DARYL Hansen – the trainer riding a controversial positive swab roller coaster in Queensland – saddles up stable star ESSINGTON which has been heavily backed to win the Listed Keith Noud Quality at Doomben on Saturday.
ESSINGTON has not raced since winning the Listed Ascot Handicap over the same track and distance in July and has firmed from $4 to $3.5 early for the early feature sprint of the Summer Carnival.
BELTONE, SPIRIT OF BOOM, EXCELLANTES and READY TO RIP are certain of their share of admirers in a race of many chances. WORK THE ROOM has had a setback and is an early scratching.
The other feature race on the east coast tomorrow is the Listed Frank Underwood Cup at Canterbury, an open betting race with MISS KEEPSAKE, ZARA DANCER and YULALONA all vying for favoritism around the $6 mark.
The track at Sandown Hillside is rated a Good 3 with some rain expected overnight and steady rain tomorrow so be wary and expect a track down-grade during the day.
Canterbury will be in the heavy range if the forecasts are correct and in Brisbane there is rain around so it is likely to have the sting out at best.
Below is THE FRIDAY FORM-LINE for SANDOWN HILLSIDE, CANTERBURY AND EAGLE FARM.
SANDOWN HILLSIDE – Track: GOOD 3 (Likely down-grade with rain predicted during the day tomorrow).
BEST BACKED EARLY: TARIANA (R3, $4 to $3.5) & SEA GALLEON (R4, $3.5 to $3).
OUR BEST EACH-WAY BETS: SNITZA (R5, $3.3) & UNDER THE HAT (R6, $9).
R1: TWO-YEAR-OLD 900m
FAVORITE IN RACE OF DEBUTANTES: MEMBERS JOY from the Smerdon stable opened at $2.1 and has drifted to $2.25. This nicely-bred daughter of Hussonet only needs to reproduce her trial efforts at Cranbourne to test these.
SECOND FAVORITE KEPT SAFE: MRS GRAY, a debutante from the Hayes stable, finished a close 2nd in a Wangaratta trial on Monday. She is $3 to $3.5 early.
EARLY SUPPORT: JACARANDA AVENUE from $6 to $5 and LEARNING CURVE from $10 to $7.5. Neither has trialed.
EARLY MAIL: TRICKY RACE as all are debutantes but on trial form MEMBERS JOY should be very hard to beat.
R2: THREE-YEAR-OLD RB78 1400m:
SHORTEST PRICED FAV OF DAY: CASH BOUND looked good winning 1st-up at Bendigo then had excuses behind SOUL at Sandown in Listed grade. He drops in class and is solid at $1.7.
NEXT BEST IN MARKET: SPATHA, to be ridden by the in-form Katelyn Mallyon, finished 3rd on a heavy track at Sale last start after winning there over this trip. He is $2.9 to $3.2 early.
EARLY SPECKING: ROCKSHAFT from $9 to $8.5 and IN THE POCKET from $16 to $14.
EARLY MAIL: SPATHA – proven over the trip – has a chance of upsetting the odds-on favorite.
R3: FILLIES & MARES RB89 1400m
GOOD EARLY MOVE FOR FAV: TARIANA led when 3rd to FREERETURN at Moonee Valley last start. She has been confidently backed early from $4 to $3.5 and should take catching if able to dictate.
EARLY FAV ON DRIFT: SHE’S GIFTED, a close 1st-up 2nd at Kyneton, won at Sandown over this trip in March. She opened favorite at $3.5 and is out to $4 largely due to the good early support for TARIANA.
SOME EARLY BACKING: ALWAYS DISCREET, placed twice at Morphettville since a spell, has firmed early from $5 to $4.8.
EARLY MAIL: SHE’S GIFTED was a good run first-up and should be swooping at the finish here.
R4: RB95 2500m
EARLY BACKING FOR FAV: SEA GALLEON, backing up after a solid win at Moonee Valley last week, steps up in trip which should suit and is $3.5 to $3 early.
GOOD EARLY MOVE: MUSICAL HIT, dropping back in class after a sound 6th in the Ballarat Cup to Domesky, won at Flemington before that and is $4.8 to $4.4 early.
KEPT SAFE IN THE BETTING: SHEZATEN ran favorite but was attacked in front when 6th to DAME CLAIRE at the Valley last start. The extra trip won’t trouble her and she is being kept safe at $5.
EARLY MAIL: SEA GALLEON only needs to reproduce last start effort to test these.
R5: COREY GILBY MEMORIAL RB89 1800m
FAVORITE SOLID EARLY: SNITZA, fitter for two runs from a spell, comes off a close 2nd to OUR PRIDE AND JOY at the Valley. He is solid at $3.3 but goes best with some string out of the ground.
