Best bet – Race 7 #2 Simply Fly
Tricky race but I think there’s too much discrepancy in the market between Simply Fly and the fave Je Suis Belle. Simply Fly was too good for Je Suis Belle when they met last start when both were first-up for their campaigns. Both were suited by the hot pace up front on that occasion at Eagle Farm with Je Suis Belle hard ridden to keep up before coming off Simply Fly’s back in the straight. Whilst Je Suis Belle was making ground, Simply Fly did take some time to get his mind right on the job. I like that Simply Fly excels at this track, unbeaten from three starts. He will meet Je Suis Belle 1kg worse off at the weights, but the much better price is attractive.
Next best – Race 3 #8 Lady Le Da
Happy to back this filly who returns to her home track where she’s performed extremely so far in her short career. Her first two runs were on this surface – she finished strongly on debut over 1400m, putting the writing on the wall for her next start win over 1600m at the same track at her second career start. She won impressively on that occasion and went around next start at Eagle Farm where she was beaten a long way. Many horses simply don’t handle that track and I’m hoping that was the case for this daughter of Domesday. Trainer Paul Jenkins has a good strike rate and a knack of producing good-priced winners in suitable Saturday races. She is drawn well but will likely get back in a race where there is an abundance of pace out wide. Hoping she can pick some gaps and do what she did here at the same distance and track of her devastating win at career start two.
Best each-way – Race 1 #7 Ringer’s Reward
I wanted to back this girl wherever she turned up next, following a very encouraging debut run. She has plenty in her favour for a $30+ chance as she’s proven to handle this Sunshine Coast surface and the step up to 1200m looks ideal. On debut over 1000m she drew wide and went back to last, finding the fence and hunting up before not having the clearest of runs on turning. Once she got out behind a tiring horse she really finished hard and was strong right through the line. She simply shouldn’t be such a big price off that run.