The Bostonian aims for more Brisbane glory
Eagle Farm, TAB G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup, $700,000, 1300m
Fresh from his upset victory in the G1 Doomben 10,000 two weeks ago, New Zealand sprinter The Bostonian (NZ) will look for back-to-back top-flight victories in the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup.
This race shapes as an easier field than the Tony Pike-trained 4-year-old defeated last start, given the absences of a couple of key Group 1 qualities gallopers. His main threats appear to come from those who have stepped through their classes of late.
Godolphin's Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}) comes off consecutive stakes victories and reaches Group 1 level for the first time since his 2-year-old days. He has been a prolific winner as a gelding, with six victories in his past ten starts and his wins at Randwick and Scone, although not by big margins, had an air of authority about them.
He is one of three from the Cummings' stable. Import Home Of The Brave (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) was an impressive winner of the G2 Theo Marks S. second-up last time in against a better field than he meets here and over the same distance. He was a little below par, albeit beaten just 1.1l by Trekking, on resumption at Randwick, but his best form from Europe and last campaign would be good enough to win this.
Encryption (Lonhro) is the third Godolphin representative and is never far away, although he hasn't won in seven starts, with that victory coming down the straight at Flemington in a Group 2 race. He has had two trials to tick him over between his last-start fourth in the G2 Arrowfield Sprint and now and this will be his final campaign, with Eureka Stud set to stand him in Queensland in 2019.
Encryption
I Am Excited (Snitzel) has had four weeks since her upset win in the G2 Victory S. at this track. She gets her chance to win a Group 1 here and her trial last week showed she is on song.
Three-year-old pair Ringerdingding (Sebring) and Outback Barbie (Spirit of Boom) look likely to be competitive, while it will be fascinating to see how 2-year-old Dubious (Not A Single Doubt) handles the assignment of tackling the older horses with just 49kg on his back.
Waller looks for Sires' repeat
Eagle Farm, G2 Kirin BRC Sires' Produce S, $400,000, 1400m
Some very good horses have come through this race in recent times and hopes are high for this talented bunch of 2-year-olds.
Chris Waller won this race last year with Lean Mean Machine (Zoustar) and he fronts up with the favourite here in Accession. who looks well-poised to become his sire Brazen Beau's first stakes winner.
Accession winning the Listed Inglis Nursery
He was undone by a heavy track last time out, but he was competitive with subsequent Group 1 winners Microphone (Exceed and Excel) and Castelvecchio (Dundeel {NZ}) prior to that.
That measures up well against his chief rival Strasbourg (I Am Invincible), who he beat back in December and who was probably another length or so off those top-line 2-year-olds in Sydney.
Strasbourg and Czarson (Stratum) shared second last time out and you’d think there would be little between them again, while Gem Of Scotland (Rothesay), unluckily beaten last week, is capable of improvement, but has again been dealt a tricky barrier.
Flying mare backs up
Eagle Farm, G3 Grinders Coffee Roasters S. $150,000, 1300m.
Quilista (Scandal Keeper {USA}) was back to her best at Doomben seven days ago and gets her chance to add a fifth stakes win to resume before going through the ring at next week's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
This is a better quality field than last week, but she drops in weight and should get an easy lead again and prove hard to run down. Savatiano (Streey Cry {Ire}) is her main threat and is wonderfully consistent but hasn’t won in ten starts and always seems to find one better.
Top-weight Invincibella (I Am Invincible) has the quality at her best to win this race, but didn't show a great deal first up, while the ultra-consistent Oregon's Day (Domesday) drops back from Group 1 company.
Tom time?
Eagle Farm, G3 Ascot Green Lord Mayor's Cup, $140,000, 1600m
Tom Melbourne (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) looks particularly well-placed under the conditions of this race to secure his seventh career win, although you can never assume anything with the 8-year-old, who has been runner-up at his past two, making it 13 seconds in a 46-start career.
He holds a class edge over his rivals, including Order Again (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), who won at this track three starts back, but did finish 1.25l behind Tom Melbourne in the Listed Members' Hcp last time out.
Tom Melbourne
Lite'n in My Veins (Henrythenavigator {Ire}) has a strong winning record, but there must be some query over how he handles his first trip the clockwise direction after 33 starts the other way.
Le Juge (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) is on quite the winning streak having won four straight but does drop back from the 2000m to the 1600m, which may present a challenge.
Vega's Best foot forward
Eagle Farm, G3 Nuturf Fred Best Classic, $150,000, 1400m
This looks a battle of a some quality emerging 3-year-old talent, including Vega One (Lope de Vega {Ire}) who streeted his rivals by over three lengths for his first stakes success, showing he is much more than just a wet tracker.
Military Zone (Epaulette) was just tipped out in the Scone Guineas last time and is a horse capable of further improvement this campaign, while Zoutori (Zoustar) has notched up a hat-trick of wins in Victoria, the latest at Caulfield.
Pohutukawa (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) looks the best of the chances from the fillies, having been freshened off a Sydney campaign which included a win on the G3 Kembla Grange Classic.
Group 1 winner Seabrook (NZ) (Hinchinbrook) has not found her form this campaign, but a reversion back to her best would put her right in the finish in this.
Derby challengers on Grand Prix grid
Eagle Farm, G3 Mullins Grand Prix S. $150,000, 2200m
These 3-year-old stayers are looking to put their cases forward in what will likely be their final runs before the G1 Queensland Derby on June 8.
The Danny O'Brien-trained pair Grinzinger Star (Reliable Man {GB}) and Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) both have the quality to win this, with Grinzinger Star missing the SA Derby to focus on a Queensland campaign.
The NZ challenger, Lord Arthur (NZ) (Camelot {GB}) comes off a Group 2 win over 2000m back home and has the right training combination, Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, behind him to have him peaking for this run and the next. Baker and Forsman also have Bobby Dee (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), a last start Te Rapa winner, in the race.
The best of the Queensland hopes appears to be Tony Gollan's A Man To Match (High Chaparral {Ire}, who was second in the G2 Rough Habit Plate two weeks' ago.
Luva eyes Cup success
Eagle Farm, G3 Eva Air Premier's Cup, $140,000, 2200m
Luvaluva (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) rounds off her preparations for the G2 Brisbane Cup in a fortnight in what looks an excellent race for her despite a wide barrier.
She was beaten two lengths in the G1 Doomben Cup last time out and this is much easier, with her main threat likely to be Chris Waller's progressive stayers The Lord Mayor (NZ) (Rock 'n' Pop) and Haripour (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}).
The Candy Man (Casino Prince), looking for his seventh straight win, must also been respected having now secured a spot into the race after a couple of scratchings.
