he could go on with it. He will probably sit three pairs back and be handy throughout – I think that makes him a great chance.

Hidden Eyes (2) is trained by “Ducky” Baker and will be ridden by Jim Byrne. Has not been out of the money in his past five starts – racing very consistently and another thing in his favour is that he has had a few goes here at Eagle Farm and always raced very well.

Danny Bowen trains Amirkyal (1) and Jaden Lloyd will ride the mare. Last start winner at Ipswich and despite the large weight should race well. Barrier 18 will be the only drama – Jaden will need to get her in and hope for luck in running.

All To Do (5) is trained by Stuart Kendrick and Stephanie Thornton will ride. A last start winner at Ipswich as well. Maybe could continue with that winning form here.

Open race – maybe too hard for me!

Selections:

6 – Jakama
2 – Hidden Eyes
1 – Amirkyal
5 – All To Do
Rough chance – (14) Clairvue Star
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Jockey’s Challenge

Tough field this weekend – Jim Byrne, Ryan Maloney and Ben Thompson have a nice book of rides. Maybe a slight edge to Jim to get the chocolates this weekend.

Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)

3,5,6 / 1,2,7 / 1,2,4,9 / 1,8 - cost is $72 to $1

Value Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)

3,6 / 1,7 / 1,2,9 /1 - cost is $12 to $1

Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

3,5,6,7,8,10 / 1,2,3,5,6 / 7,12,13,14 / 1,2,5,6 - cost is $480 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

3,5,8 / 3,5,6 / 12,13,14 / 2,6 - cost is $54 to $1

Treble (races 7 to 9)

1,2,3,5,6 / 7,12,13,14 / 1,2,5,6 - cost is $80 to $1

WINNO V FLEMO

WINNO got FLEMO last weekend in a close contest. 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!