Today’s Eagle Farm meeting has been hit with a huge scratching tally due to further overnight rain with only the emergencies not required in Group 1 $400,000 Treasury Casino Queensland Oaks (2400m).
Officials rated the Eagle Farm track a heavy 8 this morning after 18mm of rain overnight, bringing the week’s total to 44.5mm with no chance of an upgrade with further showers forecast during the day and punters will certainly have to stick with the mud larks.
Of the feature races, the Group 2 $175,000 QTC Cup (1300m) has been hit the hardest with five scratchings out of the day’s total of twenty-six, throwing the whole makeup of the race into disarray.
With Listen Son and Audacious Spirit both coming out, the pace of the race could come from Celtic Dancer and Beethog, both coming out of inside gates and possibly Funtantes who raced on the pace at her latest start at Doomben.
Topweight Neeson will appreciate the heavy track rating and his outside gate might be negated by the tough conditions with the surface to be very chopped up by the time the last race comes around.
“I’m not too worried about the barrier. I think the wet track is going to offset that,” said Neeson’s trainer Joe Pride.
“I’m just more than happy to see him get on a wet track. He’s never missed a place on slow or heavy ground and that’s his go. He’s going to get it.”
Stradbroke Handicap hopeful Torio’s Quest, Durham Town and Falino are also out of the last.
Only the five emergencies came out of the Queensland Oaks with Glen Colless being named the replacement rider for the John Thompson trained Pretty Pins.
The Pins filly was to be ridden by Michael Cahill who will be out of action for six to eight weeks after suffering shoulder injuries from a nasty fall at Doomben midweek.
The Group 2 $200,000 Patinack Farm Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) has lost Hidden Kisses and Risk Aversion with Damien Oliver picking the ride on Alltherightmoves.
While all three emergencies will get a run in the Group 2 $350,000 Sky Racing Queensland Guineas (1400m) with Biggles, Venture On and Shopaholic all coming out.
Dwayne Dunn has picked up the ride on Extraceed, Nash Rawiller is on Our Smokin’ Rock and Tim Bell is aboard the outsider of the field, Dicko’s Dream.
