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Flashy Matthew Dunn galloper The White Hope resumes at Eagle Farm on Saturday, and can grab his fifth win from seven starts.
You’ll have to wait until the last race on a tricky card so it might well be a get-out wager as opposed to a banker, but the wait might just be well worth it.
The five-year-old son of Bradbury’s Luck has always oozed talent in a lightly raced career which currently stands at four wins from six starts.
He only had the one run last campaign and was beaten 3.3L in a similar race to what he lines up in today, but a post-race examination revealed a hoof problem which Dunn has nursed back to full health over the past eight months.
Prior to that he’d on four in a row by big margins and he’s capable of doing just that again today.
I’d expect he’ll go straight to the front from his awkward gate, and he’s capable of proving too good for this lot.
This might just be the campaign where he emerges as a horse capable of winning Listed races. Dunn has always maintained he’s one of the most talented he’s trained.
Lucky Sound is the big danger after finishing second resuming at this track and trip in similar three weeks ago.
Casino Card is a talented one resuming while Simply Smart can run a good race here but I suspect The White Hope is a class above these. In which case the $4.40 looks a solid wager.
There’s plenty of value around at Brisbane on Saturday and there’s one in the sixth, a no-metro-win handicap over 1400m, who I like the look of at $23.
Monashee Woods is up from Tamworth and likely to sneak right under the guard of Brisbane punters stepping up in grade.
He cruised home for a strong win at Inverell two weeks back after narrowly missing in similar at Coonabarabran.
On both occasions he carried 58.5kg and it’s therein where his chances lie tomorrow.
He’s been allotted 54.5kg and sheds another 3kg with the apprentice riding in a wide-open looking race.
He’s in excellent form, should find a nice spot just off the speed and will likely loom up to win it at some point.
Cracco has claims in this after winning two back at Doomben, but he ran fifth here in a bunched finish over the trip two weeks ago and there’s a question mark over that form.
Hora Sexta is in brilliant form having won four of his last five but he’s also up in weight and is probably short enough.
Jack’s Back, Vacallo and Written Above All also rate as solid chances and in all honesty there’s probably about 10 horses here capable of winning.
At $23 I’m happy to have a little each way on the Tamworth raider to spring an upset.
The lay of the day comes in the first where debuting Kelso Wood two-year-old Elitist has been backed into a $1.65 odds-on pop.
There’s a big boom on this juvenile, but this certainly isn’t a lay-down misere.
Ruby Soho wasn’t too far off Grapevine on debut seven weeks ago and will likely measure up again.
Storming Pleasure was 2.5L off Setfire To Therain two weeks back on debut, and he’s emerged as one of Brisbane’s best early two-year-olds.
There’s also a bit of buzz around Star Drop who debuts today after winning a Gatton trial.
I’d be treading very warily around the $1.65 about Elitist.
BANKER: Race 8 No 7 The White Hope @$4.40
BET OF THE DAY: Race 6 No 10 Monashee Woods @ $23
LAY OF THE DAY: Race 1 No 7 Elitist @ $1.65