SOME EARLY SUPPORT: FULL PEEL is chasing his fourth straight win after bolting in the last three at the provincials. This is tougher but he is $4 to $3.8 early.
EARLY SPECKING: ABITOFADO, an easy winner for his new stable in the Dunkeld Cup, gets in well after the claim for Katelyn Mallyon and is $8 to $7 early.
EARLY MAIL: SNITZA ran an improved race second-up and looks ready to win.
R6: OPEN HANDICAP 1300m
EARLY SUPPORT FOR FAV: FREERETURN, a winner at four of his last five starts – the latest at the Valley – has firmed from $4.8 to $4.6 early after opening as short as $4.4 with some operators.
KEPT SAFE EARLY: DASH FOR VIZ bolted in with the Greys’ Race at Flemington during the Cup carnival and is being kept safe at $5.
EARLY SPECKING: CHINON from $15 to $13 and THAT’S NOT IT from $26 to $19.
EARLY MAIL: UNDER THE HAT has the ability to fully test these 1st-up with the Katelyn Mallyon claim and looks nice value at $9.
R7: FILLIES & MARES 1000m
FAV ONLY ONE UNDER DOUBLE FIGURES: MISS OCTOPUSSY, the class runner of the field, should have won when 2nd to CENTEXPRESS at the Valley. She opened at $2.4 and has eased to $2.6 early.
NEXT IN BETTING WITH SOME SUPPORT: MISS ELVEE, a firmer from $13 to $10; SHOW UP $12 to $10; CENTEXPRESS $11 to $10 and BIG SPIRIT $11 to $10.
EARLY MAIL: Former Kiwi mare SHOW UP has trialed well and has an upset chance at her first start for the Leon Corstens stable.
R8: RB89 1500m
FAVORITE ON THE DRIFT: SNOW COVER stormed home for 3rd to ITS PRINCE in Listed grade over the Flemington mile last start. He peaks for this but is $3.3 to $3.8 early.
SOLID SECOND ELECTS: POPULATION did enough 1st-up at Kyneton and is $6 early while SCAREDYMAC, a late scratching after being backed early at odds when the track turned wet at the Valley last week, is $6.5 to $6 early.
EARLY SPECKING: DID WE WIN from $9 to $7.5; RICEMAN from $26 to $17 and PORT VELL from $26 to $19.
EARLY MAIL: SCAREDYMAC had been well backed early when a late scratching because of the down-graded track last week – looks hard to beat in this if no worse than dead.
CANTERBURY – TRACK: HEAVY 9 – Expect a Genuine Wet.
BEST BACKED EARLY: MRS ONASSIS (R7, $9 to $6) & RAMPART (R8, $8 to $5.5).
OUR BEST EACH-WAY BETS: LIL AND GRACE (R4, $8) & STRIKE ONE (R6, $5).
R1: TWO-YEAR-OLD 1100m
SHORTED PRICED FAV OF DAY: LYRIC, a Flying Spur colt on debut for the Snowden stable, bolted in with a Warwick Farm trial and has opened at $1.9, a shade shorter with some.
SECOND ELECT SAFE: DON’T BLINK, an O’Shea-trained filly by Redoute’s Choice, has won two trials and is $2.7 to $3 early.
EARLY BACKING: LODESTONE from $17 to $11 and DIAMOND START from $13 to $11.
EARLY MAIL: TOO MANY DEBUTANTES – best trials LYRIC and DON’T BLINK – not as much between them in our opinion as the early betting suggests.
R2: THREE-YEAR-OLD BM72 1250m
EARLY FAVS ON THE DRIFT: WHITLAM, freshened since his close 2nd to STRATIGRAPHY at the Valley, is $3.6 to $4 early whilst CHARM’S HONOUR, a strong finishing 1st-up 3rd to INGHAM MAGIC at Randwick is $4 to $4.4.
GOOD MOVE EARLY: UPBEAT, a luckless 1st-up 4th to SACRED PINS at Rosehill, has firmed early from $10 to $7 and is a second-up winner.
SOME EARLY SPECKING: NO BAD BLOOD from $15 to $13 and SONIC BLAST from $21 to $17.
EARLY MAIL: UPBEAT didn’t have a lot of luck last start and looks the value in this.
R3: WELTER 1100m
GOOD MOVE FOR NEW FAV: ATOMIC FORCE was caught wide with a big weight when 4th to AHDASHIM at Rosehill last start. Topped up for this with a trial win on Tuesday and has firmed early from $3.6 to $3.3.
EARLY FAV ON THE DRIFT: TIGER TEES, spelled after scoring his fifth win on end at Rosehill in September, opened as short as $2.9 and is out to $3.6. He won a recent Warwick Farm trial.
EARLY SPECKING: FASTER SON showed a glimpse of his best form 2nd-up at Doomben and is $12 to $10 early.
