Catching the Worm

Sportsbet presents "Catching the Worm".........an early bird look at the weekend's racing.

An enormous day of racing at Eagle Farm awaits punters with the biggest race in Queensland, the Stradbroke Handicap, flanked by the Derby, the Brisbane Cup and the T.J. Smith. All up there's five Group races and three listed races and in this edition of Catching the Worm we will look at all the Group races.

First up is the Brisbane Cup (Race 4), a Group Two event run over 2400 metres and if punters are prepared to take short odds then it looks like a "put in, take out" race with Glass Harmonium. He only has to carry 57kg, down from WFA and is ideally suited at the handicap conditions. Lisa Cropp can get to the front and control the race and a repeat of last week's performance will see him win as the best bet of the day. The only danger is The Chevron. The three year old is the horse on the up and he hit the line well in the Grand Prix suggesting he is looking for the 2400 metres. The stable mate to the favourite, Tinseltown is also a chance to run the quinella. Definitely fitter for the last start and will appreciate the drop down to 54.5 kg.

Glass Harmonium $1.80, Ironstein $8.50, Tullamore $9.00, The Chevron $10.00, Tinseltown $11.00, Shuffle The Cash $14.00, De Fine Lago $14.00, Others $21.00 & above.

The next race (Race 5) is the Group Two T.J. Smith run over 1600 metres. Our traders have had to eat some humble pie with Hot Snitzel winning last start, but the mishap at the barrier with Free Wheeling did hand the race to Hot Snitzel. He looks like he can get across, sit on the speed and control the race and is the one to beat again, but at the short odds, he is no value. The two horses that were affected in the mishap, Benfica and Dowager Queen represent much better value, with the latter favoured as she has already won at the distance and this time isn't 28 days between runs. Fontelina continues to improve and although not likely to get such a cosy run this time, has to be considered. Best 'roughie' in the race is Playtime. The filly keeps improving and looks suited to the extra distance.

Hot Snitzel $2.00, Fontelina $3.80, Benfica $5.50, Dowager Queen $6.50, Playtime $17.00, Double Impact $41.00, Others $41.00 & above.

Race 6 is the Queensland Derby, a Group One over 2400 metres where the fillies in the field will have a big bearing on the outcome of the race. Shootoff is the best of the colts and he is a deserved favourite. He is back to his own age group after holding his own against the older horses and should get a perfect run from his barrier as there will be genuine pace in the race from Mr Light Blue and Shadows In The Sun. Our traders consider Turnitup a 'lay'. Only a fair win in the Grand Prix and even though he has the Moody/Nolen combination would have to improve to win. The two horses that were backed in the Oaks, Heidilicious and Shez Sinsational are value again here and are the fillies to watch. Shez Sinsational ran a good third in the Oaks so she can get the distance, while John Sadler will be hoping the barrier blanket and the tongue tie can help Heidilicious get out of the gates without bombing the start. Two 'roughies' punters can throw into multiples are Quarterbar and Oforawesome. Quarterbar ran good time winning midweek and Mick Kent has a knack of getting things right in distance races so Oforawesome could run a drum.

Shootoff $3.80, Turnitup $6.50, Heidilicious $8.00, The Chevron $8.00, Shez Sinsational $8.50, Shadows In The Sun $14.00, Alma's Fury $15.00, Others $17.00 & above.

The Group One Stradbroke Handicap (Race 7) is one of the best races of the year and this year is no exception. Our traders are working on a dry track so Woorim has to be given a chance. He is a back marker that flies home, but the speed will be genuine so he will look gone at some stage before charging home. The Doomben 10,000 is always a good form race for the 'Straddie' so both Beaded and Love Conquers All will be hard to beat. They have both drawn out wide but may just be able to slot in if Listen Son and Zero Rock get things rolling up front. Love Conquers All meets Beaded 1.5kg better at the weights and if it does rain he will win, but otherwise our traders just favour Beaded. Black Piranha is attempting three straight Stradbrokes, but our traders say he "aint no Makybe Diva" and is our 'lay of the day'. He finished a nice third in the 10,000 but is up 2 kg on last year and will get buried back on the fence so will need some luck; similar for Sincero who has the blinkers on to change things up. This is a hard race to find luck. Thankgodyou'rhere handles all ground and is a definite chance dropping down to just 52.5kg. One at big odds is Culminate. She was beaten less than two lengths in this race last year, won't know herself with just 52 kg and the appointment of Michael Walker is a big plus.

Beaded $5.50, Black Piranha $6.00, Woorim $7.00, Love Conquers All $7.00, Thankgodyou'rehere $8.50, Sincero $8.50, Others $21.00 & above.

The final race of the day is the Group Two Queensland Guineas (Race 8) run over 1600 metres and punters playing quaddies will need to go wide here as it is an almost impossible task to find the winner. There has been nothing between the three year olds this season and this race proves it. Many of these come out of the 'Daybreak Lover' last week and our traders suggest that Benny's Buttons and Havatryst are the two to follow. They both finished the race of well suggesting that the extra 200 metres would suit. If some rain comes then punters should elevate Ready To Rip to top pick. He finished well behind the other two and the wetter the better for him. Skilled comes into this race at the set weights and the Snowden camp cannot be ignored and he is Group One winner. Falino is a risk as he has drawn out wide and might be a query at the mile. Torio's Quest at his best could easily win this and Hugh Bowman goes back on board. Spot The Rock comes up from Sydney and looks to be a horse with plenty of improvement in him, while Fashion rates at some odds. She boasts a win over Heidilicious, had no luck last start and now gets Lisa Cropp to ride which is fashionable. It is a very difficult race.

Ready To Rip $6.50, Smokin' Joey $8.00, Benny's Buttons $8.00, Skilled $8.00, Torio's Quest $9.00, Havatryst $9.00, Spot The Rock $10.00, Others $12.00 & above.

Eagle Farm Snapshot

Best Bet - Glass Harmonium
Best Roughie - El Chico
Lay of the Day - Temple Of Boom