The Queensland Racing Carnival rolls on this Saturday at Eagle Farm with the running of Queensland Oaks Day.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
The three-year-old staying fillies will compete for $700k in prize money in the day's feature race, the Group 1 Queensland Oaks.
Stradbroke Handicap contenders will look to ramp up their preparations in the Group 2 Moreton Cup which acts as a tasty dessert to the Oaks on the nine-race program.
We've cast our eyes over the form and provided our top selections in each race below.
RACE 1 - 11:43AM: BENCHMARK 90 Handicap (1800 METRES)
Nikau Spur (5) looks ready for a peak performance fourth-up.
The Corey and Kylie Geran-trained son of Proisir was excellent when storming home first-up to finish third by 1.1 lengths over the unsuitable 1200m at Doomben.
As is the case with many stayers after a strong first-up effort over a sprint trip, he was a touch flat in his next start in The Archer at Rockhampton but bounced back last start when hitting the line hard to finish third by 2.67 lengths in the Listed Members' Handicap.
He'll appreciate coming to Eagle Farm where he won and placed third in two starts over this course and distance last preparation.
1 Unit Each Way – Nikau Spur (5)
RACE 2 - 12:18PM: Class 6 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Pizarro (5) has settled in beautifully at Tony Gollan's Eagle Farm stable after previously racing in Sydney with John O'Shea.
The five-year-old gelding has had two starts at Ipswich over 1200m and on each occasion he has savaged the line to win narrowly but comfortably.
He looks ready to come to town and boasts an impressive third-up record of three wins and a second from six starts.
Jimmy Orman sticks and should be able to give his mount an excellent run just behind what looks a solid speed from barrier 2.
1 Unit Each Way – Pizarro (5)
RACE 3 - 12:53PM: LISTED THE PHOENIX (1500 METRES)
Aemelius (8) gave every indication that she would enjoy longer races when winning last start at Rosehill over 1200m.
The Annabel Neasham-trained Hellbent filly settled at the tail of the field after drawing the outside gate before letting down powerfully to easily win by a length.
The way she powered to and through the line suggested that the 1500m here will be ideal.
Gun jockey Jamie Kah takes the ride and should be able to settle closer than her mount has been from an inside barrier.
2 Units – Aemelius (8)
RACE 4 - 1:28PM: LADBROKES LIGHTNING HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
Golden Boom (7) returned in magnificent style with a win in the Chief De Beers last start.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding was caught wide early after drawing the outside gate, but Craig Williams expertly drove forward to share the lead before dashing clear to win by half a length.
He appears back to his devastating best and has historically improved significantly second-up.
Williams retains the ride which is a good thing given the potentially sticky gate.
1 Unit – Golden Boom (7)
RACE 5 - 2:03PM: LISTED SPEAR CHIEF HANDICAP (1500 METRES)
Yellow Brick (3) was unlucky not to win the Listed ATC Cup at the Sunshine Coast first-up.
The Tony and Maddy Sears-trained four-year-old gelding was never on the track but still found the line strongly to finish a head second.
He did well last start in the Group 3 BRC Sprint when finding the line well for a 1.6 length fifth.
This is a drop in class and he'll appreciate coming to Eagle Farm where he's won two and finished second twice from four starts including last preparation at Group level.
James McDonald is a key booking and he should give the Toowoomba galloper every chance from barrier 3.
1 Unit – Yellow Brick (3)
RACE 6 - 2:38PM: LISTED QUEENSLAND DAY STAKES (1200 METRES)
Hedged (1) ventures north off a freshen-up and does his best racing when on the fresh side.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained son of Capitalist was last seen peaking on his run to finish third over 1200m at Caulfield.
That was six weeks ago and he's since had a jump out where he looked very stylish winning comfortably.
He's extremely well placed under the conditions of the race, and he gets one of the best in the business in Jamie Kah riding.
1 Unit – Hedged (1)
RACE 7 - 3:13PM: MAGIC MILLIONS NATIONAL CLASSIC (1600 METRES)
La Crique (1) brings excellent New Zealand form to this race and is extremely well placed under weight for age conditions.
The Simon and Katrina Alexander-trained mare resumed last start in the Group 3 Rotorua ITM Stakes with an eye-catching run where after being held up, she savaged the line to miss the win by a nose.
She'll strip fitter second-up and won the Group 1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic over this distance when having her second run last preparation.
In a strong guide to her chances, top jockey James McDonald will be the pilot.
3 Units – La Crique (1)
RACE 8 - 3:52PM: GROUP 1 QUEENSLAND OAKS (2200 METRES)
There feels a real sense of timing about the Chris Waller-trained Mare Of Mt Buller (11) for this year's Group 1 Queensland Oaks.
The daughter of Dundeel has thrived since arriving in Queensland, kicking off her campaign three starts ago in the Listed Princess Stakes where she was doing her best work late.
Two starts ago she was unlucky not to finish closer than her two-length third in the Gold Coast Bracelet after racing wide throughout and then being held up in the straight.
A warning siren sounded last start in the Group 2 The Roses when she clocked the quickest final 200m of the race despite being in the inferior going to finish a head second.
She maps to get a beautiful run from barrier 2 and will eat up the extra distance.
Put simply, she ticks all the boxes.
Check out our deep dive into each Queensland Oaks runner here.
1 Unit Each Way – Mare Of Mt Buller (11)
RACE 9 - 4:29PM: GROUP 2 MORETON CUP (1200 METRES)
The Big Goodbye (4) looks primed for a peak performance fourth-up.
The Rob Heathcote-trained warhorse took advantage of a hot speed to storm home and win the Listed Ascot Handicap first-up.
He then struggled with a massive weight and the heavy conditions but still fought bravely when second-up in the Listed ATC Cup.
"G Man" bounced back with a typical stellar performance last start in the Listed Chief De Beers where he found the line powerfully to finish a half-length second.
Blake Shinn taking the ride is a massive positive and he should be able to give his mount the run of the race from barrier 4.
1 Unit Each Way – The Big Goodbye (4)
