Eagle Farm Tips & Preview | Saturday 7 June

Sunrays (13) has only tasted defeat once in her five-start career—and that came against the classy Beadman in the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic two runs back. Despite the 8.25-length margin, the Kelly Schweida-trained daughter of Hellbent found the line strongly, hinting at better to come. And she delivered in style last start, storming home to claim the Listed Bill Carter Stakes over 1350m with an arrogant two-length victory. With Tommy Berry sticking in the saddle and a dream draw in barrier 3, she looks poised to continue her winning ways.

Steady Ready (1) returns to defend his title in the Listed Ladbrokes Lightning Handicap, though he’ll carry an extra 7kg this time around. The Tony & Maddy Sears-trained flyer is a genuine course-and-distance specialist, boasting three wins and two placings from seven starts at Eagle Farm—and he holds the track record to prove it. Cody Collis has formed a perfect partnership with the gelding, winning all three rides aboard him, including two over this track and trip and the King of the Mountain last start. Fresh and fast, he maps to enjoy a prominent run on speed and looks primed to give a bold sight once again.

Pulchritudinous (2) turned heads—and rewarded a few sharp-eyed punters—when she stormed home to win the Group 3 Magic Millions Mile last start, defying a wide run and a seven-week break. The Waterhouse & Bott-trained mare, whose name is as striking as her finish, arrived in Australia last year with a big reputation after claiming the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks. It’s taken time for her to find her feet, but her last-start performance suggests she’s finally acclimatised and back to her best. With that strong win under her belt and added fitness on her side, she looks set to enjoy a soft run under Tim Clark and should be right in the finish again.

A Little Deep (13) returns to Queensland freshened and ready after a gutsy fourth in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville, where she sat outside the lead and was only beaten 1.1 lengths. The Ciaron Maher-trained mare had already signaled her return to form with a powerful win over 1100m at Flemington first-up, and she looks to have been kept right up to the mark during her six-week break. Third-up suits her well—she’s won in this pattern before—and with Craig Williams aboard carrying just 53.5kg, she maps to get a lovely trail just off a hot tempo. Expect her to be charging late.

Coleman (1) hasn’t saluted in over 69 weeks, but the Listed Queensland Day Stakes presents his best opportunity yet to snap the drought. The Chris Waller-trained gelding was doing his best work late when resuming in the Group 2 Victory Stakes over this track and trip, after settling too far back. He had genuine excuses last start in the Group 3 BRC Sprint, where he was found to be lame in the near foreleg. Now third-up and exceptionally well weighted under the set weights conditions, he looks ready to peak. From barrier 1, Kerrin McEvoy should be able to settle him closer in the run and give him every chance. It’s shaping as D-Day for Coleman—and he won’t get a better setup than this.

Rising Pacific (12) is flying this prep, with four wins from his last five starts, and looks well-placed to continue the streak. Trainer Tony Gollan has unlocked the key to the five-year-old—a dry track—and he’ll get ideal conditions again here. Versatility has been a hallmark of his campaign, with wins ranging from 1400m to 1835m, so the drop back to 1500m off a five-week freshen-up looks a smart move. He’s drawn perfectly to do no work in the run for Andrew Mallyon, and with freshness in his legs, he shapes as a major player once again.

Joliestar (10) resumes for the first time since a brilliant runner-up finish behind Jimmysstar in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes, where she surged late to get within half a length of the winner. Importantly, she comfortably accounted for Sunshine In Paris and Benedetta—both of whom she meets again here. The Chris Waller-trained mare is a proven fresh performer, boasting three wins and two placings from five first-up runs. If James McDonald can find cover from a potentially awkward draw, she’ll be storming home late and will take plenty of holding out. But don’t sleep on Payline (6). He was enormous last start, flashing home for third in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000, just half a length off the winner. That followed a slashing return in the Victory Stakes, where he clocked the fastest final 600m of the day to finish eighth. At big each-way odds, Payline shapes as a serious knockout hope.

Benagil (1) may have disappointed on paper in the Group 2 The Roses, finishing 10th and beaten 6.9 lengths, but the run deserves forgiveness—she never saw clear air in the straight and couldn’t build momentum when it mattered. It’s also worth noting that the Glen Thompson-trained filly was targeting the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, not The Roses, and was coming off a four-week freshen-up. Her form prior is elite. She chased home Treasurethe Moment, arguably Australia’s top staying filly, to finish 1.3 lengths second in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes, and two starts back she unleashed a devastating turn of foot to win the Group 1 Australasian Oaks from near last. She brings A1 form lines, should relish the spacious Eagle Farm track, and from barrier 5, Mark Zahra can give her the economical run she needs to bounce back in a big way.

Party Crasher (13) makes the trip from South Australia for the Group 1 Ladbrokes Queensland Derby in red-hot form and with plenty of upside. The Ocean Park gelding has only had five starts but has already chalked up three wins, showing a sharp progression with each outing. He relished the step up from 1400m to 2009m two starts back at Morphettville, scoring a strong 1.5-length win. But it was his most recent performance over 2250m, where he overcame a tricky run to win with authority, that truly stamped his Derby credentials. The booking of Craig Williams is a big plus, and from the inside draw, he’s set to enjoy a soft run in transit. With his staying profile and untapped potential, Party Crasher looks ready to make his presence felt on the big stage.

Zaszou (14) looks set to relish the dry conditions in Saturday’s Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes, with her form clearly dipping on rain-affected tracks. The Phillip Stokes-trained mare arrives from Melbourne off an eight-week freshen-up, and she’s a proven performer first-up—one win and two placings from three fresh runs. She kicked off her last prep with a huge run over 1100m at Flemington, going down by just a head to A Little Deep despite racing in the worst part of the track. Last start in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at Randwick, she settled a long way back but charged home to finish just 1.5 lengths off the winner in sixth—another sign she’s being underrated at this level. With Ethan Brown aboard and a strong tempo expected, she’ll be suited swooping late. If she gets the right run, Zaszou at a big price could be the fairytale finish to Queensland Oaks Day.