Eagle Farm Tips & Preview | Saturday 25 July

Having returned to action with a sharp effort to break his maiden on the Gold Coast back in June, High Authority finished sixth of eight at Doomben a fortnight ago, though still beaten less than two lengths. Fitter third-up and out to the 1400m, I’m confident he’ll get his chance on the big Eagle Farm track.

He doesn’t win out of turn, but Felix The Scat has improved with his two runs back this time and filled the minors at odds last time out. With options in the run this week from the rails draw, he’ll relish some relief in the weights and probably won’t get a better opportunity in Saturday metro company.

Larado has missed placing just once in six trips to the races since debuting, winning three times and finding form around some classy opposition in the process. His fresh performance in Class 3 company at Doomben was full of merit and with natural improvement, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again this week.

We haven’t seen Esha at the races since February, but she enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence last year before being tossed in the deep end of races like the Group 1 Moir Stakes at The Valley. While those did prove to be a bridge too far at that point of her career, connections have been patient, they’ve changed course and sent her up to Tony Gollan, and she’s trialled up a dream ahead of Saturday’s return.

Captain Maverick is yet to strike during a busy 2026 preparation, but several recent performances have suggested a victory isn’t far away, and after finishing second on Ipswich Cup Day, he was last seen running on well to finish on the placegetters’ heels in BM80 company at Doomben. Getting out to 2200m at this point of his preparation suits, while the addition of a senior hoop in Ryan Maloney could prove the difference this week.

Automne Tree finished off the pace at Doomben when resuming back in May, but he has since recorded impressive victories over 1350m and a mile respectively at Doomben. He’s a versatile horse and can settle on or off the pace, while he’s also one that should relish racing on the big Eagle Farm track. From Barrier 4, I’m expecting Ryan Maloney to have him just a couple of pairs back before calling on the horse’s sharp turn of speed.

Moonan Quartz returned to action for a dominant victory in BM58 grade on the Sunshine Coast and has since added two Saturday metro victories to his CV. He steps out this week in peak order, and while it is probably a little harder again, he continues to jump as the bar is raised and I am happy to stick with him until he gives us reason not to.

Having kicked off his prep with consecutive race wins back in the autumn, Restonica missed the placings at his next three appearances, but relished a drop in class at Doomben a fortnight ago when winning over 1200m. In peak order, getting out to the 1400m should suit, and with a case to be made for a few of them, Restonica is one that certainly has the runs on the board recently, and he might be a touch of overs in the market.