Bets Bets For The Q22 At Eagle Farm

This year’s Q22 is part of a bumper card from Eagle Farm on Saturday. The Group Two contest is open to three-year-olds and above and is run over the distance of 2200m.

Here are the best bets for the Q22 and some of the supporting races on the card at Eagle Farm.

BEST BET: FAWKNER PARK

Race number 9 (The Q22)

Fawkner Park won the Q22 by just under four lengths last year in what was a dominant performance in the Group Two contest. He is now bidding to become the first horse since Scenic Shot in 2009 to defend its crown.

Annabel and Rob Archibald’s runner has been running consistently well this year. He has had to settle for the runner-up spot on his last two appearances. The six-year-old was second behind Antino in the Group Two Hollindale Stakes at Gold Coast, while on his latest outing, he also found just one horse better than him in the Doomben Cup.

A step back up to 2200 metres will suit the six-year-old gelding as he has proven himself over this distance. Even if conditions were to end up testing, Fawkner Park would not be hampered by the ground.

Militarize and Kovalica are the obvious challengers to the Team Archibald runner, however, they have both finished behind him on their last two runs, so need to take a big step forward to reverse their form.

SECOND BEST BET: FAR TOO EASY

Race number 5 (HINKLER HANDICAP)

Far Too Easy came close to returning to the winner’s enclosure when he was second in the Group Three BRC Sprint behind War Machine. The horse that finished ahead of him has a great chance of landing the Stradbroke Handicap this weekend, so the form of that race may take a big boost.

David McColm’s runner is dropping back down to 1200 metres for this Hinkler Handicap, and it is a distance that should suit. Both of his career victories so far have come over this sprint distance.

With an official rating of 105, Far Too Easy is the highest-rated runner in this field. His class should tell, especially on his return to a course he has produced his best at before.

Best Value: IMPACT ZONE

Race number 4 (Sen Oxlade Stakes)

The two-year-olds are in action in the Sen Oxlade Stakes, a Listed race over 1200 metres. A lot of these runners are unexposed, including Impact Zone, who has only had two career runs. He got off the mark at the second attempt at Newcastle last time out, beating a strong field in a maiden contest.

Peter Snowden’s runner looks like a progressive horse who can take another step forward here. He has been green on his two previous appearances, so his best may still be to come over this 1200-metre distance.

You can make a case for Prestar and Smexy to double their tallies in this two-year-old division, but as a son of Exceed And Excel, Impact Zone is the horse who is bred to have a big future, and he can take this Listed race before leapfrogging to group action before the season is over.