2017 Victory Stakes Day Preview & Tips

2017 Victory Stakes Day has drawn some of the Brisbane Winter Carnival’s most exciting prospects to Eagle Farm Racecourse on Saturday and the Group 2 sprint feature headlines an impressive eight race card.

Takedown will carry improvement into the Group 2 Victory Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart

Takedown will carry improvement into the Group 2 Victory Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart

Talented fields have been confirmed for all eight races at Eagle Farm and we have studied every runner in detail in order to help you find a winner on 2017 Victory Stakes Day.

Race 1 (12:02pm) Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup Day Handicap (1000m)

Twelve horses will line up for Race 1 on Victory Stakes Day; a Class 6 Handicap contest over only 1000m. Taillevent returned to the races for an impressive win on Toowoomba Cup day and has the notable advantage of Jeff Lloyd in the saddle once more this weekend. Colinelle is weighted for success at 54kgs, is well placed at the distance and has drawn ideally into the field in barrier 7, while proven first-up performers Salmanazar (barrier 5) and Johnhro (barrier 2) are both not without a chance of winning the race.

Tip: No. 2 Taillevent – Each Way ($6/$2.20)

Race 2 (12:37pm) Treasury Brisbane Ladies Oaks Day Handicap (1500m)

Race 2 at Eagle Farm on Saturday is rich with consistent Brisbane Saturday-grade horses and there is a number of live chances set to line up for the BM85. Punta Norta (barrier 1) flashed home over 1350m first-up a fortnight ago and will relish a step up in distance, but has been charged with overcoming topweight this weekend. Desert General savaged the line for second at his last start, has drawn well again (barrier 5) and could realistically hand jockey Jeff Lloyd an early running double on Saturday. Snapper (barrier 11) and Scrabble (barrier 2) both face a step up in class, but carry terrific form into the race and are worth consideration at longer odds.

Tip: No. 4 Desert General ($4)

Race 3 (1:12pm) Stradbroke Day Open Handicap (1805m)

Some of Queensland’s biggest trainers will saddle horses in Race 3 at Eagle Farm on Saturday and there is subsequently plenty of value to be taken. Veteran stayers Amexed and Feltre both excellent form amongst black type company last winter and while neither way able to figure in the finish of their respective first-up starts, will carry plenty of benefit into this race. Dance Of Heroes is the formed runner of this field and should find a good position in transit from barrier 8, while Morendi is seeking his fourth race win this campaign and is a good lightweight chance.

Tip: No. 4 Dance Of Heroes ($4.80)

Race 4 (1:47pm) Listed Dalrello Stakes (1200m)  

Some of Brisbane leading two-year-old prospects will be on show in the Listed Dalrello Stakes and it is a particularly open race from a betting perspective, following the scratching of classy interstate raider Condor Heroes. Ours To Keep (barrier 5) was last seen finishing midpack in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) in early January and was far from disgraced, while his fresh form is terrific. The Seidnazar colt’s biggest dangers are undoubtedly the resuming Snitzkraft (barrier 2) and Capital Gain (barrier 8). John Zielke unearthed several good two-year-olds in 2016 and Bold Kingston is shaping as another strong prospect following a smart first-up win over 1200m a fortnight ago.

Tip: No. 4 Bold Kingston – Each Way ($17/$4.10)

Race 5 (2:27pm) Sky Thoroughbred Central 3YO Handicap (1300m)

Oink was a smart performer amongst quality company in 2016, relishes running fresh and should find himself right in the finish of Race 5 on Victory Stakes Day if he can handle a race-high 59kgs. Desert Cowboy was a smart winner on debut for David Vandyke, but faces a step up in class and a potentially tough run from a wide draw, while Chief Joseph was also impressive at his first-up appearance. The Tony Gollan-trained Lipstick Lover showed plenty of promise as a juvenile and is undoubtedly the value in this field, should she take improvement into the race.

Tip: No.1 Oink – Each Way ($7/$2.40)

Race 6 (3:07pm) Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m)

A small but talented field of seven sprinters will line up for the featured Group 2 Victory Stakes and the race is sure to shape betting markets for the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 over the distance in a fortnight. Takedown (barrier 5) and Music Magnate (barrier 7) are undoubtedly the class runners of the field and the former appears likely to carry the great benefit into the Victory Stakes. A Group 1 winner at the distance, Takedown has been set for all the major Brisbane Winter Carnival sprints and will improve further from whatever he manages on Saturday. Miss Cover Girl (barrier 1) should relish the conditions of the race first-up, while Tumbler (barrier 6) is arguably the best chance of saluting for the local contingent.

Tip: No. 1 Takedown ($3.30)

Race 7 (3:47pm) Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m)

A number of 2017 Queensland Derby prospects will launch their black type campaigns in the Gunsynd Classic, but the John Zielke-trained Dreams Aplenty should prove extremely tough to beat under the conditions of the race, from an ideal draw (barrier 2) and with in-form apprentice Tiffani Brooker aboard. A standout for Zielke in 2016, the Dream Ahead gelding is seeking a fourth-consecutive win when he lines up for the Gunsynd Classic and was last seen delivering a smart three-year-old field defeat in the Toowoomba Guineas (1625m). Spring Tycoon (barrier 3) is the main danger, while interstate raider Kunming (barrier 6) could find a far more competitive performance amongst Brisbane company.

Tip: No. 1 Dreams Aplenty ($2)

Race 8 (4:23pm) BRC Membership Class 6 Plate (1300m)

Several notable runners have been confirmed in the field for Race 8 on Victory Stakes Day and the event is another open affair from a betting perspective. Lucky Tom is capable of winning races like this on his day and should find the pace with relative ease from barrier 6, but he is extremely inconsistent. In His Stride (barrier 2) should receive a good trail into the race with luck, while the resuming I’m Belucci (barrier 1) probably needs more distance, but has a class advantage on most of this field and is weighted well.

Tip: No. 14 I’m Belucci – Each Way ($21/$5.90)

About The Author

Jared Timms

Jared graduated with a journalism degree in 2011. He is a keen sports fan and has enjoyed many accolades for his lively writing style and comprehensive coverage of major sporting events and horse racing. Today, you can find Jared cheering on his beloved Manchester City with a beer in hand.