By David Nagel
The Cranbourne training partnerships of Ciaron Maher/David Eustace and Trent Busuttin/Natalie Young will look to spoil the party for locals on a great card of racing at Eagle Farm today.
One of the greatest days on the Queensland racing calendar includes three Group 1’s, two Group 2’s and four Group-3’s, as well as a Listed race to finish off the card.
Race five on the program kicks off the Group-1 action, with the Annabel Neasham-trained Zaaki set to start a pronounced favourite in the $1million XXXX Doomben Cup (2100m).
Zaaki has had a three-week break between runs, since winning the Group-2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast at his last start.
The $1million Queensland Derby (2400m) is a more open affair, with several three-year-olds looking to stake their claim as the future star of the Australian staying ranks.
Champion trainer Chris Waller has two great chances in the mile-and-a-half classic, with Paternal and Caboche set to be given gun runs with champion jockeys Hugh Bowman and James McDonald in the saddle.
And the Group-1 racing concludes with the running of the $700,000 Kingsford Smith Cup over 1300 metres.
The Maher/Eustace camp have engaged jockey John Allen to ride their consistent four-year-old mare Away Game.
The daughter of Snitzel/Elusive Wonder has been knocking the door down in Group-1 company this year, running second to flying-machine Marabi in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield before running second again to Sanpdancer in the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville at her last start.
Away game could be good value at the $17 on offer.
The Maher/Eustace team will also be looking to bookend the program with wins, with Biscayne Bay at single-figure odds in race one before Dirty Thoughts runs around at lucrative odds ($21) in the last.
The Busuttin/Young team has two runners accepted for the meeting, with Chandon Burj ($19) taking on Biscayne Bay in the opening race on the card before Flash Aah gives them a great chance of victory in race two – the $200,000 Group-3 Premier’s Cup (2400m).
Flash Aah has had three stars this prep, winning at Bendigo ahead of consecutive seconds at Flemington and Caulfield.
And Pakenham-trainer Peter Moody bolsters the local contingent with two runners in race four, the $1million XXXX Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
Brereton, ridden by gun jockey Jamie Kah, would appear to be the pick of his runners, but don’t write off the chances of Merchant Prince, who possesses a powerful finish and will be suited by the seven-furlong journey.
Jockey Luke Nolen, who shared great success with Moody and his champion mare Black Caviar, will take the ride on Written Tycoon two-year-old colt.
Biscayne Bay and Chandon Burj will jump from the gates in race one bright and early…at 11.08am.
