Racing Preview – Sat 20 June

Winter Stakes – Eagle Farm
The major races this Saturday are at Eagle Farm, with a Group 1 and two Group 3 races. The main race is the Group 1 $500,000 Queensland Breeders & Tattersall’s Winter Stakes over 1400 metres. This is a weight-for-age race for fillies and mares and has attracted a full field of 20 plus 2 emergencies.

The early market has the three-year-old Ortensia as $2.60 favourite. She has 7 wins and 4 placings from her 11 starts, and is most impressive. Next in the market are Absolut Glam and Forensics both at $5.50, Saint Minerva (first emergency) at $7, Chinchilla Rose at $13, Express Air at $15, Serious Speed at $16, then Marveen and Dorf Command both at $18. Marveen is a quality filly while Saint Minerva has won 3 of her last 4 starts and will do well if she gets a run.

Jo’s tips: 1. Ortensia, 2. Marveen, 3. Saint Minerva

Healy Stakes – Eagle Farm
The Group 3 $175,000 W.J. Healy Stakes over 1200 metres has a field of 13 runners, and the topweight is Black Ink with 58 kg. The favourite in the early market is Keano at $2.60, followed by Maxisun at $4.20, Wasted Emotions at $7.50, News Alert at $8, Black Ink at $9.50 then Bocuse and Nuclear Medicine at $10.

On 6 June Keano beat Black Ink by 2¼ len in the Lightening but Keano meets Black Ink 1.5kg worse at the weights. Maxisun is an honest type who can run a place here, and News Alert has only 3 wins to his name but has been out of a place only 3 times in 16 starts.

Jo’s tips: 1. Keano, 2. Maxisun, 3. News Alert

Tattersall’s Cup – Eagle Farm
The Group 3 $200,000 Carlton Draught Tattersall’s Cup over 2200 metres has attracted a field of 17. Five runners had there last start in the Brisbane Cup and three in the Ipswich Cup. Favourite in the early market is Rainbow Styling at $3.50 followed by Ballack at $5.50, Reggie at $7, Castle Heights and Bangerang Quikpic both at $9 then Bellagio Wynn at $10.

It is hard to line up the form of several runners as horses like Bangerang Quikpic and Jedi Starfighter ($51) have been performing very well in weaker grades. Bangerang Quikpic likes to lead and if he gets away they may have trouble running him down. Rainbow Styling will perform well at this distance and Ballack should run well.

Jo’s tips: 1. Bangerang Quikpic, 2. Rainbow Styling, 3. Ballack

Congratulations to Australian horse Scenic Blast and jockey Steve Arnold for the last to first win in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.