EARLY MAIL: ATOMIC FORCE looks to have a class edge on these.
R4: FILLIES & MARES, BM84 1550m
EARLY FAV ON THE DRIFT: OAKFIELD BEAUTY led and won at Rosehill last start but is up in weight and trip here and has eased early from $5.5 to $7.5.
BACKING FOR NEW FAV: TROPICANA GIRL, a closing 2nd to OAKFIELD BEAUTY at Rosehill, has frimed early from $6 to $5.5.
GOOD EARLY SUPPORT: SAVANNAH’S CHOICE, $7 to $6, won twice then had excuses behind OAKFIELD BEAUTY at Rosehill.
EARLY MAIL: LIL AND GRACE looks good value at $8 – eye-catching run last start, likes the trip and the wet.
R5: BENCHMARK 75 1900m
FAVORITE SOLID EARLY: HONOURABLE AUSSIE, chasing a hat-trick of wins after scoring at Randwick and Canterbury, is solid at $4.6. His wet track stats are better than they appear.
ON THE DRIFT EARLY: HARD LIQUOR, on the quick back-up after 2nd to REVOLT at Warwick Farm, steps up in trip and has eased early from $4.6 to $6.
SOME EARLY BACKING: PALASPORT from $9 to $8; ICY MIST from $15 to $13 and ASHLEE’S JEWEL from $21 to $15.
EARLY MAIL: PALASPORT has drawn out but has the services of Bowman, likes this track and distance and handles the wet.
R6: LISTED FRANK UNDERWOOD CUP 1900m
EQUAL FAVS IN OPEN RACE: ZARA DANCER, which finished 4th in the Hawkesbury Cup two runs back, is $8 to $6 early and equal favorite with MISS KEEPSAKE, the Queensland Oaks winner of last year, $6.5 to $6.
GOOD EARLY MOVE: YULOLONA was doing his best work late 2nd-up when 6th to SOMEPIN ANYPIN in the Hawkesbury Cup and has firmed early from $8.5 to $6.5.
EARLY SPECKING: COUNT ENCOSTA, coming off a 6th to MUSICAN HIT at Flemington, is $$12 to $10 early.
EARLY MAIL: STRIKE ONE handled the wet and looks a good chance at $5 on last start effort.
R7: BENCHMARK 75 1100m
FAVORITE ON THE DRIFT: SHAMUS led and fought on strongly when 2nd to RAMPART over this track and distance last start. He has drifted from $4 to $4.8 early.
BEST EARLY MOVE: MRS ONASSIS, an easy winner of the track and distance last start, is $9 to $6 early. The Ryan-trained mare is chasing a hat-trick.
SOLID IN THE MARKET: LIECHTENSTEIN, solid at $6.5, has not raced since June but has a terrific record fresh and at the track and distance.
EARLY SPECKING: RAVNA GORA from $23 to $15.
EARLY MAIL: LINING at $11 should be running home strongly and likes the wet.
R8: BENCHMARK 85 1250m
FAVORITE SOLID EARLY: STRATANA, chasing a hat-trick after wins at Rosehill, is solid at $3.8 after opening at $3.6 with some operators.
GOOD EARLY MOVES: SUCCESSION from $5.5 to $4.8 and RAMPART from $8 to $5.5.
EARLY SPECKING: EQUABLE and O’CRIKEY from $26 to $21.
EARLY MAIL: Following the money-trail with the in-form SUCCESSION.
EAGLE FARM – TRACK: GOOD 3 (Rain has arrived and down-grade likely).
FOLLOWING many requests we have returned to providing a Brisbane service as part of the Friday Form-Line with racing in the north heading into the Summer Carnival and the Magic Millions.
BEST BACKED EARLY: SIPPIN’BUNDY (R1, $7 to $3.3) & ESSINGTON (R7, $4 to $3.5).
OUR BEST EACH-WAY BETS: STEEL ZIP (R2, $5.5) & PLAYTIME (R4, $4.5).
R1: TWO-YEAR-OLD 1000m
BIG GO EARLY INTO FAVORITISM: SIPPIN’BUNDY, a debutante by Immovable Option, ran slick time winning a Doomben trial and has firmed early from $7 to $3.3.
KEPT SAFE EARLY: CANNINGLY, $5 to $5.5, ran 2nd at Toowoomba on debut and KHAANTANTES, an un-raced, un-trialed full brother to EXCELLANTES from the Rob Heathcote stable.
EARLY MAIL: TOP RADA, $4.5 to $5.5, was most impressive on debut and should be charging home again.
R2: BENCHMARK 90 1000m
FAVORITE CHASING HAT-TRICK: DOUBLE IMAGE, an easy winner at Ipswich and Doomben at two runs since a spell, opened at $2.3 and $2.5 is now available with some agencies.
