Eagle Farm Racing Tips: Saturday, February 6th

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

Tough race to start the day here for this two-year-old handicap race.

(5) Mishani Delight is my on top pick on the back of a solid win at Ipswich. The daughter of Top Echelon came in as a drifting second favourite and ended up sitting just off the leader which just so happened to be the short priced favourite in Winneba. She fought hard to the line and was victorious in the shadows of the post by less than half a length. The main query is the step-up from 800m to 1200m, but with a race under her belt and the likelihood of an easy lead, she should be hard to beat.

(3) Eureka’s Victory has trialled up nicely for this with a third in his lone trial this time in. The draw may be a bit tricky for him depending on what those around him do and will need some luck early to obtain a decent position. He will be thereabouts in the finish.

(10) Leaglese has only had one start to date in October last year and should have finished a lot closer than the 3.9 length sixth placing she ended up with. The draw is a touch poor but if there is little speed to the inside, she should be able to settle a little closer in the run.

Tip: (5) Mishani Delight $4.00

Betting Strategy: No Bet

Odds Last Updated: February 7, 2021, 12:06pm (AEDT)

I am happy to side with (4) Watch The Cat here who has raced consistently this preparation. At Eagle Farm three back in a benchmark 78, he came home well from the back of the field to finished 2.3 lengths off North Afrika over the 1810m. He met rival (3) Miss Penfold at equal weights on the day and beat her by just over a length. He then dropped back in grade to a benchmark 70 against (3) Miss Penfold, where he had to give her 3kg and fought all the way to the line, going down by less than a length whilst beating home the rest of the field by over 4.5 lengths. Since then, (3) Miss Penfold hasn’t had a run but (4) Watch The Cat stepped back to the mile where he hit the line well again finishing third. He has raced well at 2000m before so I don’t think 2200m will be an issue and he is back at even weights with (3) Miss Penfold.

For all the reasons above, (3) Miss Penfold will go into second pick.

(2) Divine Grey looks a progressive stayer and will need to handle the step up in grade to be a chance.

Tip: (4) Watch The Cat $3.30

Betting Strategy: 1 unit WIN Watch The Cat B3TSP

Odds Last Updated: February 7, 2021, 12:06pm (AEDT)

I know you need to offset a little for having an apprentice on but (1) Foreign Territory looks a nice price here.

On the back of two wins at the Sunshine Coast, the Tavistock gelding looks to have found a new lease on life at the McKendrick stable after spending the majority of his career in Sydney. He found a soft lead last start and kicked away well in the straight to record an impressive 3.5 length victory. He is drawn ideally to get a similar run here and there is little speed in this race on paper, so that is ideal. Tomlinson gets a nice 3kg claim, which brings him down really well in the weights. He looks a top hope here.

(2) The Irons hit the line well last start coming from midfield behind Take Tea. He is drawn much better here and should sit a lot closer in the run. He shouldn’t have as much work to do to make up ground in the straight, so he is a solid each-way or place bet.

(5) Gunnobe is a deserved favourite and has had the form stack up nicely from the race with Hail Manhattan winning the next start. She will be giving (1) Foreign Territory a start and I am not sure she has the turn of foot to catch him.

Tip: (1) Foreign Territory $3.50

Betting Strategy: 3 units WIN Foreign Territory B3TSP

Odds Last Updated: February 14, 2021, 11:46pm (AEDT)

(4) Star of Michelin goes on top for me here on the quick back-up from last weekend’s win at the Sunshine Coast. He got urged along early to sit in a prominent position before hitting the line well at the end of the race to salute by just under half a length. There looks to be no speed in this race, so I am expecting him to be just behind the leader (6) North Afrika, who is likely to easily stroll to the front. Sheriden Tomlinson knows how to get the best out of him and with no weight on his back, I expect our boy to start a run on the bend and be hard to run down late.

(2) Matowi looks the best horse in this race but I wonder if he might get trapped on the fence when the others are off and gone. I think he will definitely win a few races up here in Queensland, but I am unsure if this one is one of them.

(6) North Afrika as I said will lead with ease and that could very well be the end of most of these, with the little pace in the race.

Tip: (2) Matowi $2.30

Betting Strategy: No Bet

Odds Last Updated: February 26, 2021, 1:27pm (AEDT)

I don’t have a lot of confidence in this race and have chosen with (11) Bonaparte here.

His win first-up for his new stable was very good and even looked as though he would have drawn away with extra distance. Obviously, this is a lot harder but the confidence and fitness he will take from that win will help him a lot here. Ben Thompson will take the ride and it is expected that from the wide draw that they will go forward and try and obtain a spot in the front couple of runners. Hopefully the early work doesn’t hinder him towards the end.

