Queensland Rogues owners are still coming down from cloud nine after The Big Goodbye gave them the biggest of thrills with a narrow second on debut for the Rogues at Eagle Farm last Saturday. This week in Brisbane, there’s not the same level of excitement with the Doomben Mile, the feature race on an improving Soft 5 track. Covid has forced the Sydney meeting to again be staged at Kembla Grange. In Melbourne, we celebrate one of the true legends of the turf, with the running of the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600m. Let’s try and find some winners from our TRL trainers.
MELBOURNE CUP FAVOURITE STEPS OUT FOR MOODY
Even when you’ve been a trainer of a champion like Black Caviar, Peter Moody will still be feeling the pressure when Melbourne Cup favourite Incentivise steps out for his stable for the first time in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (Race 8) tomorrow at Flemington. Incentivise remains undefeated from six starts and is coming off an unbelievable 12 length win in the Tatts Cup at Eagle Farm to conclude the Winter Carnival. “I’m happy with him, this is a good starting point, but not the grand final,” said Moody.
BET: Incentivise – Each Way (Race 8)
HE’S A NICE HORSE – MICK PRICE
A massive THANKS to trainer MIck Price for joining us on a TRL exclusive webinar last Thursday and providing an exclusive insight to the art of training two-year-olds and even better turning them into multi-million dollar stallions (Extreme Choice, Flying Artie and Tarzino). He also gave owners a nice leg up for Ayrton in the Listed Sofitel (Race 5) on Saturday. “He was really good first up, has improved and the ultimate goal is the $7.5million Golden Eagle” Price said.
BET: Ayrton – Win (Flemington Race 5)
GOLLAN SPLIT BETWEEN TWO STATES
Qld Rogues trainer Tony Gollan will split his loyalties between racing in Brisbane and Melbourne on Saturday. The eight time Brisbane champion trainer has Jonker lining up as the favourite in the Group 2 Bobby Lewis Quality (Race 7) at Flemington. Jonker is a flying machine but has never been down the famous Flemington straight and will be ridden by Damian Lane. “My best winning chance this weekend is Jonker, it’s just a shame because of Covid I can’t be there, it’s obviously a tough race but he’s my best chance” said Gollan. “My best in Brisbane is Big Bad Bruce, drawn 3 should get a good run and my best each way is a new horse to the stable Tambos Mate (Race 8) ,” said Gollan.
Bet: Jonker – Each Way (Melb Race 7)
Bet: Big Bad Bruce – Each Way (Bris Race 7)
Bet: Tambos Mate – Each Way (Bris Race 8)
ANDERSON TO GO BALLISTIC
Qld Rogues trainer Chris Anderson doesn’t have a massive team but surely Ballistic Boy (Race 6) is one of the stars of the stable. “He was terrific first-up winning by a nose at this track and has an even better second-up record,” said Anderson.
BET: Ballistic Boy – WIN (Bris Race 6)
FREEDMANS LOOKING TO SHAKE THE SLIPPER CURSE
Richard and Michael Freedman are looking for Stay Inside to shake the so-called Golden Slipper curse by bouncing back to form in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (Race 8) at Kembla Grange. After being a brilliant winner of the Golden Slipper, Stay Inside could only manage fifth placing on his return in the San Domenico Stakes. The Freedmans would be more confident with Tiger of Malay (Race 5) who won first-up at Kembla last start and will strip fitter. Forbidden Love (Race 6) makes tremendous appeal at big odds after a reeling off impressive sectionals last start when she simply got too far out of her ground.
BET: Tiger of Malay – WIN (Syd Race 5)
BET: Forbidden Love – Each Way (Syd Race 6)
KIM WAUGH SET TO ATONE
NSW Tycoons trainer Kim Waugh is hoping for better luck when Oxford Tycoon steps out as the top weight in the Midway Handicap (Race 4) at Kembla Grange. It’s still painful watching replays of Oxford Tycoon trying to get out of a pocket last start when a certainty beaten at Kembla. Lumping an impost of 62.5kilograms is rarely an advantage but Tom Sherry claims 2kgs and I’m happy to stick.
BET: Oxford Tycoon – Each Way (Syd Race 4)
