RACE COVERAGE : EAGLE FARM 23 MAY

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

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

RACE ONE - 11:15AM XXXX DRY QTIS TWO-YEARS-OLD CLASS 3 HANDICAP 1200M

1^st – Cosmic Gossip – Stuart Kendrick – Matthew McGillivray

2^nd – Ready For Magic – Robert Heathcote – Jim Byrne

3^rd – Tumbler Ridge – Steven O’Dea – Justin Huxtable

Trainer Comments - Stuart Kendrick

"Really plasing to see her come out and do that, she'd only had the one soft little trial coing in and we thought she might need the run, but she was really strong through the line."

"I think we've figured out that she likes to be ridden off the tempo now, when we've gone froward she just hasn't responded and her one win before today up at Caloundra Matty (McGillivray) rode her similar to today out the back."

"It's a very promising start to her career, she already had a stakes win in her first prep and now we'll probably push on to the J.J. Atkins."

"We understand just about every talented two-year-old is heading there but she's earnt the chance."

Race Review –

Stuart Kendrick has three engaged in the QTIS 2YO’s over 1200 metres at Eagle Farm, but it was Cosmic Gossip who was head and shoulders above the rest, ridden cold by Matthew McGillivray before rounding them all up in the straight.

McGillivray took the filly straight to the tail of the small field, Ready For Magic and Tumbler Ridge going at each other out in front giving backmarkers the chance to run on.

Still last until entering the straight McGillivray pulled Cosmic Gossip to the extreme outside before she balanced up and started to sprint.

There was a line of three at the two hundred, but Tumbler Ridge soon dropped off leaving Ready For Magic and Cosmic Gossip to fight it out, the filly with too much momentum to win by a half.

A top notch training effort by Kendrick turned the filly out in great order for her first up assignment, it’s worth keeping an eye on Wolf Moon who won on debut at the Sunshine Coast, the only horse to beat her home in a recent trial.

A Stakes winner her first preparation Kendrick seemingly has the pick of the two-year-old races with the filly who looks like she could get further than the 1200 metres.

RACE TWO - 11:50AM ASCOT GREEN CLASS 6 PLATE 1400M

1^st – Red Chase – Desleigh Forster – Taylor Marshall

2^nd – Thy Kingdom Come – John Thompson – Ryan Maloney

3^rd – Tricky Gal – Matthew Smith – Baylee Nothdurft

Trainer Comments - Desleigh Forster

"Around the six hundred when the sydney horse took off around him it looked like it took him by surprise and he lost focus for a few strides, but taylor (Marshall) got his mind bvack on the job."

"Taylor has a great rapport with this horse he's ridden him his last three in a row and he's not an easy horse to ride.

He likes to play up a bit and I told Taylor (Marshall) just watch him today and be weary of any of his old tricks, but he looked to go fine."

"I thought it was a really brave effort considering the mid-race move, we had to change tactics and get to the outside and he's only a little horse, so to carry 59 kilos and win was a tough win."

Race Review –

There was no time to relax in second from Eagle Farm over the 1400 metres, the tactical affair resulted in a race that changed complextion several times, but despite the topsy turvy nature it was once again Desleigh Forster's Red Chase coming out on top three wins a a row since a gear change.

Drawn the middle of the line Red Chase mapped to get an easy run one off the fence, but best ridden with cover in form hoop Taylor Marshall pushed forward and was momentarily stuck three wide before he slotted in the leaders back a nice piece of riding.

Ryan Maloney was not going to let the favourite have it all his own way taking off at the seven hundred in a lightning mid-race move to take up the front.

Not wanting to give John Thompson’s galloper too much reign Marshall hurried his mount up to stay in touch with the leader who gave a good kick at the top of the lane.

Thy Kingdom Come was brave, but Red Chase is in the form of his life and used the vast expanses of Eagle Farm to gun down the leader in the last hundred metres.

It’s been an amazing turnaround for the gelding who looked out of sorts earlier this prep before Forster took the blinkers off, he’s been a different horse since.

RACE THREE - 12:25PM CANADIAN CLUB CLASS 6 HANDICAP 1000M

1^st – Wirnpa – Peter & Will Hulbert – Madeleine Wishart

2^nd – Truculent – Gary Duncan – Taylor Marshall

3^rd – Desert Man – Kelly Schweida – Stephanie Thornton

Race Review –

Peter and Will Hulbert take out the Class 6 Plate over the dashing 1000 metres at Eagle Farm, the sprinter presenting strongly down the middle of the track under apprentice Madeleine Wishart.

There is always plenty of speed on from the 1000 metre start at Eagle Farm, Royal Witness sitting four abreast the trip while Wishart was able to tuck in behind the four leading horses.

