WINNO'S WINNERS: EAGLE FARM, FEBRUARY 4, 2023
By Darren Winningham | Thursday, February 2, 2023
Eagle Farm this week (nine races) where the track is rated ‘Good’ and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit. They are forecasting very hot conditions Friday and Saturday – up to 36 degrees. Finally, summer has arrived!
Straight into it – those temperatures are making me sweat already!
Race 1
The two-year-old runners kick off the day.
A heap of gear alterations to the Michael Nolan trained runner Bedaub (1) – Ben Thompson will ride again. I am hoping the gear changes will see him get the job done here.
Opolly (4) is a debutant who has been trialling very well for trainer Lorraine Erhart – Wendy Peel will ride. She rode her in that trial win, and she has drawn perfectly in barrier 1.
As for the others – just keep your eyes on any moves in the markets.
Selections:
1 – Bedaub
4 – Opolly
6 – Torque About Magic
5 – Surreal Ascot
Race 2
A small field here to face the starter over 2200 metres.
As they appear in the race book for mine.
Head Of State (1) trained by the Chris Waler Racing satellite stable on the Gold Coast should reverse the last start result when Military Gambler (2) beat him. I think the extra distance and the equalisation in weights sees this runner win the race.
Military Gambler (2) won easily last time. He is trained by Chris Munce and Justin Huxtable will ride. He goes up in weight and up in distance. I think that this may turn the result on its head. However, the small field suggests that he will get back again and can settle before making a run late.
Namakwa (3) is a Heathcote Racing runner – Jaden Lloyd will ride. Recently celebrated his 21st birthday – just saying I didn’t even get a look in to take photos or attend! That aside, he will be looking to post a win on this gelding who looks like he has been working up to this longer distance.
Selections:
1 – Head Of State
2 – Military Gambler
3 – Namakwa
5 – Guts N Glory
Race 3
A race over the mile.
Vaccine (8) was nailed in the shadows of the post last time out. Looks well placed here by Tony Gollan with Ryan Maloney to ride. She has a strong finish, but just found a better one on the day last time out. She steps up to the mile for the first time – that is my only concern – but the way she races would suggest that she will get it easily.
Hellavadancer (9) will be ridden by Jim Byrne for Kris Lees. Last time out she raced in front and I think that brought her unstuck. Look for her to be ridden off the speed this weekend and, with the blinkers coming off, she looks like the one to challenge the early favourite – Vaccine (8).
Miss Baltimore (5) is trained by Bryan Dais – she won a midweek race at Doomben over 1350 metres. On that occasion she led all the way and kept the opposition out. Angela Jones retains that ride. I am not sure whether they will take her on here and that could see her capitulate late.
Selections:
8 – Vaccine
9 – Hellavadancer
5 – Miss Baltimore
6 – Red Bloom
Race 4
Another small field here over 1500 metres.
Brian Smith trains Alburq (5) with Marnu Potgieter in the saddle for the first time – his 3 kilogram claim will come in handy here. He dropped back to the 1350 metres at Doomben last time and seemed to race as if he wanted more distance. The speed in the race was tempered as well that didn’t suit him either. Tears Of Love (2) is in the race and will ensure a genuine speed in the race.
Rock Amore (3) won here last time out. He has won two from his past three starts and does possess a strong finish. Trained by Tony Gollan with stable apprentice Angela Jones in the saddle he looks a winning chance again.
Akihiro (6) is trained in NSW by Gary Portelli – Tegan Harrison will ride. This runner had a solid few runs in QLD before heading back to Randwick last time out and doing nothing. Back to QLD and a relatively easy field – maybe he will post another win.
Selections:
5 – Alburq
3 – Rock Amore
6 – Akihiro
4 – Wairere Falls
Race 5
The last leg of the early Quaddie.
Ding – ding – in the red corner we have Tony Gollan Racing – and in the blue corner we have Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted Racing – may the best stable win!
Representing the red corner and the defending Brisbane 2021/22 QLD Metro Leading trainer are two runners - Inasec (12) and Situation Room (6). Inasec (12) was unlucky last time out at Ipswich – carried a huge weight and made a strong run late. Getting onto this large track now with Angela Jones and her claim – this race is made for her.
Situation Room (6) ran a great race on the Gold Coast on the Magic Millions race-day that was washed out after two races. A run like that would see him right in the race – Ryan Maloney will ride.
In the blue corner is Buying Time (2) and Thatfeelsbetter (3) - both coming off last start wins. Buying Time (2) is a lightly raced four-year-old with three wins out of four starts and will be ridden by Brodie Loy. He resumed his preparation with a midweek win at Doomben – a slashing win.
Thatfeelsbetter (3), who resumed with a win at the Sunshine Coast, will be ridden by Jaden Lloyd.
They both represent solid chances to go on with it here.
Streaka (1), trained by Chris Anderson, really does perform well on this track. He is third up here and Ben Thompson will ride. He is drawn nicely in barrier 2. He probably will jump and run and lead here and will be difficult to run down if Thompson can get some cheap sectionals and is allowed to dominate the race.
Selections:
12 – Inasec
2 – Buying Time
1 – Streaka
3 – Thatfeelsbetter
Rough chance – (6) Situation Room
Race 6
The first leg of the Quaddie is over 1400 metres.
Tsarina Sophia (1) made her way to QLD and in her first run dominated in a 1200 metres fillies race at Doomben. She won with something in hand – I think that the extra distance will not be a drama. Sterling Alexiou & Gerald Ryan train this filly and Jimmy Orman will ride her again – at $5 she looks exceptional each way value.
