Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - Wide open affair to kick off the card. BEEBEE DAZZLER (6) is a very consistent conveyance who has hit the top two in nine of 11 career outings and is yet to miss a drum in seven starts here around his home circuit. Orman stays on board from the favourable draw and should be going very close again. TIJUANA TWO STEP (9) broke through for a well-deserved victory at Doomben last time out and will have derived a stack of confidence from that win. Gets 2kg off with the claim and cannot be ignored. DREAM LANTERN (18) boasts a win around this circuit and can feature on best form. TALANA (17) is a two-time winner over this track and trip and is yet to run a poor race. In the mix. DRAMMATICA (11) is next best with Maloney in the stirrups.
RACE 2 - The well-related SET TO SHINE (7) (full to 2xG3 winner and multiple G2 placed Houtzen) has been racing in a rich vein of form of late winning three of her past four and saves her best form for this 1300m journey. Gets in light with the 2kg claim and is drawn to get a soft run in transit from gate two. Rates the testing material again. OUGHTON (1) resumes here but the form he showed when last in work was good enough to feature in a race like this. Can feature while fresh. QUOTHQUAN (13) has a win and three placings from five starts at the trip and cannot be discounted. CLOUDLAND (2) best of the rest from the Lees barn.
RACE 3 - POPE CODY (1) was ultra dominant when saluting at Eagle Farm last time out and winning rider Orman sticks in the saddle. Looks ready to step up to the mile and can go right on with the job now. MINE KART CARNAGE (2) has started the career with a win and three placings from four starts to date and is yet to put in a poor one. Shapes as a leading contender. ROCKY RICH (3) is yet to miss a place in three runs here on his home surface and will be at peak fitness for this. Top-three candidate. PROPOSE (7) broke through last start and may earn some minor money. PRIDE OF SAVABELLA (4) next in line in a race with only a handful of chances.
RACE 4 - RICH MINX (8) hasn't done much wrong with three wins and a placing from five career outings including an impressive four-length romp at Doomben last time out. Looks the runner in this field with the most upside and should be going very close again. SPIRIT QUEEN (4) has placed seven from nine over this six-furlong journey and doesn't know how to run a bad race. A must for the multiples. EXOTIQUE MISS (1) resumes here but has won two from three when fresh and gets some weight relief with the 2kg claim. Can figure in the finish. MEMORIA (2) draws the inside alley and will be rock-hard fit for this. In the mix on best form.
RACE 5 - BATTLEFIELD (4) was a touch disappointing last time out but go on the three solid wins prior. Goes well for Dolan who has two wins and a placing from just four steers and should give backers a big sight. DAYTONA (1) loves this six-furlong journey with three wins and five placings from 12 attempts and is racing in a rich vein of form. Respect the Maloney/Gollan combination. END ASSEMBLY (6) loves it here on his home surface with two wins and a second from three starts. Strips fitter second-up and can make his presence felt. TOWN CRIER (14) is drawn to get a gun run from the inside alley and cannot be discounted.
RACE 6 - BOSSED UP (2) loves this sprint trip with two wins and two placings from five outings and is yet to taste defeat when fresh. Has found the right race to kick off the campaign with a win. DEVASTATING (3) has placed over this course and distance and strips fitter third-up from the spell. Top-three contender. BIOGRAPHER (1) has a handy first-up record and gets some weight off with the claim. In the mix. INSTAGOOD (13) wasn't too far away when resuming and should be better for that. Draws well and is proven at this distance so improvement is likely.
RACE 7 - The $125,000 Toowoomba Cup. RED WAVE (1) has improved with both runs this time in and should be ready to peak now third-up from the break. Has placed four from five around this circuit and gets Maloney on from the low draw. Ticks a few boxes. CABOCHE (4) returned to the winners' stall at the latest effort and Orman stays on top. Only needs luck from the sticky draw to be playing a major role in the finish again. LINTHORPE LAD (7) returned to form with a win at Eagle Farm and can go right on with the job now. NIKAU SPUR (8) has placed two from two here and looks one for the exotics players. The well-related TIDAL CREEK (5) (half to G1 winner Vega One) best of the rest.
RACE 8 - The $160,000 Listed Toowoomba Weetwood. The classy YELLOW BRICK (1) heads back to the races in this and looks to have found a suitable contest to kick off the campaign. Is yet to miss a place in six first-up attempts and gets Orman on from the low draw. Should be right there at the business end. HIDDEN WEALTH (10) was a touch flat first-up but will have taken plenty of benefit from that hit-out. Has won two from three over this trip and is worth another chance. WANDA ROX (12) couldn't have been more impressive when resuming and the penny may have dropped now. Has to be included. ROCKRIBBED (8) has hit some form in the past few efforts and looks one for the multiples. BRERETON (14) rounds out the selections.
RACE 9 - AWASH (4) hails from a handy family (half to G1 winner Sherwood Forest) and put the writing on the wall for this with a close-up second at Eagle Farm at the latest effort. Has only missed the top-two once in six attempts over this mile journey and should be right there when the judge calls a halt. TALK TIME (10) loves it here on his home circuit with two wins and a second from just three outings. Strips fitter third-up from the spell and looks a serious threat on best form. PEPPERDINE (8) gets in well at the weights with the 3kg claim and is expected to be in the mix. KERCHAK (2) best of the rest.
