3 minute read
The Queensland Summer Racing Carnival rolls on this Saturday as we head to Doomben for George Moore Stakes Day.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
Highlights on the ten-race card include the Group 3 Ladbrokes George Moore Stakes and the Listed Mode Stakes.
The country also comes to the city for the Country Cups and the Country Stampede Finals.
Unfortunately, wet weather most of the week in Brisbane will see racing take place on a rain-affected surface.
Our full George Moore Stakes Day preview can be found below.
RACE 1 - 1:03PM: 2YO HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
Valorous Performer (6) is trying to emulate her stablemate Astapor's effort to win here last Saturday.
Rockhampton trainer Clinton Taylor astutely brought the right horse south, and he again looks to have a good winning chance with this daughter of Heroic Valour.
The filly was beaten a nose by Astapor in a trial before running an equivalent time to that horse over 1050m at Rockhampton on debut.
Justin Stanley can go forward and if she handles the wet track then she should be fighting out of the finish.
1 Unit – Valorous Performer (6)
RACE 2 - 1:38PM: THE EAGLE WAY (2000 METRES)
Winsome Star (6) gives the indication that he will appreciate the rise to 2000m in this year's edition of The Eagle Way.
The Symons and Laxon-trained Star Turn colt gave away too much a start and then encountered traffic problems several times but still found the line well when finishing 1.1 lengths sixth over 1600m at the Sunshine Coast last start.
Most of the horses in this race come out of that race so it provides a good guide.
A heavy track shouldn't faze him given his only win came on a wet track.
RACE 3 - 2:13PM: COUNTRY STAMPEDE FINAL (1110 METRES)
This year's Country Stampede Final is typically a tough affair!
I'm going with Miss Hoff (11) who is shooting for her fourth win in a row.
The daughter of Flying Artie has taken to life in Western Queensland well.
The five-year-old mare was strong when after missing the jump, she stormed home to win the Charleville qualifying race last start by two lengths.
Like most horses in this race, she has limited form on a wet track, but she did run super when finishing second by half a length on a heavy Canberra track when with Matthew Smith.
The speed will be on which will help her cause.
1 Unit Each Way – Miss Hoff (11)
RACE 4 - 2:48PM: PIERATA PLATE (1200 METRES)
Deep Respect (4) resumes here for his second preparation after impressing in his first time in work.
The Kelly Schweida-trained three-year-old colt won impressively on debut over this course and distance before a close second at Eagle Farm second-up.
He demonstrated his quality when putting them away easily over 1350m here in his most recent race.
The son of Deep Field has warmed for this first-up assignment by having two trials with the most recent, just this week, proving to be an impressive piece of work over 1050m at Deagon.
Jimmy Orman retains the ride and should be able to settle in a prominent position.
RACE 5 - COUNTRY CUPS CHALLENGE FINAL (1600 METRES)
Art By Concorde (2) enters the Country Cups Challenge Final in terrific form having won all three starts this preparation.
The Craig Smith-trained gelding earned his position in the final by storming home down the outside to win the Yeppoon qualifying race last start over 1400m.
While he won the Battle Of The Bush Final over 1200m in June, he can run out a strong mile proven by his win over the distance at Rockhampton this time last year.
They'll run along which will suit with Kyle Wilson-Taylor settling midfield before launching in the straight.
1 Unit Each Way – Art By Concorde (2)
RACE 6 - 4:08PM: LISTED TAILS STAKES (1600 METRES)
Acquitted (2) grows a leg when the track is wet, boasting a heavy track record of three wins from four starts.
The Kris Lees-trained gelding returned in great order last start when running on powerfully to finish 1.3 lengths second to Ka Bling over 1300m at Newcastle.
He'll be better for the run and easily won a Provincial-Midway Championship qualifier on a heavy Wyong track when second-up last preparation.
A strong speed will help him but he'll need a Jimmy Orman special to navigate from the inside barrier.
RACE 7 - 4:48PM: LISTED MODE STAKES (1200 METRES)
Abounding (3) could not have been more impressive when winning over this course and distance first-up.
The Rob Heathcote-trained Rich Enuff filly overcame the outside gate in the field of 10 to put her rivals to the sword in the straight to win by 1.5 lengths.
That was a month ago and she's since had a tick over trial to keep her up to the mark.
While she has never faced a heavy track, she did go within a head of winning the Listed Bill Carter Stakes last preparation on a Soft 6 surface.
She maps to get a great run for Martin Harley from barrier 3.
RACE 8 - 5:28PM: GROUP 3 LADBROKES GEORGE MOORE STAKES (1200 METRES)
Queensland's leading trainer Tony Gollan has almost had a mortgage on the Group 3 Ladbrokes George Moore Stakes in recent times, winning five of the past eight editions of the summer feature.
Gollan once again has a strong hand with five entrants but I'm going with one of his opponents' horses, the Rob Heathcote-trained superstar Rothfire (1).
'The Thrilla From Chinchilla' resumes here on the back of a nice trial where he cruised around in second gear to win easily.
He races particularly well fresh having won five of nine first-up races so a bold showing can be expected even with 61kg.
He resumed last preparation in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes with a second placing to one of, if not the best sprinter in the world Imperatriz which is A Grade form for this.
He draws perfectly in barrier 1 which should see Ben Thompson either lead or box seat.
RACE 9 - 6:10PM: OPEN Handicap (2000 METRES)
Knight's Choice (3) ran well in his first race back in Queensland last time out after three races during the Sydney Spring Carnival.
The Symons and Laxon-trained son of Extreme Choice worked home strongly over 1600m at the Sunshine Coast, registering the quickest final 200m of the race, to finish fourth by just under a length to Dune Forty Five.
Given he didn't have the clearest path and he pulled up with a cough, there was plenty of merit in the run.
He rises to 2000m for the first time but looks more than capable of running it out strongly.
RACE 10 - 6:40PM: Class 6 Plate (1350 METRES)
National Choice (8) went within a whisker of winning over this course and distance two starts back.
The Rob Heathcote-trained son of Snitzel went one better last start when never looking like losing over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast.
He's now at peak fitness and won well when fifth-up over this course and distance last preparation.
Michael Rodd retains the ride and should be able to settle in a prominent position behind what looks a decent speed.
