While off-track it may be somewhat of a calm before the storm of the Ladbrokes Inter Dominion Carnival over the next two Saturday nights, on-track the action does not look like slowing down.
Tonight, will see several horses out to improve or at least fortify their rankings for ID23 which will be finalised on Monday.
RACE ONE
MR MCLAREN (4) will be trying to give his ID ranking a timely boost and he looks to have found the conditions to bounce back to winning form. Nothing has been in his favour in two runs back this prep and with a trial to iron out the kinks, he finds the race for Leader Peter to do his thing. CLASSIE WASHINGTON (3) will ensure that its not one-way traffic, the gelding stepping up in the Be Good Johnny Sprint in style, attacking the line stoutly in the closing stages. Early mapping looks his conundrum. BOMBADIER JUJON (1) will appreciate an improved gate after some tough alleys and should secure the ideal trip in behind the speed. A fence trip is gold in this grade and the place market appeals. HY VOLTAGE (10) steps back to Saturday company off the back of successive midweek wins. The gate hurts.
MR MCLAREN (4) to win / BOMBADIER JUJON (1) to place
RACE TWO
It is a tough ask to return from a spell against race hardened company at the metro level and that is what TEDDY DISCO (4) had to do last start when first up in nine months. He led deep into the stretch when grabbed late. He should be fitter for that run and can press forward again for the bounce back. GOTTA GO MILKING (9) went to the line searching for gaps here last week and never really had a decent crack at them. That was from a tough gate at the middle trip, he just needs some luck on his side from another second line gate. NURBURGRING (1) held on for 3rd last start from the pocket trip and maps for the same run again here. Holding on for some place money in that, a repeat performance looks likely. ROCK SUPREME (7) was impressive first up from a spell last time out when sent to the front and able to dictate with an all the way victory. Gate 7 asks some questions that he may not have the answer to.
TEDDY DISCO (4) to win
RACE THREE
With an ID23 Ranking increase a big carrot to connections of CAPTAIN SHUFFLES (1), he secures the ideal gate to look to force his way into the Series. Luckless when resuming, his second up effort was super after sitting parked. He can run a sub 52 mile in front and that makes it tough for anything chasing to reel him in. TIMS A TROOPER (10) faces a tough ask from outside the second line with all the power tight on the front. First up for a month in the Qld Cup last week behind Leap To Fame, he will be working at some stage, and has the class to be a factor. I CAST NO SHADOW (2) was not that far from them in the Be Good Johnny but was hampered by gate 6 when second up. He can springboard into the Inters from this. ALTA REVELRY (3) is going well without a great deal in his favour. That looks the case again here as where he maps in the run looks awkward.
CAPTAIN SHUFFLES (1) to win
RACE FOUR
CAPTAIN OF SPEED (1) should appreciate a return to mare’s company for this contest and comes up with the ideal gate with her good arm speed. A winner against her own sex three runs back when dictating, she has clashed with the ‘boys’ her past two. Can she see it out? GWYNETH P (8) has hit back into some nice form in recent outings and built her confidence back up. Backing up from Tuesday, she was chasing down a hat-trick of victories when rattling hard to finish 2nd. A specialist off a pocket trip up the passing lane, conditions look right in her favour. MADAMOISELLE JUJON (3) chased gamely along the inside last start when runner-up to Soextra. Positioning cheaply will be key to her podium claims. MIGHT AS WELL (2) has been racing in good touch, albeit without much luck in her past two. A winner three starts back, she has early speed to find a handy spot.
Trifectas: 1-2-8 / 1-2-3-8
RACE FIVE
Backing up from Tuesday where she was an all the way winner from a wide gate, SHEZA CRACKER (1) can look to make it two in the week lighting the lamps. Able to secure a breather in the middle stages on Tuesday, it might need to be a slicker time for this, but the gate gives her every chance for the repeat. JAZIAH (8) should get her chance to stalk the speed and comes into this in form with a win at Redcliffe two starts back when finishing hard from back in the field. Placed in 9 of 19 on this deck, can she get the gold trip to crack her first win at The Creek. JO AN JO (7) is afforded no favours from this alley but should take some benefit from her last start when resuming from a spell for the new barn. Back to her own sex will assist the process. SISTA BLISS (10) is another that should enjoy a battle against her own sex after some nice efforts in recent weeks.
