3 minute read
Competitive day’s racing with some open fields at Sunshine Coast on Saturday but the best bets look to come up early in the program.
Last-start winner Coral Bay is well placed to go back-to-back when he lines up in The Wharf Mooloolaba Handicap over 1400m.
The Stuart Kendrick-trained gelding only won narrowly at this course last start but there was plenty to like about the performance when he was forced to race wide and really toughed it out late.
He is drawn closer to the fence this week so should receive a better run in transit and he does his best work at Caloundra with all seven career wins coming at the course.
Coral Bay has returned strong ratings at his past two outings and if he can maintain that level he should have the wood on this field.
Dawson Diva is another that impressed when winning last start and is the one to beat in The Esplanade Mooloolaba Class 3 over 1800m.
She was a real eye-catcher at Eagle Farm over 1600m last start when she was held up but finished powerfully when clear, streaking away to score by 2.3 lengths.
That was just her second run back from a spell and while she has had four weeks off since she should be peaking third up and returns to the course that has produced two of her three career wins.
The extra 200m should also be in her favour as she was a head second in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks over 2200m back in June.
Dawson Diva is drawn to get a cushy run from the inside stall and with room in the straight looks hard to hold out.
BRISBANE BEST
BET OF THE DAY (1): Race 3 #1 Coral Bay @ $3.50
BET OF THE DAY (2): Race 2 #7 Dawson Diva @ $2.70