Hotting up in Brisbane
Published: 29 Apr 2016
Almost ready for action - The Eagle Farm racecourse has undergone expensive renovations
Sydney has wrapped up it's Autumn Carnival and all the big stables are booking horse floats north for the beginning of the Queensland Carnival. Action starts this weekend with the running of the Group Two Victory Stakes, which sees Group One TJ Smith runner-up FELL SWOOP line up against Godolphin's KNOYDART, who was many lengths behind in the same race.
It only gets bigger and better from there, seven weeks of Group racing culminating in a massive Stradbroke Handicap Day at Eagle Farm on the 11th June. It's going to be the first time we've seen the track since renovations began in 2014, a much needed revamp of one of Australia's oldest race courses.
The Horses to Watch and Feature Race Schedule are shown below.
Horses to Watch
TOP OF MY LIST and FALKENBERG in the Queensland Oaks
They both finished behind favourite IMPOSING LASS last start at Rosehill but they could be the two most progressive types up to 2,400 metres. TOP OF MY LIST hit the line very hard at only her third start and FALKENBERG didn't seem fully wound up for the Snowden stable.
We know the father and son Snowden stable are masters at getting their horses ready for a grand final.
MUSIC MAGNATE in the Stradbroke
He's the perfect type for this Group One Handicap, an improving sprinter with tactical speed, a turn-of-foot and the toughness to dig in for the fight. Proved first-up he's in the same league as the better sprinters with a narrow win over KNOYDART.
Early Stradbroke Market
The current CrownBet market for the feature Group One is shown below.
- Azkadellia 4.2
- Black Heart Bart 4.8
- English 7
- Malaguerra 7.5
- Fell Swoop 7.5
- Counterattack 11
- Xtravagant 11
- Ghisoni 11
- Delectation 13
- Music Magnate* 13 click here to bet
- Vashka 15
- Happy Clapper 15
- Suavito 17
- Admiral 17
- Our Boy Malachi 17
- Watermans Bay 17
- Japonisme 17
- Santa Ana Lane 17
- Supido 17
Click here and select 'Racing Futures' to see all early markets
Feature Race Schedule
Doomben 30th April
GROUP 2 NATIONAL FIRE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION QLD VICTORY STAKES 1200m
Prize Money $200,000
Gold Coast 7th May
GROUP 2 HOLLINDALE STAKES DAY 1800m
Prize Money $358,000
Doomben 14th May
GROUP 2 UBET BTC CUP 1200m
Prize Money $500,000
Doomben 21st May
GROUP 1 HARDY BROTHERS DOOMBEN CUP 2000m
Prize Money $650,000
Doomben 28th May
GROUP 1 DOOMBEN 10,000 1350m
Prize Money $750,000
Eagle Farm 4th June
GROUP 1 TREASURY CASINO & HOTEL QUEENSLAND OAKS 2400m
Prize Money $500,000
Eagle Farm 11th June
GROUP 1 STRADBROKE HANDICAP 1400m
Prize Money $1,500,000
GROUP 1 CHANNEL SEVEN QUEENSLAND DERBY 2400m
Prize Money $600,000
GROUP 1 BMW J.J. ATKINS 1600m
Prize Money $600,000
IPSWICH 18th June
LISTED CHANNEL 7 IPSWICH CUP 2150m
Prize Money $175,000
EAGLE FARM 25th June
GROUP 1 SKY RACING TATTERSALL'S CLUB TIARA 1400m
Prize Money $500,000