SHEZA CRACKER (1) to win
RACE SIX
PACIFICO DREAM (1) arrives in Qld for the Dixon stable and looks a rating certainty against his opposition. Winning is not just about the rating, but this guy has tackled some big races in an interrupted career. Blowing out the cobwebs in a trial to prepare for the first up run, he attacked the line, and the inside gate strengthens the argument. ARGYLE (9) had put together five successive runs in the money until ending the streak here last week when unplaced behind Rock Supreme. He cops another stiff gate which does not make it any easier, but still looks a bog hope. LUXURY LAD (2) will be hoping to bring his Redcliffe form to town after a pair of slick wins in his past two starts. Carving out dictating wins in each of his past two, gate 2 assists the chase for 3. ROCKTAGONAL (8) secure the ideal gate to chase the poles and shortcuts which puts him in the calculations of finding the money.
PACIFICO DREAM (1) to win
RACE SEVEN
It was a tough effort from the smart 2YO IRON CLAD (5) here last week after making a move with a lap to travel and then fighting on to take the verdict. That was his first run back in Qld following a NSW campaign and he looks to be a smart colt. ROCKON ROCKY (1) will relish the improved gate after doing it the tradesman’s way here last week when forced to race without over and then run the winner Iron Clad to a 2m margin. With good speed out of the machine, he will secure the options required to challenge. BRONSKI ZULU (6) was second up from a spell here last week when working to the front but had to settle for 3rd, just fading late in the stretch. Added fitness is a plus, the wide gate takes any benefit that may bring. COSMIC FLYER (8) looked set to wind up and slingshot past them in the stretch in the same race most of these come through from last week, but could not reel them in. It looks a likely repeat from this alley.
IRON CLAD (5) to win
RACE EIGHT
If able to claim a win in this grade, then it looks the right time for WHATA JOURNEY (1) to step forward and stake a claim to victory. Racing consistently in recent week, she scored from a tough gate two starts back in easier grade and was good last time from outside the second line. Gate 1 gives her the chance to cash in. APHRODITE (4) is on the four day back up after looking the winner here on Tuesday, ultimately coming up an eyelash short of the prize. Chasing home behind the talented 3YO King Vance two starts back, she will be getting forward to ask some questions of her opponents. GOLDIES A DELIGHT (5) faces a mapping concern here but could not have been any more impressive with her last start Redcliffe victory. That was from the front where she was dealing and claimed an 18m margin. SERGIOS ROCKET (8) is another that will be trying to transfer Redcliffe winning form into results here on the big deck. If she can be no further than three back on the inside, her hopes rise.
WHATA JOURNEY (1) to win
RACE NINE
It has been somewhat of a shaky preparation for ID23 for the talented mare ADELLE (7), but she can look to fortify her upcoming assault on the premier Series by bouncing back to victory here. Doing it tough outside the leader last week when Funny Face arrived, her campaign can be resurrected. MY ULTIMATE EDDIE (1) will need Racing Queensland to announce three heats to be held for trotters if he is going to squeeze into the Inters, but he will also need to put his best forward in this. Super consistent in recent starts, he needs to convert them into victory. FUNNY FACE (8) darted through from the trail here last week to claim an ID Golden Ticket with victory in the Spring Sprint. Another soft pole trip beckons here and watch for her rattling in the stretch. VAN SANK (6) is first up from a spell off the back of a smart trial. The wide gate and with bigger prizes ahead might mean he will need this run
ADELLE (7) to win
RACE TEN
If the title of best 3YO in Qld was up for debate, then FOR REAL LIFE (4) produced a convincing dossier of evidence that the title is rightly his, following his brilliant win in the feature event here last week. He meets some of the same horses he disposed of in that event where he was resuming from a let up and interrupted campaign and put the blowtorch on them. Nothing suggests he cannot repeat. FRANKIE FEROCIOUS (2) was trying to do it from the front last week and will likely find himself in front again this time around. Last time he was keen in front and putting a sub 27 third panel up undone his own chances. Control will be key to changing the result. ALWAYS SMOKIN (3) was asked to cut the breeze last start at the mile and was fighting hard when 6m from Ok Boomer. The rise to the 2138 looks within his capabilities. ARODA (5) comes out of the same Ok Boomer race where he was trying to make ground wider out. The wider gate with the main power to his inside make it a tough ask.
FOR REAL LIFE (4) to win