Track: Good Weather: Fine

Eleven two year old’s have accepted for the $125,000 The Phoenix – Cape Breton is an early scratching.  Eight are trained in Queensland, two in New South Wales and one in New Zealand.  Spill The Beans is the leading sire with two runners.  The early favourite in the betting is the last start Randwick place getter Volcanic Rock.  He is trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and looks the likely leader here.  The second favourite is the New Zealand trained filly Tutukaka.  She made her Australian debut at the Sunshine Coast where she fought on well to finish second.

Verbek hasn’t been far away at all three of his career runs and gets Nash Rawiller in the saddle for this.  It’s All Talk is one of three last start winners in the race.  Why We Drink maps to get a soft run from an inside gate.  Minto’s Paradise was impressive to the eye when winning on the Gold Coast last start.  Pick Za Beans is one two Sunshine Coast trained horses in the race, while London Bell was very strong through the line on debut and looks suited stepping out to 1400m.  The remaining runners are longer than $20-1.

1. Why We Drink

The only multiple winner in the race.  He came from off the speed to break his maiden at Beaudesert three back, then won again at the Sunshine Coast.  Glenn Boss on looms as a positive jockey change.

2. Cape Breton – SCR

3. Minto’s Paradise

May have bumped into a pretty smart one first up, then won impressively last time at the Gold Coast on heavy ground.  Gets back onto firmer footing here which shouldn’t cause too many concerns.  One of the chances.

4. Verbek

New South Wales visitor.  He has finished a close up second at Hawkesbury and Wagga at his last two and is bursting to win a race.  Draws wide but does get Nash Rawiller in the saddle.

5. Tutukaka

Kiwi gelding trained by Tony Pike at Cambridge.  She raced outside the lead at her only Australian start and looked like dropping out before picking up again to finish second.  Likely to settle handy again here.

6. Bayerische

Backs up after finishing second in a two year old maiden on the Gold Coast last week.  Maps well but this is a step up in class.

7. Kaytee Reinado

Been soundly beaten at all four career starts.  Hard to make a case for him here.

8. London Bell

London Bell started $9 and finished fifth behind Minto’s Paradise on debut.  He was a real eye catcher there making up significant ground in between horses which is always a big tick for a two year old.  1400m should suit.

9. Volcanic Rock

Another New South Wales visitor.  He finished second at Rosehill last start after leading and controlling over the 1300m.  The times wern’t flash out of the race but he should take good natural improvement from that and this is no harder.

10. It’s All Talk

Justified the short quote to break her maiden last start.  Slight query where she gets to from the outside barrier but she is rock hard fit and has proven herself at the distance.

11. Pick Za Beans

Ben Thompson takes over the reigns on Pick Za Beans.  He won an Ipswich maiden by .8 of a length last start but needs to improve again to play a role here.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips	Lewis’ Tips
9. Volcanic Rock	9. Volcanic Rock
5. Tutukaka	8. London Bell
1. Why We Drink	3. Minto’s Paradise
10. It’s All Talk	5. Tutukaka

Group 1 Queensland Oaks 2021 (Eagle Farm 2200m)

Group 2 Moreton Cup 2021 (Eagle Farm 1200m)

Listed Lightning Handicap 2021 (Eagle Farm 1000m)