Eye Liner Stakes - 1350m, Ipswich R8

The Eye Liner Stakes sees the lower tier sprinter-milers looking to pick up some scraps from the Brisbane carnival.

Antino has been a great measuring stick for these lower grade races, thanks to peeling off four wins in a row across April-June, and Blaze a Trail has been installed as favourite here after running second to him last start.

Antino has since won again, franking that form, and if Blaze a Trail is back to his best after a little period in the wilderness, then he deserves to be up there in the market. And we know that the Maher/Eustace camp are very good at keeping their horses in form once they find it.

Gravina is the logical danger, and appeals at a point or two over the each-way cut. While he’s only won one race this season, back in October, since then he has run placings to horses the calibre of Think About It, Opal Ridge, Vilana and Quantico, often while conceding them weight. Some will question him at the end of 1350m given he’s never won beyond 1200m, but the price is right to find out.

Lady of Honour hasn’t quite raised her game to the level some might have expected this preparation. While she hasn’t run poorly this autumn, she also hasn’t been at the level we saw from her in the spring, and the jury is out a little on her. This level of race is winnable for her though.

Holyfield won this race last year, but was in better form then and has been lumped with 3.5kg’s more this time. Cepheus won up to 2500m in his European days, but drops back sharply to 1350m after racing over 2000m a month ago. His Ajax Stakes win back in March is more than good enough for this, and he may be sent forward to test out the others given he is rock-hard racing fit.

Selections: 1.Gravina 2.Blaze A Trail 3.Lady of Honour 4.Cepheus

Cameron rose's Tip

GRAVINA

EACH-WAY

City Of Ipswich Eye Liner Stks 17 June 15:53

4. Gravina

Win

Place

* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds

Gai Waterhouse Classic - 1200m, Ipswich R9

The fillies and mares line up here over 1200m, and a handy field has been assembled with seven last-start winners engaged.

What a marvel Lady Laguna is. The Annabel Neasham filly has been up longer than Stonehenge, but just keeps running great races – she hasn’t missed a place at her last six starts, all against quality opposition, but now steps out of her own age group for the first time and has to give most of the older horses weight.

Snapped might be one that has snuck under the guard of the handicapper. She’s having a good campaign, having already raced in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, has form around some nice horses, and her win last start against the race pattern was simply outstanding. Barrier one is the only concern if she gets trapped back in the ruck.

Majestic Shot is in the form of her career as a late season five-year-old. The horse she beat into second in the Bright Shadow had just tested Antino, and third place there was Comrade Rosa, who just came out and won the Dane Ripper last week. It’s excellent form if she can produce again from a wide draw.

Russian Conquest is a nice filly, but keeps finding herself too close to the speed. Her best runs as a three-year-old have been when ridden a bit colder, so reverting to those tactics might see her recapture her best.

Tilianam looks the best roughie, at a big price. The Gollan stable is high on confidence after a treble on Stradbroke Handicap day, and this mare is progressing through the grades nicely, deserving her shot at some black type.

The race doesn’t end there either, with the likes of Chassis, Sneaky Five and Better Get Set all with some claims.

Selections: 1.Snapped 2.Majestic Shot 3.Lady Laguna 4.Russian Conquest

Cameron rose's Tip

SNAPPED

EACH-WAY

Kingsley Lawson G Waterhouse 17 June 16:36

11. Snapped

Win

Place

* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds