Eagle Farm Racing Tips: Saturday, February 20th

Odds Last Updated: February 25, 2021, 11:21am (AEDT)

Gone with (1) Habib on top here for the Currie stable after a decent debut at the Sunshine Coast. The son of Cable Bay began well but with the barrier draw drifted back into a nice position around sixth on the fence. As a runner in front of him checked heels, it momentarily put him three wide without cover for a short period of time before getting into a nice position once again. As they turned for home, he got pushed back towards the fence by another runner and then came with a good run to narrowly go down on the line. He gets a much kinder draw here and should kick up to either lead or be just off the leader. He will come on nicely from that first-up run and he is the one who will make a stamp on this race.

(7) Mishani Enchanted fought on well for second at the Sunshine Coast behind Glorious Ruby and the form has stood nicely from that race with Glorious Ruby and General Wolffe winning their next start. She is drawn to head forward and will be in a prominent position throughout. She will take away all bad luck and should be in the finish.

(5) Yangari ran well first-up and was caught wide at Eagle Farm last start. He fought gallantly into third and it was very passable for a first-up run. He should improve nicely here.

Tip: (1) Habib $3.30

Betting Strategy: 2 units WIN Habib FIXED

Odds Last Updated: February 21, 2021, 11:56am (AEDT)

I think it will be hard to see the tables turned on (2) Quality Approach here after his last start win at this track. He came off the back of (1) Foreign Territory in the straight and proved too strong for him over the mile. They meet again here, and our bloke gets 1.5kg positive swing against (1) Foreign Territory and should follow him over from the draw. I can see the race panning out similarly to last start except our bloke being even stronger over 1800m and hitting peak fitness. Hopefully Jimmy Orman can give him a peach like last start.

(1) Foreign Territory as discussed gets a negative 1.5kg swing on our top pick but does gain the services of Michael Rodd which may just offset the weight. He can handle the step up in distance and looks to get an easy lead.

(6) Daulat Tai Panaziz looks the best of the rest as he steps up majorly in grade.

Tip: (2) Quality Approach $4.05

Betting Strategy: 1 unit WIN Quality Approach FIXED

Odds Last Updated: February 21, 2021, 11:56am (AEDT)

Tough race to assess here and I have landed with (3) Happy Go Plucky who has raced consistently over his last two races. Two back he carried 58kg to a nice 1.5 length win over Torrens and Urbino over the 2200m before stepping back to 2000m last start, where he went down 2.8 lengths to Dissolution. Back up to 2200m is ideal and he gets Maloney back aboard which enhances his chances. If the track softens any, it will suit him and should get a nice run one out one back from the draw. He should be in the finish.

(5) Divine Grey keeps stepping up in grade and I have no reason to knock here. Gets a low weight and keeps Steph Thornton which are all positives and she absolutely loves this sort of distance.

(1) Raqeeq is the best horse on his day but will today be his day? Rodd going aboard boosts hopes and he is on the quick back-up. Good each-way chance.

Tip: (3) Happy Go Plucky $3.10

Betting Strategy: No Bet

Odds Last Updated: February 21, 2021, 11:56am (AEDT)

Sticking with the Tony Gollan trained (8) Pull Anchor here on the back of a placing at the Sunshine Coast. She made solid ground over 1400m after settling in the second half of the field and finished a length off Lunar Light. The step back to 1200m here is a nice move and from the draw, she should be able to sit a touch closer. Hopefully Maloney can peel off them in the straight and put them to the sword.

(3) Ventura Ocean is an interesting runner and will like this firmer surface. An import from the Australian Bloodstock team should always put others on notice and this bloke has proven in the past that this distance is no issues, and neither is being fresh. He is a watch for me, but it will not surprise me to see him in the finish.

(4) Wren’s Day has to contend with a tough draw at a distance which is short of his best. He is the best horse in this race and will be flying late.

Tip: (8) Pull Anchor $2.70

Betting Strategy: 3 units WIN Pull Anchor FIXED

Odds Last Updated: February 21, 2021, 11:56am (AEDT)

(1) Spurcraft was luckless last start and arguably should have won. He was slow out of the gates before being held up at the home turn and struggled to gain clear headway in the straight. By the time he got clear air, it was all over, going down by 1.5 lengths to rival (3) Kylease, who he meets half a kilo worse off. With such a small field here, he shouldn’t have any worries keeping clean air for the run home and should stick with them for a long way. I expect him to go awfully close here.

