Queensland Derby favourite Mackintosh has plenty of things in his favour as he chases a hat trick of wins in the Group 3 $150,000 Mullins Lawyers Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Mackintosh, above, will run the favourite for the Grand Prix Stakes at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The front running Mackintosh has drawn well at barrier three, has the inform jockey Blake Shinn in the saddle again and according to trainer Chris Waller has worked well during the week.
“From barrier three he is going to get a nice run. Barrier three, Blake Shinn to ride, worked good during the week,” Waller said.
“He is ready to go, had a couple of days at the beach.”
At his first run for the Waller stable, the former Kiwi trained three year old led all off the way for Brenton Avdulla to win a 1500m BenchMark 77 Handicap at Hawkesbury on April 30 then Shinn adopted similar tactics when Mackintosh scored a two and three quarter lengths win in the Group 3 $125,000 Mitty’s Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben on May 14.
Following his awesome display in the Rough Habit Plate, bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au elevated him to be the $2.80 favourite for the Group 1 $600,000 Channel Seven Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.
Mackintosh is also the current $2.25 favourite for the Grand Prix Stakes while Waller’s second runner Multifacets is one of the outsiders of the field at $20.
Waller was left with two runners in the Grand Prix Stakes after he scratched Encosta Line who drew poorly at barrier thirteen in the fourteen horse field.
Waller is expecting a better performance from Multifacets who was held up for a run in the straight last start when ninth to Mackintosh in the Rough Habit Plate.
“This is a smoky,” Waller said.
“He was very unlucky last start. He is ready to run a race, but he hasn’t worked as well as Mackintosh, but that is just him, he is pretty laid back character.”
“No excuses Saturday, he has drawn a touch better and should get a nice run. He will be hard to beat.”
Multifacets has drawn barrier eight with Kerrin McEvoy taking over from Glyn Schofield in the Grand Prix Stakes.
Thee South Australian Derby winner Howard Be Thy Name is on the second line of betting at $4.50 with Queensland’s best local chance Cylinder Beach the only other runner under double figures at $7.50.
Grand Prix Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.25 Mackintosh, $4.50 Howard Be Thy Name, $7.50 Cylinder Beach, $11 Eagle Way, $12 Brazen, $16 Unbreakable, $20 Multifacets, $21 Eschiele, Harvard, $26 Red Alto, $51 I’m Belucci, $61 Last Typhoon, $81 Snapper Rocks.
