LIVE COVERAGE: Eagle Farm 22 February 2020

The Brisbane Racing Club hosts Queensland metropolitan racing at Eagle Farm today. 

Follow our live blog for all the comments from jockeys and trainers, photos and race replays from all nine races on the card. 

Race 1 - 12:37PM PRICELINE PHARMACY ASCOT QTIS Two-Years-Old Handicap (1300 METRES)

1^st – Bellissimi Amici – Robert Heathcote – Robbie Fradd

2^nd – Statesville – Kacy Fogden – Jimmy Orman

3^rd – Mishani Machine – Les Ross – Matthew McGillivray

Trainer – Robert Heathcote

“He’s a brother to Guntantes who’s shown us what he’s capable of we always knew she would get there it’s just taken a little more time.”

“The English translation of her name is beautiful friends and refers to the relationship I’ve had with the owners over many years.”

“Robbie didn’t panic when he came out around them, he balanced her up but once she got into her groove she let down and was strong at the line.”

“She presses on to another two-year-old handicap in a fortnights time at Eagle Farm, she’ll carry a bit more weight than today, but she was the only filly in the race today and put them to the sword.”

“We’re having a wonderful year credit to my staff we’ve got a lovely team from top to bottom.”

Jockey – Robbie Fradd

“She’s a nice little filly, still learning her trade a bit she’s a bit shy around other horses, but in saying that she’s got a good little sprint that put them away today.”

“I ended up in the perfect spot on the rail and had plenty of room to peel out in a small field and get her moving.”

“She’ll get the mile one hundred percent it’s just a matter on when Rob wants to step her up.”

Race 4 - 2:22PM RBWH FOUNDATION One Metro Win This Season Handicap (1600 METRES)

1^st – Akage – Brian Crowley – Baylee Nothdurft

2^nd – Turnberry – Kris Lees – Andrew Mallyon

3^rd – Savwell – David Vandyke – Ryan Maloney

Trainer – Brian Crowley

“I said to Baylee look to get her to the outside but he sort of couldn’t the spot she got in, but he could win on a broom stick at the moment Baylee he’s on fire.”

“That was a super win I’m so pleased for the horse, I picked her up for $1000 my daughter penny bought her as a brood mare and sent her up to me to train.”

“We’ve had a few little issues with her she can be difficult, but she’s rewarded us in spades.”

Jockey – Baylee Nothdurft

“She just refused to settle down the back there, she kept throwing her head up but I eventually got her under control.”

“They rolled along at a real genuine clip and I was very happy following Savwell into the straight, we had to take a little detour back to the inside but her sprint was excellent."

Race 5 - 2:58PM TRUMP FLOORING BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (1000 METRES)

1^st – The Sinner – Natalie McCall – Steph Thornton

2^nd – Gypsy Toff – Tom Button – Zoe White

3^rd – Paper Trade – Peter & Will Hulbert – Dale Smith

Trainer – Natalie McCall

“We knew he had a lot of upside coming from last prep, we were able to give him a good break and were pretty confident he’d step up this time in and I think it’s really paid dividends.”

“The punters might have been put off by his official trial, but he was a little bit soft that day and has had a jumpout since and has really tightened up nicely.”

“He definitely goes to the QTIS Jewel that was the plan all along and he’s a Rocky Sales horse, so he’ll go up for the three-year-old race after that.”

“He’s been ready to go for a couple of weeks now we gave him a bit of work on Thursday morning and he was really switched on and ready to run.”

“He’s learnt a lot he used to shy away from the line a little bit but he was very strong today.’

Jockey – Steph Thornton

“Going through this horses form I thought he was well over the odds, there wasn’t much between him and Gem of Scotland last preparation and he looks to have come on from then.”

“He was working into it really well in the straight I just needed it to open up and once he got off their heels he was a little green but still impressive.”