Hang Five (2) is from the O’Dea & Hoysted yards – a race to race double for them perhaps? Will be ridden by Jaden Lloyd. Looked like he needed the run first up and will strip fitter for that effort. He has won second up previously. Will get back in the field but will be flying home late.
Centre Bounce (5) is from the Matthew Dunn Racing yard and will be ridden by Ben Thompson. She was beaten by Tsarina Sophia (1) last time out and there is a slight weigh turn around in favour of this runner – just not certain if that will be enough to get her to win the race. She is deep into her preparation – maybe she is coming to the end of it.
Alfa Lily (15) is trained by Michael Nolan and Samantha Collett will ride. Again, raced in the race won by Tsarina Sophia (1) and missed the start, got hampered in the running and still finished off strongly. She could be the one down in the weights storming home late on this big track.
Viminele (13) will be ridden by Michael Murphy and is trained by Lindsay Gough. Won a maiden last time out at Kilcoy. People may say who cares, but it was the way he went to the line and dominated in good time that caught my eye. Maybe that could be enough to upset the more fancied runners here. A solid chance for mine.
Selections:
1 – Tsarina Sophia
2 – Hang Five
15 – Alfa Lily
13 – Viminele
Rough chance – (5) Centre Bounce
Race 7
First leg of the Treble. A race over 1200 metres – Class 6.
Gollan Racing has an exciting type here – King Kapa (5) with Ryan Maloney riding. Has posted three wins since resuming and looks like he can with again.
Grant Allard trains Majestic Shot (3) – Brodie Loy will ride. Resumed over 1110 metres, which is too short for her. She is better placed here second up over this distance. Her second up record is solid as well. At around the $8 mark she may pose some stiff opposition to the short priced favourite King Kapa (5).
Acrobatic (2) resumed with a good second as well – will be better for the run – Justin Huxtable will ride for Kelly Schweida.
Selections:
5 – King Kapa
3 – Majestic Shot
2 – Acrobatic
4 – Stuttering
Race 8
Open race over 1800 metres.
Chris Meagher trains Trevelyan (10) - a solid effort last time out and a step up in distance with apprentice Melea Castle claiming 3 kilograms. Has a great second up record and races well on the Eagle Farm surface – looks great odds at $8.
Point Counterpoint (4) won the Ballina Cup last time out. Is trained by Stirling Osland and Jaden Lloyd will ride. He has raced previously over longer distances and I think that he will be extremely competitive here.
Pancho (3) is trained by David Vandyke and Nikita Beriman, who has been in wonderful form, will ride. He is second up after an average effort first up over 1615 metres. He will appreciate the extra distance and he does have some solid second up efforts.
Sagacious (8) comes out of the Ballina Cup – like several of these runners. Trained by Matthew Dunn, Jim Byrne will ride. He does drop in weight for this run and with the longer distance could pop up.
Selections:
10 – Trevelyan
4 – Point Counterpoint
3 – Pancho
8 – Sagacious
Rough chances – (5) She’s The Gift
Race 9
It is the last race! A massive field as well to face the starter over 1300 metres.
David Vandyke brings aptly named Whitewater (9) to the races – resuming here. I reckon if we survive the heat, we will all be heading for a swim at the beach or the pool after the races! This gelding has always shown tremendous ability. He normally gets back in his races and then savages the line late. Jim Byrne will ride. He has won a recent trial and they are offering ridiculous odds of $8 – get on for mine!
Pentito (8), trained by Jason Edwards has not won on this track - yet - however, has run tremendous placings here. Ben Thompson will ride, and this gelding comes off solid efforts over the Magic Millions Carnival.
Comrade Rosa (16) finishes the day for Gollan Racing and Ryan Maloney. She comes off a recent second at Ipswich and will improve here.
Charge On (6) was scratched late last weekend for Gold Coast trainer Adam Campton. Campo has a tremendous strike rate at the present time and I see that his fiancée has a share in the ownership. He will want to hope he wins else he may be sleeping in the dog house on Saturday night! Apprentice Yvette Lewis will ride and her 3 kilogram claim will assist.
Selections:
9 – Whitewater
8 – Pentito
16 – Comrade Rosa
6 – Charge On
Rough chance – (7) Collays Spirit
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Jockeys Challenge
There are several that have chances here - Angela Jones, Ryan Maloney, Ben Thompson, and Jimmy Orman. I think that if they retain their current rides Angela Jones should get the job done – plus that means Kyle Wilson Taylor has to buy dinner and do the washing – I am all for that!
Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)
1,2 / 5,8,9 / 3,5 / 1,2,3,12 - cost is $48 to $1
Value Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)
1 / 8,9 / 3,5 / 2,12 - cost is $8 to $1
Quaddie (races 6 to 9)
1,2,13,15 / 3,5 / 3,4,10 /8,9,16 - cost is $72 to $1
Value Quaddie (races 6 to 9)
1,2 / 5 / 4,10 / 8,9 - cost is $8 to $1
Treble (races 7 to 9)
3,5 / 3,4,10 / 8,9,16 - cost is $18 to $1
WINNO V FLEMO
The tipping competition battle continues between WINNO and FLEMO. FLEMO won last weekend – he is on a bit of a roll of late. He is getting in some good form before the NRL season commences and BRONCOS become the whipping sticks for the 2023 season! 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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