WINNO'S WINNERS: EAGLE FARM, MARCH 25, 2023
By Darren Winningham | Thursday, March 23, 2023
Eagle Farm this week. The track is rated ‘good’ and the rail is out 1 metre for the entire circuit.
Sensational effort last weekend when Ben Thompson rode FIVE winners on the program including the two feature JEWEL races.
Straight into this week’s preview!
Race 1
Will Hulbert made some big statements after the win of Felix The Scat (1) at Doomben a month ago. I think he states that this horse could be a Derby runner – huge wraps! If he is that good he wins this race easily for me. He has had a freshen up since his last win and a solid barrier trial last week. Mark Du Plessis retains the ride here.
Capital Cee (4) ran a solid race last time out and looked like he will appreciate the extra distance this weekend – trained on the Sunshine Coast by Stuart Kendrick.
Bjorn Baker sends Bobby Shiraz (3) to QLD for his debut run. A recent trial winner and he has been gelded – Jimmy Orman aboard – a few boxes ticked here – and he has been well supported since the markets have opened.
Mishani Ambitious (7) is trained by Les Ross and owned by Michael Crooks. These two combined last weekend to win the Two-Year-Old JEWEL – they are on a roll – they could just get another win here. Tegan Harrison will ride.
Selections:
1 – Felix The Scat
4 – Capital Cee
3 – Bobby Shiraz
7 – Mishani Ambitious
Race 2
Small field to face the starter over 1805 metres.
Santero (6) was a last start winner for Steven O’Dea & Matt Hoysted Racing. Will be ridden again by Jaden Lloyd and looks like the extra distance will not be any trouble.
Bottega (1) is trained on the Gold Coast by Lee Freedman – on the quick back up from a disappointing run last weekend. The winkers go on here and Marnu Potgieter will ride – his 3-kilogram claim will be a massive benefit.
As for the rest, take your pick!
Selections:
6 – Santero
1 – Bottega
2 – She’s The Gift
3 – Kalapour
Race 3
The Red Kite (5) won last time out here over 1600 metres. Trained by Mark Currie and Angela Jones will ride again. The form from the race looks solid – should be difficult to beat again.
Do not underestimate The Ritz (3) trained by Michael Morrison with Jaden Lloyd to ride. This gelding is undefeated in four starts second up. He is second up here – his first up effort here three weeks ago was probably a pipe opener – he looked like he needed the run.
Cognac will be ridden by Jimmy Orman for the NSW based Will and Richard Freedman. Second up here – doesn’t win too often – but this is an even lot.
Unrelenting (10) is trained in NSW by Matthew Dale – he won at Wagga Wagga over 1200 metres first up carrying a massive 61.5 kilograms – drops in weight to 54 kilograms – up in class – down in weights – the jockey of the moment Ben Thompson will ride.
Selections:
5 – The Red Kite
3 – The Ritz
2 – Cognac
10 – Unrelenting
Race 4
Fearless Knight (4) is trained by Kacy Fogden with Jim Byrne riding. He won his maiden last time out at the Sunshine Coast over 1400 metres. Prior to that he had been racing in Group races in Victoria. He won that race with some authority. I think he can transition to weekend grade and be difficult to beat.
Sha Of Gomer (2) is trained by Chris Waller. He has won his past two starts in midweek company. Jimmy Orman retains the ride. His races are well spaced apart and he seems to keep improving with each start – keep safe.
Ambassadors (5) is trained by Nathan Doyle in NSW – his stable has been firing of late. May pay to follow this runner who won last time out at Newcastle over 1300 metres – that was in maiden company – Taylor Marshall will ride.
Selections:
4 – Fearless Knight
2 – Sha Of Gomer
5 – Ambassadors
7 – Compass Rose
Race 5
One of these 2200 metres – anyone can win, and it normally pans out that way.
Another NSW raider – this time from the John Thompson yard. Won last time out in midweek over this distance at Kembla Grange – Auspicious Cloud (8) gets in well here at the weights – Ben Thompson will ride.
Tip Of The Spear (2) is an Annabel Neasham runner with Brodie Loy to ride. This runner raced over this distance last time out at Warwick Farm – he did race well and probably will be better placed on a firm track.
Mark Currie trains Heleva Deel (10) – she won in a midweek race last time out at Doomben. Angela Jones will ride again – looks well placed at the weights despite the rise in class and distance.
Selections:
8 – Auspicious Cloud
2 – Tip Of The Spear
10 – Heleva Deel
1 – Scarlet Tufty
Race 6
First leg of the Quaddie - Class 3 over 1400 metres.
This is a very open race – I have gone wide here – could be a massive result for exotic bets.
The Tony Gollan Racing pair look well in here. Madame Odette (16) has had two trials for this first up run with Angela Jones to ride. She won the Toowoomba Guineas in her last preparation. I think she can run well here with some good speed in the race – drawn well in barrier 7 she may just get a nice trail into the race.
The stablemate is Argyle Pink (15) to be ridden by Brodie Loy. Has drawn poorly in barrier 14. She is third up – had some excuses last time out – lost a plate in running – led them up and was a sitting duck late. I think that they will ride her quietly behind the speed this weekend – look for her to be flashing home late.
Befana (17) jumped out of the ground and narrowly missed a fortnight ago at Doomben over 1200 metres. On that run the extra distance looks ideal – the solid speed should assist as well – Jaden Lloyd will ride.
The Mark Currie trained Fun Sponge (1) stepped up to weekend grade for the first time when narrowly beaten at this track and distance. Goes up in weight – but is silly odds at $8 – Justin Stanley will ride.