(2) Royal Witness is a nice price for a horse of his calibre. He was clearly sent up here for a dry track and will most likely get it or at worse a soft 5. Robbie Fradd is no stranger to riding him which is a positive and he should be peaking fitness wise whilst getting a nice run in transit from a good gate. I will be backing him as well and hoping we are on the money.

(7) Wirnpa is better than what he showed last start and I expect significant improvement.

Tip: (1) Spurcraft $3.60

Also Backing: (2) Royal Witness $6.00

Betting Strategy: 1 unit WIN Spurcraft FIXED, 1 unit WIN Royal Witness FIXED

Odds Last Updated: February 21, 2021, 11:56am (AEDT)

I think (7) Syd’s Footprints is ready to win here third-up after a good run last start. After going forward from barrier six, Jim Byrne got the son of Albrecht sitting just off Howwonderfullifeis before hitting the lead around 400m out. He drops 2kg from that run and with a similar draw, I expect them to go forward once again and either lead or box seat. Brilliant each-way bet.

(3) What The Fuss has had two chances now to secure a win in Queensland and run second both times in bold efforts. Back to 1000m could be the key for him especially with the good draw. Will probably end up a short favourite by race start.

(11) Upper East Side is slight value at the moment but probably not a threat to the winner, more a place chance.

Tip: (7) Syd’s Footprints $13.00/$3.60 E/W

Betting Strategy: 0.5 unit WIN Syd’s Footprints FIXED, 1 unit PLACE Syd’s Footprints FIXED

Odds Last Updated: February 21, 2021, 11:56am (AEDT)

I think some punters will forget about (1) Jetty tomorrow and think he can make them pay. Two back he carried 59kg to a 1.5 length win in impressive fashion before heading to Eagle Farm and taking on rival (3) Tycoon Evie, where he went down by just under half a length. Both had to do work from wide barriers but were too good for their rivals. (1) Jetty meets (3) Tycoon Evie 1.5kg better off at the weights and that should prove the difference in the end. He will go forward from the draw and be hard to beat.

(8) The Cullinan had everything against it last start, travelling wide without cover for the event but still had the audacity to keep fighting and finish 1.1 lengths off rival (2) Way Beyond. He meets him 5 kg better off yet they are around the same price. He once again will carry no weight but will need luck late in the piece.

(3) Tycoon Evie has the form and the hype. She should be thereabouts, but it is a tough ask.

Tip: (1) Jetty $3.70

Also Backing: (8) The Cullinan $9.00/$2.70 E/W

Betting Strategy: 1 unit WIN Jetty FIXED, 1 unit EACH WAY The Cullinan FIXED

Odds Last Updated: February 21, 2021, 11:56am (AEDT)

(5) Snitzari was very brave last start in his Queensland debut. She travelled wide without cover throughout the entire event and still managed to finish 1.8 lengths off the winner in fourth. She will come on nicely from that run and should be super fit for this contest. She is drawn ideally to get a sweet run throughout, and she is overs at the current price. I expect her to be in the finish.

(8) Better Get Set is heading into this one first-up and may just need this run. Although her record is pretty good fresh, she is drawn poorly and will have to do some work to get to the front. On the positive she will carry no weight and she proved last preparation she can mix it with the better sprinters.

(6) Magic Delta is the best of the rest.

Tip: (5) Snitzari $5.00

Betting Strategy: 2 units WIN Snitzari FIXED

Odds Last Updated: February 21, 2021, 11:56am (AEDT)

Now is the time for (10) Maddi Rocks as she looks to tackle Eagle Farm once again over the 1400m. Last start she flew home to finish second by 0.2 of a length behind (5) Sea Raider who he meets 1.5kg better off and in third was (1) Stuttering who she meets 3kg worse off thanks to the apprentice claim. She will give them a start from the poor draw, but she has been very good her past two runs and I expect her to be flying home once again.

(1) Stuttering as I stated has a nice swing in the weights against our top pick and isn’t drawn too bad. He should be able to get into a nice forward position and he will look the winner at some point in the straight.

(6) Enterprise Prince would have nearly gone on top had it not been for the poor draw. He ran well considering he was in the worst part of the track last start and over 1600m. Back to 1400m is ideal and Michael Rodd aboard is good, though the draw makes it hard.

Tip: (10) Maddi Rocks $5.50/$2.20 E/W

Betting Strategy: 1 unit EACH WAY Maddi Rocks FIXED