Last Saturday, the penultimate day of the Queensland Racing Carnival took centre stage at Eagle Farm, while Caulfield and Rosehill held strong support cards. From the Caulfield and Rosehill meetings, we have found three runners that are worth following at their next start. You can put these horses into your blackbook with your chosen bookmaker and receive notifications before they run again.
Caulfield
Rail position: +12m entire circuit
Race 8: 3YO Handicap (1000m) | Time: 0:58.03
- Horse to follow: Fleetwood (3rd)
The race that caused the most controversy was the eighth event at Caulfield, as the heavily-backed favourite, Fleetwood, missed the jump by five lengths. The James Cummings-trained galloper was ridden up for most of the 1000m contest, but given the slow tempo and margin he gave the leaders, he never played a role in the race. Post-race, the vision of the barriers showed that a barrier attendant may have held onto the son of Encryption a little too long and therefore could have cost him a fair start. However, the stewards saw it differently and declared him a starter, a decision that outraged punters across the country.
When to bet: Even with the unfortunate circumstances, Fleetwood ran home strongly and finished third, so wherever he goes next, he will have plenty of supporters.
Rosehill
Rail position: True entire circuit
Race 9: Benchmark 88 Handicap (1500m) | Time: 1:32.45
- Horse to follow: Aramco (5th)
After racing under the care of Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr for his first eight starts, Aramco was transferred to the Chris Waller stable, and he produced an encouraging performance over 1500m first-up. The son of Sea The Moon has good form over 2000m from his last preparation, so 1500m was always going to be short of his best, but connections would have been impressed with their geldings last 200m, as he ran through the line strongly. Although the five-year-old gelding was running on Heavy ground for the first time, he lengthened nicely in the concluding stages to finish fifth, beaten just over a length by Highlights.
When to bet: A rise in trip second-up looks to be the ideal plan, and with an 1800m race in the same grade scheduled for Randwick on July 13, Aramco will go around as a top chance.
Race 10: Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m) | Time: 1:52.35
- Horse to follow: Don Diego De Vega (2nd)
Don Diego De Vega made his Australian debut last Saturday at Rosehill for the Annabel Neasham stable, and he was very good behind another European import, Bear On The Loose, who was heavily backed and saluted as an impressive winner. The son of Lope De Vega has solid form over 2000m-plus in Europe, and he was coming off two trials over 1050m and 1200m in readiness for the 1800m event last weekend. This four-year-old gelding only had five starts before making his way to Australia, and after his second-place finish first-up, he will only improve the further he rises in distance throughout this preparation.
When to bet: If Neasham and her team can find a race over 2000m for Don Diego De Vega second-up in a similar grade, he will prove very hard to beat.
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