One by one the leaders dropped off up the long straight it was soon a two-horse affair Wirnpa who surged to the lead below the two hundred trying to hold of Truculent who had his back the whole trip.

The Hulbert galloper was too good in the end punched out three-quarters a winner by Wishart, Wirnpa back in the winner’s circle after finishing last to the talented Isotope only two starts ago.

The six-year-old gelding has always been a thousand metre specialist mostly at the mid-week metros and provincials, but third up showed he’s up to city grade this time in.

RACE FOUR - 1:00PM TAB BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP 1800M

1st – Red Stina – Rex Lipp – Stephanie Thornton

2nd – Seat of Power – Gary Duncan – Taylor Marshall

3rd – So Dapper – John & Sheila Laxon

Race Review –

You couldn’t find a more deserving winner than Rex Lipp’s four-year-old mare Red Stina, who finally broke through this prep over the 1800 metres at Eagle Farm after a trio of near misses.

The mare has been known as a bridesmaid, three wins and eleven placings in her twenty-four starts until today’s win, but looks set to breakout after todays dominant win.

The strike rate has a lot to do with her racing pattern she almost always goes back and charges home and can sometimes dig an even deeper hole by walking out of the gates,

Steph Thornton was always going to ride her cold today from barrier thirteen, letting Jedafair and second placed Seat Of Power roll along in front.

Thornton got her interested a little earlier pulling out three wide travelling into the race at an even tempo.

The leaders never got too much of a break and the mare had them shot to bits below the two hundred, clearly appreciating the big Eagle Farm circuit another winner coming from well back in the field.

RACE FIVE - 1:40PM TAB BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP 1200M

1^st – Plenty – Stuart Kendrick – Jake Bayliss

2^nd – Totally Charmed – Steven O’Dea – Boris Thornton

3^rd – Elixir – Les Kelly – Justin Huxtable

Race Review –

A belter of a ride from Jake Bayliss has seen Plenty take out the Benchmark 78 1200 metre event at Eagle Farm for trainer Stuart Kendrick, back to back wins for the gelding who saluted just over a week ago at his home track Corbould Park.

There were similarities between the wins both coming from well back in a big field, the horse proving he is up to Saturday metropolitan company.

From the good gate (2) Bayliss let the four-year-old drift back from the draw eventually settling third last the fence off a genuine speed set by Solar Star and Shooting Love.

Things got sticky at the top of the straight where Plenty was shuffled back to last as most runners peeled wide to run on with the pattern of the day.

Bayliss had different ideas making ground through the middle of runners before shooting for a gap on the rail which had been unwanted so far today, but in a head bobber he managed to grab Totally Charmed on the post.

RACE SIX - 2:15PM MOET & CHANDON CHAMPAGNE CLASSIC 1200M

1^st – Rothfire – Robert Heathcote – Jim Byrne

2^nd – Isotope – Tony Gollan – Baylee Nothdurft

3^rd – Wild Ruler – Peter & Paul Snowden – Ryan Maloney

Race Review –

Robert Heathcote has won the Group Two Champagne Classic with star two-year-old Rothfire, the gelding dictating terms to his rivals from start to finish, bouncing to the lead and never relinquishing.

It is redemption for Heathcote and the horse’s connections who looked assured for a big pay day when he ran $1.20 favourite on a slow track from a bad draw in the Two-Year-Old QTIS Jewel where he ran second.

That run is the only slight blemish on his immaculate record now a Group Two winner at start six and Heathcote saw it coming as he dubbed the horse his best prospect since champion Group One sprinter Buffering.

Freshened up since the QTIS Jewel Rothfire was flawless today, bouncing a length in front of his rivals from that gates taking up his favourite front running role, Byrne easing him to the centre of the track to let down.

Byrne kept him well held until the final furlong, Isotope and Wild Ruler chased hard, but it was in vain as they couldn’t make a dent into the margin.

Recently returned from a serious injury credit must go to Byrne as well who did everything right with the steer.

RACE SEVEN - 2:55PM LEXUS GUNSYND CLASSIC 1800M

1^st – Supergiant – Michael Costa – Allan Chau

2^nd – Ballistic Boy – Chris Anderson – Brad Stewart

3^rd – Kinane – Chris Waller – Ryan Maloney

Trainer Comments - Michael Costa

"I was pretty lucky to pick him up over in New Zealand for $70,000, we really liked what we'd seen of him and I think we only got the price because he was out of an unproven sire in Red Giant."

"We could have syndicated him about five times over there was that much interest in him, we were quite surprised but he's lived up to our expectations and more."

