Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - ROY'S ROAD (5) was quickly back on track narrowly beaten at Mackay over this journey. She races forward and goes well at home. Tough to beat on the quick back-up. PHOENIX FLYER (3) raced favourite in that contest and beat the above home. It was a good effort following a try in town over a staying trip. No surprise if he repeated the dose. LUCKY EXCHANGE (2) was expected to win third-up on the poly over 1900m and got too far back. Back to the turf won't bother but you'd think he wouldn't want it too wet. Has the ability. CLASS OF ROYALTY (1) raced forward and found one too good here last time over a mile. Has a 2kg claim and is a hope holding that form.
RACE 2 - Tricky. BEE TWO (3) is in the sharp Vandyke yard and was heavily backed on the poly on debut (Maloney aboard) but raced new. Will have taken fitness and learning and expect him to go much better today. FIREBREAK (8) won a trial and led at Mackay on debut and was caught late beaten 2L. Strips fitter and will scoot along from the rail. She will be tough to get past. ASTRA STAR (1) resumed here as favourite with a near miss. Won a trial prior and will have come on. Races forward and is a chance. OUTBACK BANDIT (2) resumes and has trialled well. He's likely to race well.
RACE 3 - CHERRY ROSE (5) runs along and resumes off a narrow defeat here on debut. Owns a big trial win here and a top hoop sticks from that. Will be naturally improved and should take beating. THE UNDERGROUND (8) resumed at Gatton and did about what was expected. She's trialled well at Doomben since and her debut effort three back demonstrated she has the ability. STEPUPANDPLAY (6) debuts and won a recent trial here by 4.5L. Has a low barrier and expect her to race boldly. RIP UP RUBY (7) resumed at Doomben and looked in need of it. Wiggins is a key jockey booking and quick improvement is likely.
RACE 4 - Competitive. SHAMEDY (4) won comfortably here as a short-priced favourite and then went to Eagle Farm and didn't have the best of it in tougher grade. Has a low barrier today and will use it. Much better suited and can bounce back. DEVIL KICK (5) seeks the hat-trick off the comfortable win here in a 65. Rates well and has plenty of weight relief at this level. Looks capable of winning again. BOLD PEDRO (2) has also won his last two, heavily bet at both. Wiggins stays aboard and will give him every chance. KOTABHARU (6) has been narrowly beaten in her last three and also has claims.
RACE 5 - TOUR DE FIELD (6) was plain two back but the form around that reads well. Has a handy 2kg claim and he would appreciate a dryer surface. THE EIGHTH I AM (4) resumes and would be a chance if he's presented more forward this time around. Wiggins' booking suggests he's pleasing and he has the early speed to clear the awkward gate. CUMIN SPINNER (8) is a former Victorian who did what was expected for the new barn. Her best is good enough and Stanley sticking aboard is a decent push for her chances. Quick improvement is likely. ROSSO LEVANTO (5) debuts off a solid trial for the sharp Vandyke yard. Elevate if the betting trends her way.
RACE 6 - HARD REYVA (4) was outgraded at Eagle Farm but was quickly back on track placing at Ipswich trailing the speed. Draws to advantage and gets in light this grade with a 2kg claim atop. Tough to beat. FINE SHOT (9) disappointed at the Gold Coast and has been freshened. Has been kept up to the mark with two nice trials and first up was backed off the map here winning the Open 3. Has weight relief and is feared. MASTER JAMIE (1) has also been refreshed and is always a chance at this level. Led and wasn't beaten far last time in a rich Gold Coast feature. An inside gate advantages. ISIS CARMELLA (2) resumes and performs fresh. Has nice pieces of form and Butler steers from a handy gate.
RACE 7 - The speedy AWOL (2) won by a space here and then held that figure at Doomben before returning to the winner's stall this track in a 70 as a short-priced favourite. Has won a trial since and can go on with the job. MOMACK (1) resumed with a 65 win at Chinchilla when expected to need it. He has more up his sleeve and the longer sprint suits better. Fitter and the 3kg claim brings him right into it. DOLLAR DOLLAR (5) won the CL6 comfortably and was pipped this grade following. Wiggins has won 2/3 on the gelding and is reunited. A chance. BUNGARRIBEE LAD (4) drawn well and back to provincial level can also threaten.
RACE 8 - Tricky. SILVER GLITTER (10) was a big Maiden winner first-up and then was heavily backed missing a lip this grade at Townsville. Fitter and expect her to see out the longer sprint. Gets the nod. MARGOT BARBIE (5) won that contest leading all the way. She's likely to control the race and with a measured ride should see it out. ROCKY RICH (2) won a Maiden at Toowoomba on debut as expected over 1100m. As with the above, he has an awkward barrier but won't have to improve much to make the finish. VICTORY STATEMENT (12) brings good form from the poly. She's a chance if that translates to the turf and Byrne sticks in the saddle.
RACE 9 - RINGER'S REWARD (3) has been racing solidly in stronger grade and two back placed at Doomben over this distance. She will likely give away a start but rates well and will go close with average luck. THE HAIRDRESSER (10) delivered a Maiden here on resumption ridden more conservatively. She's showing plenty of promise and maps for a soft run from an inside battier. This is harder but she has weight relief and it's hard to risk the potent Stanley-Taylor linkage. JUST SUPER (1) went back-to-back with a spacious win here in Open grade and resumes owning a sharp trial. Has to push forward from a wide barrier but 2x winning rider Wiggins is reunited and can manage. He's won 2/3 second up. UNDER THE CAP (2) will peak over a mile but is up to this if presented forward. Brings two solid trials and should find a cosy spot in the run. Collis rides and is building a handy record with the stable.
RACE 10 - The speedy HELL (5) switched from a leading Victorian yard and blitzed the Maidens here first-up backed off the map. He has plenty up his sleeve and will make short work of the outside barrier. Fitter and no surprise if he takes the next step. OBLIQUITY (8) resumed for the top local barn and did about what expected. Has a low barrier today and quick improvement is anticipated. Tough to beat finding his best. DIAMOND MONEY (6) was nudged out at Mackay first-up and is back on track. The longer sprint will suit and he has an inside barrier and plenty of weight relief. SENNAPROST (2) has been switched from a NSW barn on a 52-day return. He's been racing well in stronger provincial company and finally draws an inside barrier. Wiggins' booking suggests he's pleasing.
RACE 11 - DOUBTING EYE (13) delivered the hat-trick by spaces here a month ago and has trialled nicely since. Uses the rails gate and can go right on with it. VALTINO (4) made it two wins from three this preparation doing it comfortably in the CL2. She's been freshened 54 days and has trialled sharply twice. Maps for the run of the race and the 1.5kg claim assists. MAMARAGAN (1) has switched from a Victorian barn and just missed a placing at Moonee Valley 55 days ago. He'd also been knocking on the door there prior and that form reads well. The 3kg claim brings him into it. DIVINE OKAY (2) will push forward and has been racing well on the poly. In the mix.
RACE 12 - HANGIN' AROUND (7) led and improved sharply leading and winning a Mackay Maiden as expected. Draws to advantage and key stable striker Stanley goes on. In the top local barn and fitter can take the next step. BOLD TYRANT (9) rates similarly off his first up Maiden win here. Did it comfortably and has been freshened. He's trialled well since and Wiggins stays aboard. Will have come on and a repeat win isn't out of the question. LYNRIC LASS (8) didn't handle the heavy track here last time but won here prior in a 65. Keeps the 2kg claim and a bounce is likely. SHEEZALITTLETORQUE (11) has been kept on the fresh side and may be next best.
