The Queensland Cup is one of two Group 1 feature races on at Albion Park on Thursday night and some of the country’s best chasers are engaged.
A talented field of eight plus two emergencies has been taken and the Queensland Cup looms as a fascinating betting race, with several chasers prominent in the market.
We’ve run the rule over runner in the Queensland Cup field and you can find our thoughts on each below.
Maggie Moo Moo
Maggie Moo Moo’s recent form has been nothing short of outstanding and she is drawn to receive all of the favours in the Queensland Cup.
Having finished a credible fourth behind Zipping Rambo in the Group 1 Sandown Cup Final in May, the daughter of Fernando Bale simply hasn’t looked back, and won the Group 3 Superstayers here two back before flashing late to win her heat last week.
With a clear passage late, she’ll be hard to hold out again.
Classy Ethics
She doesn’t win out of turn, but Classy Ethics’ heat performance suggested that she can return a competitive effort in the Queensland Cup.
The daughter on Bella Infrared was sent off at odds of $26 in last week’s heat after drawing awkwardly in Box 4, but she used her early speed to go forward and didn’t let up her position in running.
She is yet to record a win from Box 2, and she would need to go to another level to win the Brisbane Cup.
Brockie Magic
This is the toughest task for which Brockie Magic has been set and she too would need to muster a career-best performance to win.
The daughter of Zambora Brockie has been a consistent performer all prep and to her credit, she has typically performed well as the bar has been raised.
She doesn’t have the talent of some of her Queensland Cup rivals, but she does look capable of sneaking into the placings.
Pump It
Pump It has mixed her form recently and will need everything to go right on Thursday after drawing Box 4.
The daughter of Collision’s summer campaign was nothing short of outstanding, and included seven-consecutive wins, highlighted by a win at Group 2 level.
She made up plenty of ground late to fill the minors of her heat last week and would need a vastly improved performance to threaten some of these.
Sir Truculent
Sir Truculent’s chances of winning the Queensland Cup have taken a hit with his drawing of Box 5, but he has found impressive form this campaign and looks to be the value in betting.
The son of Worm Burner arrived in Brisbane two starts bvack with a credible effort for third behind Maggie Moo Moo in the Superstayers and completed an ideal lead-in to this race with a bullish win in his heat.
If he steps well, he should be right in the finish again.
Five Star
Five Star has been prominent in Queensland Cup betting since markets went up and shapes as a key winning chance in the Group 1 feature.
The talented son of Fernando Bale recorded an impressive hat-trick of victories in Victoria last month, including the Group 3 Speed Star at Sandown Park, and he overcome a slow start to finish second in his heat here last week.
With a clear passage late, he’ll be very difficult to hold out again.
Bedrock Fred
Bedrock Fred has mixed his form recently and typically keeps his best performances for when drawn inside.
I can’t make a case for him against some of these opponents and he looks to be a touch of unders at around the $10 mark.
Micks Recall
Micks Recall has been a strong and consistent performer recently and rates as a key winning chance in the Queensland Cup.
Other than a DNF here in May, the daughter of Dyna Double One hasn’t missed placing since September last year; some fourteen starts.
She flashed last to only just miss beating Magie Moo Moo in their strong heat last week and she does looks capable of going one better on Thursday.
Zipping Niseko
Zipping Niseko is the Queensland Cup’s first emergency and will gain a start if one of his rivals in scratched.
He rates as a genuine winning chance, should he gain a start.
Smart Lilly
Smart Lilly is the Queensland Cup’s second emergency and is unlikely to gain a start.
Queensland Cup Tip
Micks Recall at $3.10