QLD Blackbookers and Horses To Follow

Looking for QLD horses to follow each Saturday?  We pick out the best blackbookers each week from the metropolitan meeting in Queensland.

From winners of feature races to unlucky losses and first up gallopers outrunning expectations, we select three or four horses each week to add to your blackbook from Queensland’s Saturday racing.

Here are our latest QLD horses to follow and blackbookers:

Horses To Follow From Doomben May 18

BLACKBOOKERS  📓

WARBY

AMUR

AUREUS ANGEL

Track Rating :   SOFT  7

Race 2 – THE STAR BENCHMARK 78 HCP (1350M)   WARBY  📓
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding was second-up on Saturday and after jumping from gate 12 (of 16) and never on the track, still managed to grab third prize, beaten less than two lengths on the line. He boasts a strong second-up record so it wasn’t surprising to see him up there at the finish. He is also a winner when third-up so it might pay to keep him close to your blackbook for his next couple of starts.

Race 3 – 3YO PLATE (1350M)   AMUR  📓
Its not often you see Godolphin gallopers go around at $41 and even less often do you see them win but this three-year-old came off a 13-week spell (after being gelded) and gave them a real galloping lesson on Saturday. Drawn wide (gate 10 of 12), James Orman settled him last, spotting the leaders some ten lengths. He took the turn as the widest runner and could still see them all as they straightened. Showing a great turn-of-foot, he stormed home to arrive just in time to claim first prize right on the line. That was his second first-up victory and he has second-up success as well. Now four wins from just nine career starts, he seems destined to land many more yet.

Race 7 – MAGIC MILLIONS BRIGHT SHADOW (1110M)   AUREUS ANGEL  📓
The Chris Munce-trained mare was first-up after spending the last six months in the paddock and turned plenty of heads with her whirlwind finish on Saturday. She settled three-wide and found herself trapped out there to the turn and looked like finishing like a $21 chance until Damien Thornton got to work on her when they straightened. Spotting them six lengths as they turned, Thornton asked her for another gear and she collared them like they were standing still and crossed the line as the most impressive winner of the day. She is more than capable of going on with it from here.

Horses To Follow From Eagle Farm May 4

BLACKBOOKERS 📓

TRES REDOUTE

ZOE’S PROMISE

ANTINO

Track Rating :  GOOD  4

Race 3 – FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 78 (1200M)   TRES REDOUTE  📓
The Desleigh Forster-trained mare was second-up on Saturday and caught the eye with a solid finish in this contest. Settling mid-field (one off the fence), Sam Collett gave her a lovely run to the turn when she then asked the Dissident mare for a final effort. Collett had to straighten her up as she tended to hang out, then her last 200m saw her finishing better than the rest, arriving in time to collect third prize. She races best when fresh and a future third-up run could see her improve even further this preparation.

Race 4 – BENCHMARK 85 HCP (1400M)   ZOE’S PROMISE  📓
Kris Lees saddled-up the four-year-old mare on Saturday as she resumed off a 17-week spell and led from barrier to box, uncontested in the end. Andrew Mallyon stood high in the irons trying to contain the mare who did settle down after the first 200 metres. She set a steady pace but in the run home, her rivals were all flat to the boards trying to keep up as she dashed away and eased over the final 50m, she put four lengths on them in the end. That was the first time in six first-up appearances she has saluted. It appears she has come back ready to party so it should pay to keep her well under notice.

Race 8 – VICTORY STAKES GROUP 2 (1200M)   ANTINO  📓
Arguably one of the best runs of the day, the Tony Gollan-trained gelding resumed off a six-month absence on Saturday and certainly made a big impression with his last-to-first effort. He missed the start by two lengths and settled at the rear of the field, eight lengths off the pace. On straightening, Vlad Duric made the smart choice of sticking to the fence and in the run home, secured the rails run and finished too good for them, grabbing Wee Nessy (our $8 tip) and going on to win by a length on the line. The Redwood five-year-old now boasts 10 wins from his 15 starts and is unbeaten in three second-up appearances so it might be a wise idea to be on him next start as well.

Horses To Follow From Eagle Farm April 27

BLACKBOOKERS 📓

BRUTAL BOWLER

SUNSET SOIREE

GO WANDJI

Track Rating :   SOFT  5

Race 3 – QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap (1200M)   BRUTAL BOWLER  📓
The Kris Lees-trained first-starter looked set for a big start (after winning his last trial by more than three lengths, then on Saturday, did everything wrong and yet still finished just four lengths off the winner in the end. He overraced for the first half of the race bumped another runner approaching the turn, costing him three or four lengths and momentum in the run. Last of the 12 runners when they turned, Andrew Mallyon hooked wide and he finished as good, if not better, than anything else in the race, finishing sixth across the line. Once he learns how its done, he will mature nicely.