Race 6 - 3:38PM MULLINS LAWYERS OPEN Handicap (1000 METRES)

1^st – Boom Chicka Boom – Les Kelly – Mark Du Plessis

2^nd – Tycoon Ace – Tony & Maddysen Sears – Adin Thompson

3^rd – Epic Girl – Chris Anderson – Michael Hellyer

Trainer – Les Kelly Jr

“It’s a good habit to have being in the winners circle, two weeks in a row after The Kingdom won last week.”

“He’s just a really good fit hard horse that jumps and runs, if you had a half a dozen Boom Chicka Boom’s you’d be very happy.”

“I was surprised I thought Tony Gollan’s course might go to the front after it led in Sydney, but they left him alone and he wasn’t going to get beaten from the half mile.”

“That’s five out of five from barrier one when he draws the rails, he’s very hard to beat with his early speed you can’t cross him.”

Jockey – Mark Du Plessis

“From barrier one with 54 kilos I was pretty confident we could go to the lead and take a lot of beating.”

“He exploded from the gates that would have put pay to anyone else who wanted to lead.”

Race 8 - 5:00PM TANQUERAY QTIS Three-Years-Old Handicap (1400 METRES)

1^st – Naval Strike – Kevin Kemp – Madeleine Wishart

2^nd – Profit – Chris Anderson – Steph Thornton

3^rd – Dee Day Diva – Robert Heathcote – Robbie Fradd

Trainer – Kevin Kemp

“Shouldn’t have been fifty to one, last start here he was a bit unlucky got caught over on the inside and the start before that he really hit the line strong, I thought he was more of an eight to one shot.”

“I think he was very well in with 51 kilos and Maddy on his back, she does a really good job for us never fault any of her rides, she’s had so many placings I’m rapt to see her breakthrough.”

“He was a bit toey in the enclosure and got way out wide in the straight, but it didn’t hurt him in the end.”

“He should have probably won in town before this, so it’s good to knock one off.”

Jockey – Madeleine Wishart

“It’s my first metro winner and to do it for Kempy who’s supported me through and through it’s something I won’t forget.”

“The horse has been slow away, so we were hoping to be a bit more handy and were able to track the favourite into the race and I had a lapful of horse underneath me.”

“We hit the front a bit early and he started wobbling all over the place didn’t know what was going on but had his momentum up and was too good.”

“I started off with Bryan Dais, spent a bit of time with Paul Butterworth and now am with Tina Cotsiopoulos.”

“I was on the country circuit for about a year and a half and everyone was pushing me to get to town and I’m finally here.”

“It’s been hard at the moment getting rides in town, trying to make a name for yourself.”

“Kempy has been fantastic keeping me on He’s Your Element who we’ve just missed out on a couple of times, but hopefully wins like this can lead to more opportunities.”

Race 9 - 5:40PM MIDORI AND KOYOMI Class 6 Plate (1200 METRES)

1st - Emerald Kingdom - Robert Heathcote - Robbie Fradd

2nd - Qiji Phoenix - Kacy Fogden - Michael Hellyer

3rd - Boomtown Lass - Chris Anderson - Steph Thornton

Trainer - Robert Heathcote

"We managed to bookend the meeting with that win, huge credit to the staff in particular Justin Anderson who rides him at track work every week."

"He's only lightly raced but there's never been anything wrong with the horse we've just let him mature at his on pace and it's paying off now."

"Take nothing away from Robbie Fradd he rides Deep Image very similarly a big sriding front running horse he knows how to pace them."

"I don't think he's up to stakes grade this preparation but five in a row at any track in a feat, there's an open race over 1400 metres in two weeks time."

Jockey - Robbie Fradd

"He's a beautiful horse to ride good gate speed to hold Boomtown Lass out and settled down into a nice rhythm and i didn't have to call on him till the last hundred where he really drew away."

"I think he has to scope to get up over the mile and beyond, but he's done plenty this preparation I'm sure Rob will make the right decision with him."