(4) Tesarc is yet to win first-up in six attempts but maybe this time might be different. He is drawn ideally and gets a 3kg claimer on, so they will look to sit in the box seat throughout before making a run late. There have been no public trials, so I can’t back it with any confidence.

(6) Bold Hunter looks the best of the rest in a tricky race.

Tip: (11) Bonaparte $14.00

Betting Strategy: No Bet

Odds Last Updated: February 7, 2021, 12:06pm (AEDT)

It almost feels like the stars have aligned for (9) She Za Boss here after being scratched from a later race for this one.

She was very good first-up after a break and somehow managed to finished 1.6 lengths off Socialising after being wide throughout. On top of this, she meets rival (5) You Make Me Smile 3kg better off at the weights for a 1.5 length defeat. She is drawn nicely to sit a bit more forward than last start and she shouldn’t have to worry about sitting wide after drawing the inside alley. I think she is a good chance to take this out at attractive odds.

(2) Valario is way over the odds after having excuses last time out at the Sunshine Coast. He raced wide without cover for the event to finish in fifth after starting as favourite. Back on top of the ground and back to 1200m will suit and is silly odds. Perfect for your trifectas and first fours.

Despite meeting our top pick worse at the weights, (5) You Make Me Smile will come on massively from his first-up run. He may get some company out in front, but I simply can’t ignore his second-up record. I wouldn’t be leaving him out.

Tip: (9) She Za Boss $4.65

Also Backing: (2) Valario $19.20 E/W

Betting Strategy: 2.5 units WIN She Za Boss B3TSP, 0.5 unit WIN Valario B3TSP, 1 unit PLACE Valario B3TSP

Odds Last Updated: February 7, 2021, 12:06pm (AEDT)

Hard to go past (4) Ingear here for the Tony Gollan stable.

She was ultra-impressive first-up at Eagle Farm over the 1000m and simply toyed with the field, saluting easily by 2.8 lengths. She is drawn well and the extra 200m suits, so she should win this one easily.

(12) Portuguese Tart flew home in the TAB Highway at Randwick early last month, taking the talented Pinnacle Prince right up to the line. She finished 0.2 of a length in second, in what was a massive run. I think this is a touch easier than what she faced on that day and I think again could be a touch of overs. If the track is playing fair, watch for her late.

(6) Soubrette looks the best of the rest, in what should be a pretty straight forward race.

Tip: (4) Ingear $1.50

Betting Strategy: No Bet

Odds Last Updated: February 7, 2021, 12:06pm (AEDT)

Looking for Tony Gollan to go back-to-back here with Nicconi filly.

(9) Nicci’s Spirit missed the kick last start which put her in a poor position early on before coming off heels and accelerating nicely in the straight to only go down by half a length to stable mate Bleu Zebra and rival (7) Tycoon Evie. She is nicely once again and gets in light with just 54kg on her back. The step up to 1400m suits and if she jumps with them here, she is likely to put herself in a nice position around fifth or sixth. She meets (7) Tycoon Evie half a kilo better off for the run and the poor draw for her will automatically put query in her jockey’s mind as to where she will end up in the run.

(5) Bellissimi Amici is coming off an impressive three length victory at this track and distance last time out and will be looking to make it two in a row here. She loves Eagle Farm, is drawn ideally and is fighting fit. There is no reason why she cannot be fighting out the finish.

(8) He Knows will likely drop back from the poor gate and give his rivals a start. He will be flying home late.

Tip: (9) Nicci’s Spirit $6.50 E/W

Also Backing: (5) Bellissimi Amici $5.10

Betting Strategy: 1 unit EACH WAY Nicci’s Spirit B3TSP, 1 unit WIN Bellissimi Amici B3TSP

Odds Last Updated: February 7, 2021, 12:06pm (AEDT)

If we back these two, I am sure we will be collecting.

(3) Stuttering goes on top purely from a map perspective and the fact that he is so consistent. Two back he finished 2.2 lengths off Stampe and only 0.2 of a length off Roman Aureus, who has since come out and won. He then went to the Gold Coast, where he almost beat The Odyssey in the final event on the card but had to settle for a 0.1 of a length second placing. He loves the 1400m and he will be sitting in the first two or three from the favourable draw. He will look the winner at some point in the straight.

(4) Fisticuffs is a good horse but based on his racing pattern and the draw, he could have a terrible time. He beat home a nice field at the Gold Coast last start, but he was also blessed with a wide draw. If he can get into a nice run in-transit, we could be in trouble late with our top pick.

(6) Maddi Rocks looks the only likely danger from a poor draw.

Tip: (3) Stuttering $5.50

Also Backing: (4) Fisticuffs $3.65

Betting Strategy: 1 unit WIN Stuttering B3TSP, 2 units WIN Fisticuffs B3TSP