Much of our attention will be on Eagle Farm this Saturday, where we have six potential Group runners going around on the Derby Day card.
While it is hard to pick a clear highlight, we’re excited to have not one, but two Group 1 contestants on Saturday. Warmonger will take his place in the Queensland Derby, after finishing 2nd in the Group 1 South Australian Derby. With a healthy space between runs, the gelding is in great order and has shown no signs of training off.
Warmonger runs 2nd in the SA Derby
Unfortunately, Warmonger has drawn barrier 23 in a field of 18+5 emergencies, so we’ll need to see some Blake Shinn magic. View the full field and all race details here.
Cepheus, who was last seen at the races in March in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes, and will take his place in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup on Saturday over 1300m. The gelding was supposed to run last week at Doomben, however wet track conditions delayed his return. Cepheus has worked well in the preparation but will need the outing. He’s expected to take good improvement as he works towards the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap on June 15.
Cepheus has drawn barrier 7 in a field of 12 with Adam Hyeronimus booked to ride. See the all race details and the full field here.
Backing up from last weekend is talented 6yo gelding Hezashocka, who had a luckless run in the Group 1 Doomben Cup, finished the race off strongly. After winning his previous start in the Listed Gosford Gold Cup, the gelding pulled up super from his run at Doomben and will make the quick back up into the Group 3 Premier’s Cup over 2400m. Race fit and drawn well, he’ll make his presence felt with Jamie Kah booked to ride at 57kgs.
Hezashocka wins the Listed Gosford Gold Cup
Also in the race is our Group 1 Sydney Cup and Group 2 Brisbane Cup winner Selino, who comes back to the 2400m distance after his good run in the Sydney Cup in April, where he finished 5th. He is a fit and happy horse, with Saturday’s race designed to set up for a back-to-back tilt at the Brisbane Cup in two weeks’ time.
Our third starter in the race is the Annabel Neasham trained Regal Lion. After two near misses in the Listed Albury Cup and a 2200m Open Handicap at Eagle Farm at the end of April, the 5yo ran a good 4th in the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap at Doomben two weeks ago. He had no luck in transit that, trapped wide without cover and forced into the race early. He has drawn well on Saturday and with an economical run for Tyler Schiller, he’ll be challenging the likes of Hezashocka.
Click here for race details and the full field for the Group 3 Premier’s Cup.
Our last Group runner at Eagle Farm is Eaglemont in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup over 1800m. Trainer Matthew Dunn was happy with his last start effort on soft ground as top weight, and he’s taken good improvement from that. While it is a much stronger race, the gelding has worked well at home and deserves his chance in a race of this calibre.
View all race details and the full field here.
Best of luck to all connections involved in our stakes runners. Our full weekend preview video will be out later this week!