| What | Eagle Farm Races |
| Where | Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007 |
| When | Saturday, February 18, 2023 |
| First Race | 12:02pm AEST |
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Racing will return to Eagle Farm Racecourse this Saturday afternoon, with the Brisbane Racing Club hosting a very competitive nine-race program that kicks off at 12:02pm. The track is currently rated a Soft 5, but with warm weather and no rain forecast across Friday and Saturday, we expect to be racing on a Good track. The rail will be in the +2m position for the entire circuit, which shouldn’t have too much of an affect on how races are run and won.
Best Bet at Eagle Farm: The Bopper
We will have to wait until the penultimate event of the afternoon for our best bet, where the Kris Lees-trained The Bopper will be back at the races after being a late scratching at the barriers before his last start as an odds-on commodity. This five-year-old gelding has been in very good form this time in, finishing in the top two at his last two starts at the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast. After recording a very nice four-length victory at the Sunshine Coast second-up, this son of Nicconi went to the Gold Coast as a favourite, but he got too far back in the 900m event, and he flew down the outside to go down by the barest of margins to a runaway leader. On Saturday, there looks to be plenty of speed in the race which should set up a hot tempo and set the race up for a backmarker to run home down the outside. Andrew Mallyon will have his first ride on this gelding and if he can keep him out of trouble and find the outside on the home turn, he will be very hard to hold out in the concluding stages.
Best Bet
Race 8 – 
#2 The Bopper (8)
5yo Gelding | T: Kris Lees | J: Andrew Mallyon (59kg)
$2.60 with Palmerbet
Next Best Bet at Eagle Farm: Namazu
The second race of the day will be an Open Handicap over 1600m, where the Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted-trained Namazu will be second-up coming off a very nice return in the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup on January 28 over 1400m. This son of Medaglia D’oro was given one trial before his fresh run in the Sunshine Coast Cup to prepare him and it nearly did the job, with this gelding making his run with the race favourite and eventual winner, Chaillot, but the mare proved too good, winning by just under two lengths. Now he gets to 1600m second-up and gets a nice barrier (3), we should see this gelding at his best and ready to peak. Ben Thompson will jump aboard on Saturday afternoon for his first ride on this guy and if he performs anything like he did first-up, while taking the needed benefit from his fresh run, he will be in this race for a long way.
Next Best
Race 2 – 
#3 Namazu (3)
5yo Gelding | T: Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted | J: Ben Thompson (57kg)
$2.40 with Bet365
Best Value Bet at Eagle Farm: Thatfeelsbetter
In a race that seems to lack depth and winning prospects, we have found a runner at double-figures that looks ready to win again after good effort last start over 1000m. The Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted-trained Thatfeelsbetter was very good when winning first-up at the Sunshine Coast over 1000m on January 6, before going to Eagle Farm and finishing fifth over 1000m again last start, when not getting a lot of room in the home straight. Even though this son of Better Than Ready has only won once at 1200m in his career, it is clear that he is ready to go to 1200m this campaign after he was strong through the line at the end of 1000m at both starts this preparation. From barrier four Andrew Mallyon should be able to hold a prominent position and settle a couple of lengths behind the leaders. If Mallyon can stay out of trouble and get moving on the home turn, he will give this gelding every chance to run over the top of the leaders late.
Best Value
Race 7 – 
#6 Thatfeelsbetter (4)
4yo Gelding | T: Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted | J: Andrew Mallyon (59kg)
$16 with Neds
Eagle Farm quaddie numbers for Saturday races
Eagle Farm quadrella selections
Saturday, February 18, 2023
- 4-9
- 6-9-10-11
- 2-3-4
- 1-8-9-13
Investment: $96 for 100%
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