WINNO'S WINNERS: SUNSHINE COAST, FEBRUARY 19

By Darren Winningham | Friday, February 18, 2022

This weekend we are on the Sunshine Coast where the track is rated ‘soft’ and the rail is in the true position. I am hoping for an upgrade with warm weather forecast in the lead up to the race meeting.

Remember local horses and horses who have won here seem to have a distinct advantage … as does the resident race caller and Queenslander, Josh Fleming, who always seems to have a good day here on the tip!

Not a fan of the meeting – in fact I think that the favourites may have a tough day at the office. I think that a majority of them will get beaten this weekend, so I have gone for value in most of my selections.

Straight into it.

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

A tough race to start off the day.

Whistling Spirit (1) won here last time out for Ryan Tyrell. Boris Thornton rides again. I think that he will be suited here again with the small field – nice odds as well - $7.

Wicked Chance (8) debuted here behind Whistling Spirit (1) and ran a solid race. Trained by Chris Anderson this filly will be better for that effort and gets in well here – Stephanie Thornton will ride.

Spanish Angels (3) is trained by Les Ross. Monty Savva rode this filly last time when she won leading all the way at Ipswich. Her 3-kilogram claim will be a massive advantage here this weekend.

Selections:

1 – Whistling Spirit
8 – Wicked Chance
3 – Spanish Angels
5 – Burnish Gold

Race 2

Solid field over 1400 metres.

The Tony Gollan trained Palladas (5) has been unlucky in each run this preparation. He gets an inferior field to those who he has encountered this weekend – maybe Jim Byrne can get him past the post first here. The short odds of $1.60 is not ideal for me – but the form would support his prohibitive odds.

The Tony Pascoe trained Darchinian (4) won last time out on the Gold Coast. He stormed home late and went away easily to post the victory. He is $41 in some markets and could cause a huge upset – Brad Pengelly will ride.

Centenary Star (7) is second up here. Best suited at this distance could be another roughie that could cause an upset.

Selections:

5 – Palladas
4 – Darchinian
7 – Centenary Star
3 – Wilmot Pass

Race 3

Michelle Payne got her first Saturday winner in Queensland last weekend – can she get another here with Nemingah (5) with Jim Byrne to ride? I think so. The gelding loves these longer distances and is second up for the new stable. He raced in good company last preparation, and I think he gets into a race that he can win – great odds as well around $9.

Traduce (2) is the early favourite. Has a solid record on the track so must be respected. The claim for Jaden Lloyd will help see him right in this race.

Chocolatier (3) is trained on the track by Kylie and Corey Geran and will be the likely leader. Mark Du Plessis will be looking to rate this gelding in front and get the “chocolates”.

Selections:

5 – Nemingah
2 – Traduce
3 – Chocolatier
4 – Whispered

Race 4

Canadian Dancer (10), trained by Steven O’Dea & Matt Hoysted, is second up here with Ben Thompson to ride. Can the stable’s hot run form continue with this runner who won first up in maiden company at Ipswich over 1350 metres? Will race handy and should be difficult to beat.

I am going to “gamble” with Military Dancer (1) from the Chris Munce team who was second here last time out over the mile. Kyle Wilson Taylor (KWT) will ride, and his claim should see this runner right in the race. Last time out I think the weight told late on this runner – so I expect him to be right there when it matters.

Pentito (4) is third up this weekend for Jason Edwards and Jimmy Orman. I think that he should get the mile and will be running on late.

Chris Waller Racing has two runners here at generous odds – Carneros (5) and Gambu (6). I think Gambu (6) is the best of these runners – he won his maiden at Ipswich then ran here and was working home well late. That run showed me that he will have no trouble with running out a solid mile. This weekend he is third up – I really think that he is a great chance to cause an upset at $21.

Selections:

1 – Military Gambler
10 – Canadian Dancer
4 – Pentito
6 – Gambu
Rough chances – (3) Naughty Harry & (5) Carneros

Race 5

A Class 6 race over the mile.

Last start we saw Tamilaide (3) return to the winning stalls. He meets a similar field this weekend and should be competitive again. Ben Thompson will ride again, and the small field will be to his liking.

Wolf Moon (7) is trained here by Billy Healey and won well last time out. The gelding steps up to a mile this weekend, however, his effort last time out in a good field was full of merit. KWT has been booked for the ride – his 2-kilogram claim will see this runner get in with no weight on his back. Probably means that they can afford to ride him forward again or even lead and keep going. I will tip him on top, so Billy won’t rubbish me when he wins!

Deep Sceiva (5) was sensational first up for Rob Heathcote. She loves this distance and this track – just I have some concern that the second up record is poor. In saying that I expect her to be right in this race – Ron Stewart will ride her again this weekend. There is some good value in this race if the favourite gets beaten.

Selections:

7 – Wolf Moon
3 – Tamilaide
5 – Deep Sceiva
4 – Group Think

Race 6

First leg of the Quaddie this weekend. A Class 3 race over 1000 metres.

Dreamreacher (4) is a last start winner at Doomben for Gold Coast trainer Gillian Heinrich. Settled back in the field and stormed home to destroy the field with Jaden Lloyd in the saddle – he retains the ride here this weekend. With some speed on, he looks well placed again on a track where he has won previously.

