Eagle Farm full racing preview & best bets | Saturday, June 1

Race 1: Benchmark 85 Handicap (1600m)

Poison Chalice has travelled from Victoria to Queensland following his strong performance in the Listed Straight Six at Flemington, where the Paul Preusker-trained gelding flew home from the back of the field to finish fourth. This son of Savabeel will get conditions to suit in his first start at Eagle Farm as he steps up in trip to 1600m second-up, with good speed expected in this event. Michael Dee will settle near the rear of the field from barrier 12 and allow Poison Chalice to build on the outside and let down with his blistering turn of foot late.

• 5
  

  POISON CHALICE

• 7
  

  TENZING

• 16
  

  SUNSET SOIREE

• 8
  

  TOJAKI

Race 2: Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m)

Geriatrix brings strong form from New Zealand as he makes his Australian debut for Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott. Last start, this son of Almanzor was way too good for his rivals in a 3YO Open Handicap when he swooped down the outside and ran away with a 1.8-length win over 1400m. Although the colt has drawn barrier 14, his get-back-and-run-on racing style will offset the gate, and Michael Dee will be looking to get to the outside of runners on the home turn. If Geratrix shows a similar turn of foot, he will play a prominent role in the finish.

• 12
  

  GERIATRIX

• 10
  

  WARBY

• 17
  

  SHA OF GOMER

• 15
  

  MADAME ODETTE

Race 3: Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2400m)

Although it says that Hezashocka recorded a seventh in the Group 1 Doomben Cup last start, the run of the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper has to be upgraded because he was in the inferior ground along the inside rail. His last 600m was as strong as any of his rivals, and now that he rises in distance to 2400m on a bigger track, this son of Shocking gets another chance to win again. From barrier three, Jamie Kah can settle midfield off the fence and get a dream run in transit before letting down with a strong finish.

• 6
  

  HEZASHOCKA

• 1
  

  SPIRIT RIDGE

• 4
  

  CAPTAIN ENVIOUS

• 12
  

  REGAL LION

Race 4: Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m)

Knight’s Choice ran home strong first-up and was only beaten by the very smart Gringotts in the Listed Members’ Handicap over 1600m and it is expected that he will take a lot of fitness benefit from that fresh run. Going up against older and seasoned stayers could be a struggle for this up-and-coming stayer; however, after such a strong performance first-up, Knight’s Choice is worth a bet each way at the massive odds on offer with online bookmakers.

• 7
  

  KNIGHT’S CHOICE

• 15
  

  SHOCK ‘EM OVA

• 2
  

  JUST FOLK

• 14
  

  TERRITORY EXPRESS

Race 5: Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m)

Now that El Morzillo gets her first crack at 1400m and finally draws a good gate (4), the Kelly Schweida-trained filly looks to have all the conditions in her favour here. This daughter of Star Witness has been running on strongly from the back of the field over 1200m in her last two starts, and she appears to be crying out for further distance. Craig Williams has chosen to stick with the filly after riding her in those last two starts, and if he can settle closer to the speed and still show that same dash in the final 300m, El Morzillo will break through for a deserving victory.

• 16
  

  EL MORZILLO

• 12
  

  ANGEL CAPITAL

• 1
  

  BROADSIDING

• 2
  

  BITTERCREEK

Race 6: Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1400m)

After finishing fifth, beaten 1.5 lengths by Bella Nipotina in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000, Stefi Magnetica looks to be one of the better bets on the card. The Bjorn Baker-trained filly has proven herself at Group 1 level multiple times, and now that she drops back to Group 3 three-year-old grade, she should get every chance to win second-up. Tommy Berry won’t have to settle too far away from the speed from barrier two, and if Stefi Magnetica gets a clear run from the 300m mark, she will prove very hard to hold out.

• 17
  

  STEFI MAGNETICA

• 7
  

  SCHWARZ

• 1
  

  CIFRADO

• 15
  

  ABOUNDING

Race 7: Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m)

James Cummings and Jamie Kah will combine with In Secret who is the fresh horse on the scene and will return from a six-month spell with the benefit of three solid barrier trials under her belt. This daughter of I Am Invincible has a very good fresh (4:2-2-0) and wet track record (6:3-2-0) throughout her career, and with most of her rivals nearing the end of their preparations, she looks to be a great bet. Jamie Kah can settle this girl in behind a strong speed, and if she gets even luck in the home straight, In Secret can win again first-up.

• 10
  

  IN SECRET

• 1
  

  I WISH I WIN

• 9
  

  BELLA NIPOTINA

• 11
  

  MAGIC TIME

Race 8: Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m)

The Queensland Derby will be the feature race on the program for the three-year-old’s, and the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained Autumn Angel heads the market for the 2400m contest. Can she become the first filly to win the Derby since 2010, or will Chris Waller claim victory in the race for the third time in four years with one of his four runners?

Check out HorseBetting’s free preview of the 2024 Queensland Derby here.

Race 9: Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m)

Coeur Volante will return for her first run since finishing fourth in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas during the spring, and if her last jumpout is anything to go by, she looks to have returned in very good form. The Mike Moroney-trained filly settled in behind the leader and eventual winner in the 800m jumpout, and she cruised around and wasn’t asked for an effort but still finished second. This daughter of Proisir has shown that she can handle any ground, and with Blake Shinn in the saddle, it is expected that Coeur Volante is ready to win first-up.

• 4
  

  COEUR VOLANTE

• 6
  

  AUREUS ANGEL

• 2
  

  COMRADE ROSA

• 9
  

  GREY RIVER