Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally
In our weekly look at what is happening on Saturday, we concentrate on the big meeting at Eagle Farm when the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup and G1 Queensland Derby take centre-stage.
G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup - only once won by the same horse twice
Run over a variety of distances since its inaugural running in 1964, this feature contest for the sprinters has only once been won by the same horse twice - the grand campaigner Buck’s Pride (Pride Of Kellina) successful in 1993 and 1994.
Those two wins were amongst his 21 wins from 72 starts; with his class and durability it was little wonder that the grey was extremely popular.
Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) takes on Buck’s Pride history on Saturday, trying to join him as a dual winner of this race - and he is amongst the favourites to do so.
Second up into the race off a Listed Takeover Target S. victory last year, this time around he has been kept fresh since doing a bit of work from a wide gate in the G1 Doncaster.
Suited back at the 1300 metres, Think About It is yet to taste defeat at Eagle Farm, also taking out last year’s G1 Stradbroke H. after winning this race.
His task on Saturday is by no means an easy one - it may be a smaller field this year (12 versus last year’s 16) but there looks to be more depth with the first three home in the G1 Doomben 10,000 all taking their place - Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) and Espiona (Extreme Choice).
And the class of the field does not end there with Tuvalu (Kermadec {NZ}), Uncommon James (Cable Bay {Ire}), In Secret (I Am Invincible) and Magic Time (Hellbent) all Group 1 winners.
G1 Queensland Derby - boy versus girl
Chris Waller has enjoyed good success in this Classic in recent years - successful with Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) last year, with Kukeracha (NZ) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in 2021 and with Hawkspur (Purrealist) in 2013.
He has massive involvement in this year’s running with four guaranteed a run whilst three are emergencies - seven of the 23 acceptors.
Six of those are roughies but the other is the well fancied Tannhauser (Dundeel {NZ}) who, at his first run as a gelding, turned the corner with his soft win in the G3 Rough Habit Plate.
Tannhauser | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The hardest for him to beat is the one he defeated last time - Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun) who was back in distance that day, strong to the line over the 2000 metres off her easy G1 ATC Oaks victory over 2400 metres.
She attempts to become the first filly to win this race since the Bart Cummings-trained Dariana (Redoute’s Choice) raced away to a 4.5l victory in 2010.
There is further Classic form here with Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) finishing off strongly for a G1 South Australian Derby second, a race in which Warialda Warrior (Saxon Warrior {Jpn) was caught wide - again unlucky when held up for runs in the Rough Habit.
G2 BRC Sires' Produce S. - promising juveniles
Seven last start winners are amongst the major chances in a competitive running of this 1400-metre juvenile contest.
Looking to make it three wins in a row is the classy Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) who has trialled nicely at Randwick since ploughing through the heavy conditions to record a soft win in the G1 Champagne S.
Broadsiding | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Bittercreek (Snitzel) also comes to this off strong winning form having found the line well in the G2 Champagne Classic. That success came at just his third start - the well related colt improving at each outing.
Althoff (Written Tycoon) showed good heart winning the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic at just his second start, a race in which Barbaric Lad (Brutal {NZ}) was good without the best of luck.
El Morzillo (Star Witness) caught eye when second to Bittercreek at Doomben and certainly looks ready for a step up in distance.
The race is an interesting mix of youngsters by proven stallions and first season horses with other chances going to Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) and Brutal Bowler (Brutal {NZ}) whose sires are showing plenty of early promise.
G3 Fred Best Classic - more good 3-year-olds
Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard) has opened favourite in what looks to be an open edition of this 1350-metre contest for 3-year-olds.
To be ridden by Tommy Berry who won this race aboard Najoom (Northern Meteor) in 2015, the Bjorn Baker-trained filly took on the high-class older horses at her latest outing - finishing a close up fifth in the G1 Doomben 10,000 won by Bella Nipotina.
Going close in the G1 Surround S. at her previous outing in early March, she strips fitter for her Doomben run and is suited not only by the drop in class but by the step up in distance.
The form from the G3 Gold Coast Guineas looks a chance to stand up here; that race’s trifecta again taking each other on - Corniche (Fastnet Rock), Cifrado (Encryption) and Celui (Toronado {Ire}).
Hardest for them all to beat may be Schwarz (Zoustar) who has been kept up to the mark with a Rosehill trial win since taking out the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas.
Schwarz clearing away in the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
With 18 to run there is plenty of depth to the field and a few at odds look to have decent chances as well - such as Abounding (Rich Enuff) who has drawn a better gate than he has when racing wide at his last two starts and Snow Patrol (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) who has jumped out nicely at Cranbourne since covering ground in the G2 Alister Clark S.
G3 Premier's Cup - Deja vu for Spirit Ridge
It is no mean feat for a horse to win a feature race and return three years later to take out the same race - a feat that the connections of Spirit Ridge (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) are hoping that he can achieve.
Spirit Ridge (GB) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Winning this race in 2021 with Joshua Parr aboard for the now Hong Kong-based trainer Mark Newnham, the gelding is still racing in great form at the age of nine - at his latest outing proving too good for his rivals in the G3 Chairman’s H. at Doomben.
There are several chances amongst fellow imports in this year’s running including Knight Order (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}) who strips fitter for his last two runs - having to do a bit of work in the Chairman’s.
New Zealand-bred horses have won two of the last four editions of this race and are again major chances with Goldman (NZ) (Verdi {NZ}) and Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking) coming off solid performances.
Hezashocka (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Dune Forty Five (Americain {USA}) has also been coming along nicely - looking to provide his trainer Robert Heathcote with another win in this race after he cheered home Tabulate (Honours List {Ire}) home in 2010.
Listed Helen Coughlan S. - Comrade Rosa shoots for two in a row
First run with its Listed status in 2006, this 1200-metre dash for fillies and mares named after a pioneering racing journalist has some nice horses on its honour roll with five of its winners going on to further black-type success.
Including the big race winners Srikandi (Dubawi {Ire}) who the following year claimed the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara and the G1 Stradbroke H. and Russeting (Commands) who a couple of months later took out the G1 Winter S.
Last year’s winner Comrade Rosa (Capitalist) also went right on with it, at her next outing winning the G2 Dane Ripper S. and later in the year the Listed Eureka Stud Classic.
Comrade Rosa | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
Just one mare - Zero Rock (Danzero) in 2010 and 2011 has won the race twice, a feat being chased by Comrade Rosa who vies for favouritism with Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir).
Comrade Rosa has the fitness edge having finished off well when resuming in the G2 Victory S., whilst Coeur Volante resumes off solid Melbourne jump-out form. As the winner of three of just five starts she is certainly promising.
Moesha (I Am Invincible) has been in great form in Melbourne and Adelaide and is deserving of a breakthrough and Enterprise Pomme (Spill The Beans) is also talented and consistent whilst the proven class runner Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution) resumes off a Randwick trial second.
Revolutionary Miss placed second at the Randwick trials on May 15 | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Facile (Trapeze Artist) is an interesting runner having changed hands just this week - Alma Vale Thoroughbreds claiming her for $700,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. She was good with the blinkers on winning the G3 P.J Bell H.; kept fresh since with a Rosehill trial second to In Secret keeping her up to the mark.