Roman Aureus (2) was run down late by Ef Troop (1) last time out. Probably his best form is on wet tracks. Just some concern with this runner on this track – hasn’t had much luck here in three starts.

Enterprise Keren (8) is a Mick Lakey trained runner with Taylor Marshall aboard. She has had her runs spaced out this preparation and her best form is over this distance – look for a sharp improvement and a possible win here.

Ef Troop (1) returned to the winner’s list last time out at Doomben. Never won at this distance – I am prepared to gamble against him this weekend.

Selections:

4 – Dreamreacher
2 – Roman Aureus
8 – Enterprise Keren
1 – Ef Troop

Race 7

A QTIS race over 1000 metres.

Zuma California (5) is trained by Cameron Richardson and KWT has another nice ride here. This runner was very good in his first preparation posting two wins before stepping up to city grade and running a great race behind Far Too Easy. That form is excellent for a race like this – I am just thinking he may need the run against some more seasoned runners.

I could just be looking for a good reason here to tip Blackjack Boom (1) from the Edmonds Racing team. They say you should double down when you see a good thing in blackjack. This gelding has had three career wins – and all three have come at this track. Robbie Fradd will ride him again – just some slight concern with barrier 12 this weekend.

Then again, I like to wait before I move all in and make a move when playing poker – so I am going to tip Buying Time (7) from the O’Dea & Hoysted Racing team. This gelding is two wins from two career starts – both at this track with Boris Thornton in the saddle. Looks like we should stay with a winning combination. Should get a nice run-in transit and finish off strong.

I must make mention of Rattlesnake (11) else there will be trouble. There you go I made mention of it.

Just a rough chance to a horse that the Goves clan should have a share in as well here – named after my good mate James – Bad Education (12).

Selections:

7 – Buying Time
1 – Blackjack Boom
5 – Zuma California
11 – The Rattlesnake
Rough chance – (12) Bad Education

Race 8

This is an open race – Gollan Racing has 5 runners here. They all have some chance as well.

I like Shamrock Lu (6) who won last time out here – this weekend the speed will be on again. I think that gives him another great chance to storm home late. Jim Byrne retains the ride, and he has won twice on this gelding. They are betting $9 here – great each way odds for mine.

The stable mate Liza With A Zee (4) ran a solid race last time out. She has drawn barrier 19 – but I expect jockey KWT to go back and run home late – could be the perfect conditions to get a win on the board with any luck in transit.

Mischief Managed (9) resumes here for Gollan Racing after a 22-week spell. A recent solid barrier trial would suggest that he could run a bold race first up. He has won previously first up. The thing to note here is that Ryan Maloney has the ride, and he has a lethal strike rate when he combines with Tony Gollan.

Osamu (3) is another solid runner for the Steven O’Dea and Matt Hoysted training juggernaut. Has had a stable change and races for the first time for the stable. Jaden Lloyd will ride this weekend and his claim will assist. Was run down late last time out by Gogol who has won since.

A roughie could be the Lauren Abbott trained Nicci Trix (13). Resuming from a 13-week spell with Jimmy Orman in the saddle. This runner has drawn terrible in barrier 18 – Orman could go surfing from out that wide. Just have some respect for this runner – has some serious ability and a good sprint over the final 150 metres.

Selections:

6 – Shamrock Lu
3 – Osamu
4 – Liza With A Zee
9 – Mischief Managed
Rough chances – (13) Nicci Trix

Race 9

The last race – these are always tough.

I think I will go wide here for a rough result with Tony Gollan’s Rock Amore (9) first up here on a track where he has won. Has solid form first up – just some concern with barrier 15 – Samantha Collett will be looking for a big win before she leaves to ride in Saudi Arabia in the International Jockey’s Challenge.

Racecourse Road (1) is third up here this weekend – drawn well KWT in the saddle should be ready to show up and win a race now. He likes this track and the claim for KWT gets him in well.

Bad Barista (13), trained by Rex Lipp & Nick Hahn, is on the quick back up from last weekend. Did fly home with a fast tempo up front – Taylor Marshall will ride, and this mare must be given a chance.

Explosive Quality (14) goes well at this venue – solid effort last time out leading all the way and being run down late at massive odds by Mass Destruction. Good form for a race like this and a nice ride for apprentice Jaden Lloyd. We could see Queensland’s premier apprentices go at it in the last race here.

Selections:

9 – Rock Amore
1 – Racecourse Road
13 – Bad Barista
14 – Explosive Quality
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Jockey’s Challenge

It looks a battle between Jim Byrne, Jaden Lloyd, and Kyle Wilson Taylor. Maybe something on Kyle just to pip Jim this weekend.

Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)

4,5 / 2,3,5 / 1,4,6,10 / 3,5,7 - cost is $72 to $1

Value Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)

5 / 2,5 / 1,6,10 / 3,7 - cost is $12 to $1

Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

2,4,8 / 1,5,7 / 3,4,6,9 / 1,9,13,14 - cost is $144 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

4,8 / 1,5,7 / 3,4,6 / 1,9,13 - cost is $54 to $1

Treble (races 7 to 9)

1,5,7 / 3,4,6,9 / 1,9,13,14 - cost is $48 to $1

WINNO V FLEMO

The battle continues this weekend in our WINNO v FLEMO tipping competition. The QLDer won last weekend – too good again. He is on his home track – maybe pay particular attention to his tips as I have gone extra wide this weekend looking for some rough results! 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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