KEPT SAFE EARLY: ADEBISI, 1st-up since July, has not trialed officially but goes well fresh and is at $5 while STEEL ZIP has trialed well at Deagon for his comeback and is at $5.5.
SPECKED EARLY: The speedy TYCOON TATTOO has firmed early from $9 to $8.
EARLY MAIL: STEEL ZIP is very promising, has trialed well for his comeback and looks terrific value at $5.5.
R3: CLASS 6 PLATE 2100m
BOOKIES HAPPY TO LAY FAV AT SHORTS: RED GOD showed a glimpse of his best form when 3rd to RUNDLE at Eagle Farm last start and opened as short as $2 with some but is now out to $2.25.
NEXT BEST IN MARKET: FIGASAURUS, $6 to $6.5, coming off a Sunshine Coast win, steps up in class and has an awkward alley, but gets in well after the claim for Priscilla Schmidt.
EARLY SPECKING: THREE RED ROSES from $8 to $7 and EUREKA JACK from $10 to $9.
EARLY MAIL: EUREKA JACK, the ex-Moody trained galloper, looks well placed in this and good value at $9.
R4: THREE-YEAR-OLD 1500m
FAVORITE GOT LOST LAST START: PRETTY PINS, which got too far out of her ground when 3rd to IL CARDINALE at Doomben last start, drops back slightly in trip and is $2.6 to $2.8 early.
NO LUCK LATEST RUNS: PLAYTIME is overdue for a win and despite the rise in weight Chris Munce takes over as the rider and he looks hard to beat at $4.5.
EARLY SPECKING: HIDDEN JEWEL from $9 to $8 and EPONA PRINCESS from $12 to $11.
EARY MAIL: PLAYTIME with Munce taking over should prove hard to beat.
R5: NO METRO WIN 1500m
FAVORITE LUCKLESS LAST START: KAR MA TE should have completed a hat-trick of wins when an unlucky 3rd to FROM LONDON at Eagle Farm when he struck trouble at a vital stage in the straight. He has been solid around the $2.7 to $2.9 mark since betting opened.
NEXT BEST IN MARKET: FIRE UP FIFI, $3.2 to $3.4, was another unlucky runner last start when held up before a close 3rd when odds-on behind HEARTS’N’DIAMONDS at Eagle Farm.
EARLY SPECKING: GEBLITZ from $6.5 to $6 and KISS ME DEADLY from $16 to $13.
EARLY MAIL: FIRE UP FIFI would have won with ordinary luck last start and can atone here.
R6: BENCHMARK 85 1800m
FAVORITE SOLID EARLY: IL CARDINALE, a close 2nd to ROSAGAZE when favorite at Eagle Farm last start, gets conditions to suit. He likes the sting out of the ground and is solid early at $3.5.
NEXT BEST IN MARKET: FROM LONDON, a last start winner at the track and distance, and MR LIGHT BLUE, a late closing 3rd to THEFIFTHHOLE and suited by the extra trip here, are both at $5.5.
EARLY SPECKING: TIMETABLE from $11 to $10 and EQUABLE from $13 to $12.
EARY MAIL: MR LIGHT BLUE only needs to reproduce his Grand Prix form from the winter to test these.
R7: LISTED KEITH NOUD QUALITY 1200m
FAVORITE WELL TRIED EARLY: ESSINGTON, 1st-up since winning the Listed Ascot over this track and distance in July, has firmed from $4 to $3.5 early. He has good stats fresh and at the track and distance.
SECOND FAVORITE BACKED: BELTONE has not raced since early September but won six of seven starts last campaign. He has trialed well and has firmed from $4.6 to $4 early.
GOOD EARLY MOVE: EXCELLANTES, an odds-on favorite 1st-up when run down by stable-mate WORK THE ROOM (a scratching from this race after going amiss), has been well tried early from $9 to $6.5.
EARLY SPECKING: READY TO RIP from $6.5 to $6 and SPIRIT OF BOOM from $7.5 to $6.
EARLY MAIL: WOULDN’T be surprised to see READY TO RIP finished over the top of them.
R8: CLASS 6 1200m
NEW FAVORITE WELL TRIED: SKATING ON ICE, a second-up Doomben winner, has firmed early from $4.2 to $3.6 – one of the best goes of the meeting early.
DEPOSED OF FAVORITISM: SOLZHENITSYN opened favorite at $3.8 but the early move for SKATING ON ICE has seen him ease out to $4.6. He was spelled after winning three on end in July-August.
EARLY SPECKING: AUDACIOUS SPIRIT from $6 to $5.5 and AQUATORIAL from $12 to $10.
EARY MAIL: The Tamworth-trained IMELDAMAY looked good at Canterbury last start and has an upset hope at $10.