Race 4 – BENCHMARK 75 Handicap (1400M)   SUNSET SOIREE  📓
The Tony Gollan-trained mare was first-up on Saturday after five months off the scene and left the machine last of the 15 runners and after 200m was a dozen lengths off the pace. Sticking to the fence, Angela Jones was saving ground and as they turned, she pushed forward, looking for a run along the fence which quickly closed, hampering the Deep Field who had to be eased, where she lost three lengths and any chance of winning, Jones steered her to the middle of track where she continued to take ground off them and crossed the line in eighth place, a tick over two lengths from the winner. Desperately unlucky not to finish in the money, she will only strip fitter next start and should be kept safe for a couple more.

Race 7 – BENCHMARK 85 Handicap (1000M)   GO WANDJI  📓
The Wandjina gelding was first-up on Saturday after 18 weeks in the paddock and turned plenty of heads with his finishing efforts in this contest. Jumping from the outside gate (12), Jake Molloy settled him out the back and after 200m, he was more than a dozen lengths off the pace. In the run home, Molloy stuck to the inside where he secured a run along the fence and over the final 200m he stormed home to finish fifth, just two lengths from victory. Five previous second-up appearances ended in two wins and three minor placings so it should pay to stick with him for now.

Horses To Follow From Eagle Farm April 20

BLACKBOOKERS 📓

DEVASTATING

OCEAN ZAR

ALL THAT PIZZAZZ

Track Rating :   SOFT  5

Race 1 – SKY RACING Class 3 Plate (1000M)   DEVASTATING  📓
The Tony Gollan-trained five-year-old was second-up on Saturday and unwanted in the market ($26) certainly turned some heads with his finishing efforts. Settling second-last, he spotted the leading brigade some eight lengths and remained there until the turn. Vlad Duric steered him wide and in the run home, took lengths off them, finishing well enough to arrive in time for second prize, 1.5 lengths from victory. He is already a winner when third-up and should be kept safe for a few more yet.

Race 3 – BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (1400M)   OCEAN ZAR  📓
The Zoustar mare was second-up in this contest and remains unbeaten in two second-up appearances when she took care of this contest on Saturday. Nikita Beriman rode her a treat, settling better than mid-field, one off the fence. Eased out on straightening, the race-favourite took charge soon after and it was clear from that point, what the outcome would be. There is plenty of upside with this four-year-old who has secured no less than eight podium finishes from her 11 race starts and there certainly appears to be many more to come. Stay with her for now.

Race 8 – ASCOT QUALITY HANDICAP LISTED (1000M)   ALL THAT PIZZAZZ  📓
First-up off a 15-week spell, the Spirit Of Boom was most impressive when finishing second on Saturday. Three of the runners strode clear at the half-way mark to lead by six lengths, leaving the rest of the field to do the chasing. John Allen remained calm in transit but on straightening, asked the four-year-old for a big finish. Putting in the big ones, he hit the line strongly and looked all over a winner but lacking race fitness, his condition gave out over the final 50 metres and had to settle for second prize on the day. Winning two from four second-up and two from three when third-up suggests sticking with him for a couple more could be a good thing.

Horses To Follow From Doomben April 13

BLACKBOOKERS 📓

ALPHA BRAVO

XTRAVAGANT STAR

MISS JOELENE

Track Rating :   GOOD  4

Race 1 – QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap (1110M)   ALPHA BRAVO  📓
The Danny Bougoure-trained colt was no match for the tearaway winner (and race favourite, Mishani Lily), he certainly showed plenty of fight on Saturday when finishing second in this contest. Cejay Graham has him perfectly placed, mid-field on the fence, and just like the rest of the field suffered just one problem, being unable to run down the winner, who led all the way to win by 6.5 lengths on the line. The colt’s efforts were most impressive, considering it was just his second race start. He chased stoutly and never gave up. He shows some potential and has plenty of upside so keep him safe for a few more yet.

Race 6 – BENCHMARK 78 Handicap (1110M)   XTRAVAGANT STAR  📓
The Ciaron Maher-trained mare was third-up on Saturday and her class shone brightly in this event. Ryan Maloney pulled all the right strings at the right time and the Extravagant mare put her class to work as she won this comfortably in the end. She appears to have come back even stronger and looks well worth watching during her current campaign.

Race 7 – QTIS Three-Year-Old Fillies Handicap (1350M)   MISS JOELENE  📓
Second-up on Saturday (after six months in the paddock), the Russian Revolution filly beat all but Oceans Of Energy home in an eye-catching performance with James Orman aboard. Sitting three pairs back, one off the fence, She trailed the leaders by four lengths on straightening and did a mighty job to grab the second prize, where she conceded the winner 6kgs (almost a stone on the old scale). She will strip even fitter next start and it might pay to stay with her for a few more yet.

Black Book Service