BENCHMARK 90 HANDICAP

RACE 3 - 1600m

KEITEL / BULLION BOY / YET HE MOVES

David Vandyke has a pretty handy HELLBENT gelding in KEITEL, who came out and attacked the line from 3L last to win on his home Sunshine Coast course fresh up. Hadn't won since Beaudesert November 2024 over 1100m, then had a couple of runs in Sydney before a 5th over 1400m at Eagle Farm. Claims 3kg, but never run over the mile, with a lone placing here at Doomben from one start. Repeat of that last effort then up in trip should be ideal, however some risks associated.

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BULLION BOY has been bang on in all four starts this prep and deserves favouritism based on recent form. The DREAM AHEAD eight-year-old trained across the road at Eagle Farm won there fresh up over 1200m, then couldn't reel in the leader up to 1400m OPEN grade. Did best late to haul in AMUR returning and get one back. Lost no fans when 3rd up to the mile at Doomben last start and should be well equipped for another go at it.

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Since mid-2024, Chris Waller's strategic relocation of YET HE MOVES to Queensland appears to have yielded positive results. Won at Doomben over 2040m in June and August of that year, then resumed with a win on the Gold Coast over 1800m. Fairly consistent thus far in 2025, with a victory over 1600m at Eagle Farm in July and a last start win here over 1615m. Held up but ran on well in that event so just has to be a solid chance with a clean run in.

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BENCHMARK 85 HANDICAP

RACE 9 - 1110m

FLAG HALL / EPIC PROPORTIONS / CATWALK CRIMINAL

FLAG HALL is an absolute beauty racehorse by the sire STARSPANGLEDBANNER, with an awesome strikerate. Apart from one run at Randwick, trainer Michael Freedman has run the gelding in QLD his entire career. Win over 1000m at the Goldie in March, then at Ipswich in May. Only one run since then and recently won a 1050m jumpout at Beaudesert to prepare. Top fresh up horse, loves the trip and gets 3kg off his back. Odds a very genuine so worth a crack resuming.

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EPIC PROPORTIONS nailed it for Ciaron Maher at Caulfield under a big weight two back and the BETTER THAN READY gelding is such an underrated horse that overs up a big stride late. Good at Kensington in July and kept going well to win over 1100m, so these odds also seem at overs. Out-sprinted on the fast Moonee Valley course last start, however, a month between rund and this seems his pet distance. Follow him in as a free running type jumping from a good gate.

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The Adam Campton trained mare CATWALK CRIMINAL is quite unreliable but always tends to trial her socks off without replicating that effort come race day and can throw down the odd big run when the mood strikes her. Won at Ipswich and the Goldie last spring, then drew away to win there over 1000m in August with very few runs in between. Faded after being bumped last start, now comes to town hoping for a change of fortune. Draw won't help much, although record here is sound.

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BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP

RACE 1 - 2200m

SPORTING CHANCE / SO YOU ARE / KIRKEBY

The Ex-Kiwi SPORTING CHANCE came across to join the Jack Bruce stable after showing some nice ability in New Zealand. He is by DUNDEEL out of a CHOISIR mare, and achieved five victories across the Tasman. Showed off his best work ehen defeating a good one in MAJOR MAJOR in March 2024, and won with some authority over 1500m at Te Rapa last August. Appears a touch off the elite stayers, however a hard fought 4th behind TUFF TU MUS at Doomben resuming from a 34 week spell and a nice 2nd over 1660m. Could produce something better at this trip as a fit horse seeking a firm track, but can sometimes switch off and drift away with the fairies. Stable look to be bringing him around and better win odds.

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SO YOU ARE is a reliable sort for Stirling Osland, but possibly not a two dollar shot. The SO YOU THINK four-year-old gelding is ultra strong at the distance though and well-conditioned after some decent staying results. Most notably, finished 5th in the Gr.3 Newcastle Gold Cup behind SOUL OF SPAIN and kept chasing when clear at the 230m mark. 3rd at Rosehill over 1900m, before another 3rd placing over 2200m at Doomben. Taken on some high class stayers of late so easy to comprehend the big market push.

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If KIRKEBY is going to show anything, then the time is probably now and Chris Waller has an air of confidence about his chances on Saturday. The eight-year-old gelding has run well in Queensland in the last and returned after a 3rd to QUANTUM CAT over 1800m at Randwick in July. Battled on a bit when 3rd over 2200m at Eagle Farm in August, before a last start 5th over 2400m on the Gold Coast two weeks ago. Sure to be in trimmer condition now and well equipped to handle this trip with a 3kg claim.

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THREE-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP

RACE 5 - 1500m

CONTINGENCY / DUSHENKA / CASTELLO GRANDE

The Paul Shailer trained CONTINGENCY trialed up five times before taking over at the 300m up at the Sunny and winning with some authority despite racing greenly. That was over the 1600m which suits his pedigree perfectly being by SAVABEEL out of an O'REILLY mare in BINGO. The dam managed to win two in NZ with her son looking like a progressive three-year-old capable of going on with it over the 1500m. Good stable and price is quite tempting.

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DUSHENKA took over to win easily at Eagle Farm on debut for Stuart Kendrick early in 2025, before taking on a ripping hot two-year-old field in the Gr.2 Reisling Stakes at Randwick. Was in it until the turn but nowhere near as strong as the well-prepared Sydney juveniles. Resumed last month with a sound 2nd over 1400m at the Gold Coast and sure to arrive here in much sharper shape. Could really take it to this lot jumping from the ace and the stable wouldn't have travelled to NSW to take on the likes of TEMPTED and MARHOONA unless they though she was any good. Follow this DOUBTLAND filly here as a good horse with added experience.

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CASTELLO GRANDE could be a good one from the Robert Heathcote stable, and now he has found winning form may be able to go on with it. The CASTELVECCHIO gelding is out of a REDOUTE'S CHOICE mare, with this distance more positive after a win over the mile at the Sunny last start. Took over at the 200m and kept finding, which is what you like to see from a developing three-year-old. Definitely has to step in up again, although plenty of potential and KWT willing be riding him out hard to the line

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