Punters only want four horses in this year’s Brisbane Cup according to early markets, among them, last year’s winner of this race Moriarty. The Chris Waller trained galloper is coming off a strong win in the Eagle Farm Cup and only has to carry 1.5kgs more than last year despite winning another Group 2 and being Group 1 placed since. He is the $3.80 favourite but facing serious challenges from Precedence, Mr. O’Ceirin and Zephyron. Precedence has already been the subject of good support, firming from $5.50 into $4.60 whilst Mr O’Ceirin, who ran second to Moriarty in the Eagle Farm Cup is $5.50. Zephyron, from the all-conquering Team Hawkes training operation, comes off a Listed and a G3 win and is on the second line of betting at $4.40.
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1. MORIARTY – N Rawiller (8)
The return of Nash Rawiller, who has ridden this horse in his last four wins, saw the Chris Waller trained galloper claim the G3 Eagle Farm Cup last week by 1 ¼ lengths from Mr. O’Ceirin. A lovely run behind the leaders and a dry track, saw the 6yo who had settled in behind the leaders from the inside draw, burst through late to win comfortably. Winner of this race last year with 58kgs and is a big chance of making it back-to-back wins after last week’s effort.
Odds: $3.80
2. PRECENDENCE – (3)
Each of his two runs back from a spell have been very good. The 8yo claimed third behind in-form Streama and Mr. O’Ceirin first up in the G2 Hollindale Stakes and then gave promising stayer Zephyron 5.5kgs and a start before running him to ¾ of length in the G3 Premier’s Cup (2200m). Won the G2 Drake International on Cox Plate Day third up last prep and looks spot on for a big showing here.
Odds: $4.60
3. HISTORIAN – T Angland (1)
New Zealand galloper who, although was having his first run in eight weeks, was expected to show more than his second to last placing in last fortnight’s G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1615m) where he finished a dozen lengths behind Angel Of Mercy. Will go forward from gate 1, has a world class jockey on board and did run second to Silent Achiever over 2000m under WFA conditions earlier this year. Has big improvement to make but capable of a much bolder showing.
Odds: $34.00
4. MR. O’CEIRIN – B Shinn (6)
Each of his three Brisbane runs this campaign have been excellent, starting with a second to Streama in the Hollindale Stakes before having little luck in the straight when seventh (3.9 lengths) behind Streama again in the Doomben Cup. Sat second in last fortnight’s Eagle Farm Cup and held off all bar the challenge of Moriarty whom he meets 2.5kgs better here at the weights. Will take up a forward spot again and although Boss, who rode him last start, has gone with Zephyron, he’ll lose nothing with Shinn on top. Chances improve further with any rain.
Odds: $5.50
5. ZEPHYRON – G Boss (10)
Promising stayer who claimed the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup at Rosehill with a tough on pace effort before coming to Brisbane and proving too strong in the G3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) a fortnight ago. The lightly raced 5yo son of Zabeel sat just off the speed before joining the leaders at the top of the straight and running the trip out strongly to defeat Precedence by ¾ of a length. Takes another step up here and will start from an outside gate but these obstacles haven’t stopped him recently and would expect him to be right in the thick of things again.
Odds: $4.40
6. ZENNISTA – M Du Plessis (9)
After two runs in New Zealand this campaign, last year’s Caloundra Cup winner returned to Brisbane for the G3 Chairman’s Handicap. On a firm track and under a big weight, the 6yo mare was under pressure a long way out from home and battled home for sixth (5.3 lengths) behind Pretty Pins. She enjoyed a good run at her next and most recent start, the G3 Premier’s Cup, from the inside gate but was no match for Zephyron and Precedence late, finishing fourth (4 ¾ lengths). Would think her best chance of turning the tables on that pair is for rain to come.
Odds: $26.00
7. FLORIA – K McEvoy (11)
Peter Moody has stepped his mare up to WFA races at her recent outings and performed credibly. She missed a run looking to squeeze up on the fence in the G1 Doomben Cup when sixth of ten behind Streama, before holding on well after a nice run in transit to claim third in the G2 Eagle Farm Cup behind Moriarty. Would need to get a sweet run in transit to have a shot here but from the outside gate, that doesn’t look likely.
Odds: $9.00
8. PRETTY PINS – R Wiggins (2)
Getting out to 2000m and on a dry track saw a big improvement for this John Thompson trained mare who surprised most with a two length win in the G3 Chairman’s Handicap. Under similar conditions, she was solid again in the Premier’s Cup a fortnight ago, finishing third (1 ¾ length) behind Zephyron and Precedence. Rates a place chance on that effort from a good draw.
Odds: $10.00
9. SKYSOBLUE – J Byrne (5)
Despite a mixed back of New Zealand form, connections decided to chance their arm with a trip to Brisbane but will now be re-assessing their decision after this mare’s effort in the G3 Premier’s Cup She crossed to lead from a wide draw but was under pressure before the turn and fell through the field to beat only two home and finished eighteen lengths from the winner. Can’t win on that effort.
Odds: $81.00
10. RAEBURN – A. Allen (4)
The rising 10yo has had five starts this campaign and was solid enough early but as he has stepped up to take on the better class of race recently, he has been left wanting. He finished eighth in both the G3 Chairman’s Handicap and G3 Premier’s Cup and neither effort would suggest he’ll perform any better here.
Odds: $81.00
11. FALAMONTE – (7)
Interesting entrant. A 3yo filly from Robbie Laing’s Victorian stables, she’ll be lining up for only her fifth career start. Of her four runs, her only win has been a Kilmore Maiden over 1850m.
Odds: $101.00
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RACE OVERVIEW
Pace here should be ok with Historian to go forward today along with Skysoblue and Zephyron pushing forward with Mr. O’Ceirin If Zephyron finds a spot without much drama, he’ll take some holding out but sticking with the Eagle Farm Cup quinella here – Moriarty and Mr. O’Ceirin. Mr. O’Ceirin should be able to find a nice spot and the slight pull in the weight might be enough to see him turn the tables on Moriarty. Rawiller brings out the best in Moriarty and he won this race well after finishing fourth in the Eagle Farm Cup. Last week’s win in that race suggests he is going just as well, if not better this year.
- MORIARTY
- MR. O’CEIRIN
- ZEPHYRON
- PRECEDENCE
