3 minute read

A big day of Group 1 racing across two states with four features to be decided. The Timeform Team at Racing and Sports have run the ruler over each contest.

Timeform Preview – Turnbull Stakes

The Turnbull Stakes is a key junction in the spring. The early sparring is over and it's time for horses to finalise their build-ups to the Cups and/or the Cox Plate.

It's certainly a pivot point for the Queensland Derby-winner Mr Quickie  who ran a cracking trial at his spring return in the Makybe Diva. 

He was the big eye-catcher from back in the field there, leaving plenty in his wake as he launched from the back half of the field to grab third and finish on the heels of runner-up Mystic Journey and surprise winner Gatting who had both raced on-speed. 

He ran to a Timeform rating of 116p there, up 2lbs on the Queensland Derby win that signed off an extremely successful three-year-old campaign where he won no less than nine times.

The Queensland Derby has hardly proven a spring pointer in recent times. It has been more of a Hong Kong showcase with the likes of Werther, Eagle Way and Dark Dream quickly shuttled offshore following good runs there. 

In fact, the last horse to come through the Queensland Derby to win at the top level in the Australian spring was Shocking back in 2009 who was beaten at Eagle Farm before winning the Melbourne Cup later that year.

That hardly bodes well for Mr Quickie but his fresh run says that he has trained right on and that he is capable of turning the tables with star filly Mystic Journey out to 2000m.

Mystic Journey will be no easy nut to crack, however, and clearly heads the field on Timeform ratings with her All Star Mile win back in the autumn earning her a mark of 124.

She has been short of that in two runs this time around but she has hardy disappointed. She was a winner off a slow tempo first up, powering away late in the piece to win in better style than the margin suggested, and then perhaps just got slightly caught out last time going a month between runs into a much higher-tempo race over the mile.

She stuck to her guns and while unable to improve on her fresh rating she was able to hold that level.

We could expect to see a big peak now third up and that would see her the likely winner on Saturday, but for the 2000m. It's unlikely that she could get away with the race merely holding her form out to the longer trip – she is going to need to get back to something like her best.

Two sons of the unparalleled Frankel line up in the Turnbull – Finche and Rostropovich – and both have a hope.

Finche comes off a fine win in the Kingston Town and last year's Melbourne Cup fourth looks on track to better than effort in 2019. He should run well despite being likely to improve over further again.

Rostropovich comes off the same preparation as Mr Quickie. A solid return in the Makybe Diva has him ready to improve out to this trip now, but like Finche he should prove even better when stepped out to 2400m and beyond for the Cups.

Hartnell is backing up from last week's Underwood and the old champ, a previous winner of this race and is breathtaking fashion, deserves a mention. 

He has been below his very best this time in but at the same time he has fronted up and run bravely in each of his four runs.

While not at his absolute best he has been good enough to keep the idea of a return to something like it on the table. There is no doubt that his best is good enough and he must be considered.

Timeform Preview - The Epsom

Chris Waller chases his fourth Epsom Handicap on Saturday having won three straight in 2015.

He has run second the last two years running with Mackintosh also running third in 2016, no question it is a target race for Australia's biggest stable.

Four-year-old Kolding  heads his assault and appears very well placed off the back of his win in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap [1400m], the same path Boban took en-route to his victory in 2013.

Gelded at the end of February, Kolding has since won five of six attempts, his only defeat coming first up when having no luck behind Dreamforce.

Rated 118 by Timeform, he is very well placed with 50.5kg and jockey Glen Boss certainly knows how to get it done.

He has carried 52kg or less 13 times this century (in either Epsoms or Doncasters) for five wins and two placings.

The middle draw allows him to get into a good spot midfield and with even luck, he should prove very hard to beat.

The John Thompson trained Dreamforce brings the best form into the race, having finished second behind Avilius last start at weight-for-age.

Rated 122 by Timeform, he is up against it at the weights, but is open to further improvement third up and the wide draw is no hindrance, as he is sure to adopt a prominent position for the in-form Nash Rawilller.

The James Cummings trained Cascadian has been solid enough in two runs in Australia and should be right at his peak racing third up.

Formerly trained by Andre Fabre, Cascadian finished  a narrow second in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat [1600m] and left French shores rated 117 by Timeform, a figure which leaves him very well placed on Saturday.

Of the rest the Jamie Richards trained Te Akau Shark has to come into calculations following a sound Australian debut.

A dominant winner of Group 2 Bakeries Mile [1600m], Te Akau Shark is rated 118+ by Timeform and gets his chance with James McDonald booked.

The wide draw means he is likely to get a long way back, but should be very strong late.

Of the rest the Kris Lees trained El Dorado Dreaming is more than capable based on her placing in this year's Coolmore Classic and cannot be underestimated.

Timeform Preview - The Metropolitan

The Hayes And Dabernig trained Neufbosc makes the trip up the highway and appears well placed in Saturday's Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap.

Only a recent addition to the stable, Neufbosc showed good improvement at Caulfield last start and appears set to peak racing fourth up.

Formerly trained by Pia Brandt, he boasts some very strong form in France, most notably finishing second in the Group 1 Grand Prix De Paris [2400m] behind Kew Gardens.

This very day last year he ran behind Enable in the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc [2400m] and while safely held, he was sent out at 30-1, there isn't a horse in this field that would be less than 100-1.

Leader rider Nash Rawiller takes over, he should prove hard to beat.

The Chris Waller trained Briham Rocks beat him home last start and ran a narrow second in this race last year (when favourite).

Carried 52kg on that occasion so only rises 0.5kg and is arguably going better this year.

McEvoy is back aboard and he's drawn to get a lovely run, has to be respected.

The Mark Newnham trained Scarlet Dream did enough second up and is sure to appreciate the step up in trip.

Her effort to finish second in the Australian Oaks [2400m] last preparation, leaves her well placed at the weights  and she should get her chance from the inside draw.

Of the rest the Waterhouse And Bott trained Stampede appears the next in line.

On the quick back up for the second week in a row, he was dominant on-speed at Rosehill last weekend and rates well at the weights with Adam Hyeronimus sticking aboard.

He should make his own luck out in front and give them all something to run down.

Flight Stakes

This year's Flight Stakes looks a race in two with Funstar and Probabeel holding a clear class edge over their rivals.

Very little split the two fillies in the lead up and they both appear set to peak getting out to the mile.

Slight lean towards Funstar as the small field is unlikely to see a strong tempo and she possesses the best turn of foot.

Probabeel was very strong at the end of 1400m, but if it is a sit and sprint, she might struggle to pick up Funstar.

Either way they have panels on the rest and look set to fight it out.