Selections:
16 – Madame Odette
15 – Argyle Pink
17 – Befana
1 – Fun Sponge
Rough chance – (11) Rations & (8) Sunfall
Race 7
First leg of the Treble. Open sprint over 1200 metres.
The QLD Rogues runners look like they have two genuine chances here. The Big Goodbye (3) is trained by Robert Heathcote with Angela Jones riding. The other is Hot Spring Gold (10) trained by Chris Munce Racing. Looks like the battle of the year with Jones versus Wilson-Taylor – I have heard on the grapevine the loser has to cook for a week and clean for a week!
Let’s look at The Big Goodbye (3). Last start ran a super race and did all the hard work prior to being run down in the shadow of the post – that was at this track over this distance.
Hot Spring Gold (10) resumed two weeks ago here over 1200 metres. I think the way he paraded he looked like he would need the run. With that run under his belt – dropping down in the weights, and back to a distance he thrives at it, would not surprise if he wins this race at around $8.
Hilal (1) had his first start for the Gollan Racing team when he ran here two weeks ago. Never seemed to be in the race to be honest – didn’t get much luck in the running being caught wide. I think that the tongue tie going on this week could see a dramatic form reversal – Jimmy Orman will ride.
Ranch Hand (2) is trained by Chris Waller. He probably gets his easiest race to win here. He has been racing in Group races for many of his career starts. He just hasn’t fired – this is the easiest race he has seen in many years – Damien Thornton will ride.
I give a rough place chance to Legal Esprit (8) who gets up to a more suitable distance – Adin Thompson will ride.
Selections:
10 – Hot Spring Gold
1 – Hilal
3 – The Big Goodbye
2 – Ranch Hand
Rough chance – (8) Legal Esprit
Race 8
A BM78 race over 1200 metres – this is a tough race.
Kipsbay (9) is dual nominated (Rosehill race 5 – number 19) - trained in NSW by Nathan Doyle he is a promising type. He won both starts last preparation – the last was a Midway race at Rosehill. He has had a recent barrier trial and looks well placed. Should be difficult to beat here.
Billiondollarbaby (7) is another NSW raider – this time from the powerful Snowden Racing yards. She won a midweek race at Warwick Farm – she has always shown some ability – maybe with that win under her belt she could post another win – Ben Thompson will ride.
Beauty Legend (1) has his first start in Australia after being transferred from Hong Kong to the Adam Campton stables on the Gold Coast. Resuming from a 67 week spell – a recent barrier trial win – drawn terrible in barrier 16 – Jag Guthmann-Chester will ride. He has a mountain of gear changes for this run, but the barrier trial looked solid. He is owned by Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen who owned my favourite Hong Kong horse Beauty Generation. He is the son of Simon Kwok Siu-Ming, chairman and CEO of cosmetics giant Sa Sa – huge in Asia. They would be very keen to see a winner in Australia – especially with Campton who worked at the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Fastconi (2) keeps turning up each week and racing consistently – just needs some luck to post a win – Jimmy Orman will ride.
If you want a horse with a knockout chance at around $31 – have something on Light Of Boom (10) trained by Adam Campton. Elione Chaves will ride from barrier 1. He did win at a midweek meeting at Ipswich – that could see a boost in confidence.
Selections:
9 – Kipsbay
7 – Billiondollarbaby
1 – Beauty Legacy
2 – Fastconi
Rough chance – (10) Light Of Boom
Race 9
It is the last race - over 1400 metres. A large field – I would hope we are winning coming to this last race!
Briars Kingdom (8) is to be ridden by Angela Jones and trained by Tony Gollan. He is looking for a hat trick of wins – up in weight but he has a superb record at the track – 4 starts – 3 wins and a placing. When they race well at this venue, they just seem to be very difficult to beat.
Morethannumberone (6) was heavily backed here last start and got the chocolates. He is drawn well in barrier 1 – should get the run of the race and Jag Guthmann-Chester gave him an 11 out of 10 ride last time. He will be right in this race.
Matowatakpe (2) is a genuine hope here. Trained by Jack Bruce and Justin Huxtable riding. He flew home behind Morethannumberone (6) last time out – he could be a roughie at odds.
Enterprise Pomme (14) will have Boris Thornton aboard. I just don’t think she runs 1400 metres, so I think she may struggle here.
Saigon (16) is trained by Chris Waller – second up – commands some respect.
Selections:
6 – Morethannumberone
8 – Briars Kingdom
2 – Matowatakpe
14 – Enterprise Pomme
Rough chance – (16) Saigon
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Jockeys Challenge
Looks like it is a very open field. Angela Jones and Jimmy Orman looks like a draw.
Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)
1,6 / 2,3,5 / 2,4,5 / 2,8,10 - cost is $54 to $1
Value Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)
6 / 3,5 / 4,5 / 2,8 - cost is $8 to $1
Quaddie (races 6 to 9)
1,15,16,17 / 1,2,3,10 /1,7,9,10 /2,6,8 - cost is $192 to $1
Value Quaddie (races 6 to 9)
15,16 / 1,3,10 / 7,9 / 6,8 - cost is $24 to $1
Treble (races 7 to 9)
1,2,3,10 / 1,7,9,10 / 2,6,8 - cost is $48 to $1
WINNO V FLEMO
The battle continues with WINNO and FLEMO. We had a massive day with seven winners between us last week! FLEMO is crowing about the Broncos being on top of the NRL ladder. I draw his attention to them choking last year, slipping down from fourth to not even making the semi-finals! You all know I just despise the Broncos! 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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