"We purchased the horse in Nomvember were able to win his maiden first up before giving him a spell and now we come back in the May and win a Group race with him at start number five."

"I'm really excited about what he can do down the track he's still got plenty to learn he's a big strong horse who probably hasn't fully filled out yet, the best is yet to come."

"We'll go to the Rough Habit in a fortnight's time with him where he should run well, but I'm really looking forward to Spring where we can bring him back fully furnished and see his full potential."

"All credit to Allan Chau he's always putting in the extra work at home and knows how to roll along in front on this guy really well, great to reward him winning a race like this as well."

Race Review –

Michael Costa’s three-year-old Supergiant is a Group Three winner at start five holding on by a nostril from the fast finishing Ballistic Boy to win the Gunsynd Classic in a thrilling contest.

The son of Red Giant ran a huge race at odds in the Doomben Guineas last start, almost leading the whole way over the mile gunned down by the smart Vanna Girl late.

It was a huge run considering the class jump from mid-week racing to Group company and punters took notice keeping him safe at around $10 for this week’s assignment.

Supergiant did over the 1800 metres what Rothfire did over the 1000 simply ran them off their legs, regular hoop Allan Chau again going straight to the front and approaching the turn he had the majority of the field off the bit.

He looked all out a winner below the two hundred but was entitled to get weary first time over the trip for such a young horse, Chris Anderson’s Ballistic Boy emerging on the scene a brilliant piece of riding from Brad Stewart seeing him slice through the field.

They couldn’t be split by the naked eye and even as far as cameras go it was as close as it gets, but Supergiant held on for the Gold Coast trainer who stuck with regional rider Chau, who has been associated with the horse from his first start.

RACE EIGHT - 3:35PM TAB VICTORY STAKES 1200M

1^st – Victorem – Jenny Graham – Mark Du Plessis

2^nd – Niccanova – Steve Tregea – Jimmy Orman

3^rd – Deep Image – Robert Heathcote – Stephanie Thornton

Stable Rep - Barry Lockwood

"Jenny is stuck down in New South Wales with the Covid-19 restrictions, but she gave me a call and asked me if I could take care of this fellow and I knew how good he could go, so I said sure and have just followed her instructions."

"Very important hanving experience on the track with the big long straight the horse knew not to go too early and Eagle Farm obviously agrees with him."

"I wasn't too concerned about his bad run first up, nothing went right and when we trialled him afterwards he went great, it was just one of those days."

"Mark Du Plessis is booked for the Stradbroke, so I dare say there will be a number of calls about getting on this horses back."

"Jenny and I go back to Port Macquarie growing up next door to eachother having a drink, I'm sure she'll be having a few tonight."

Race Review –

Jenny Graham may base her team at Port Macquarie, but her horses feel right at home in Queensland, Victorem returning to a happy hunting ground at Eagle Farm winning the suitably named Group Two Victory Stakes in fine fashion.

Veteran hoop Mark Du Plessis was able to secure a run midfield off the fence, saving every penny for what would be a frantic finish.

The Gelding travelled strongly into the straight behind leaders Deep Image and Winter Bride, but Du Plessis soon found a wall of horses in front of him approaching the pointy end of the race.

The rider was able to switch back to the inside with most runners preferring the wider going and thread through a tiny gap between Winter Bride and Tambo’s Mate suddenly thrusting himself to victory by a neat length.

It has been some training performance for Graham, before this trip to Queensland the horses last race was the Kosciusko where he ran a bold second.

Graham did her due diligence in the build up to the Victory Stakes a trial in late April followed by a run in early May the polish put on earlier this week with another Doomben trial.

The lightly raced gelding has an outstanding record eight wins and six minors from nineteen starts and well in excess of a million dollars in earnings, the Group Two victory is a cherry on top.

RACE NINE - 4:15PM MITTYS BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP 1400M

1^st – Potro Duro – Toby & Trent Edmonds – Justin Huxtable

2^nd – Ella Divine – Robert Heathcote – Mark Du Plessis

3^rd – Lope For Joya – Les Ross – Robbie Fradd

Race Review –

Potro Duro is a noted leader and Justin Huxtable wasn’t going to let a car park draw keep him from his favourite role on the speed getting across and speeding away mid-race with Shijin for company.

The pair put up near enough to eight lengths on third approaching the turn, Shijin was first to get the stitch dropping back to the field sharply but with Justin Huxtable easing the 60.5 kilos the handicappers had given him the grey drove on defying Ella Divine by a neat length on the line.

The All Too Hard gelding is in career best touch for Toby & Trent Edmonds coming off back to back wins on his home track at Aquis Park and has shown he’s capable of handling the jump to Saturday company.