LIVE COVERAGE: Eagle Farm Saturday 31 August

It's the last day of Winter and we're back at head quarters! Eagle Farm hosts an exciting nine-race program.

Follow our live blog for all the comments from jockeys and trainers, photos and race replays from all nine races on the card. 

Race 1 - 11:43AM TAB QTIS Three-Years-Old Fillies Handicap (1000 METRES)

1^st – Sukwhinder – Michael Costa – Ron Stewart

2^nd – Niedorp – Tony Gollan – Baylee Nothdruft

3^rd – Jazz Queen – Barry Lockwood – Jake Bayliss

Stable Rep – Michael Morrissey

“Michael has had another little baby boy who’s been all over Instagram, so I’m on deck today and more than happy to see a winner like her.”

“I wouldn’t say there was confidence coming into today, but she trialled Monday in good time and good fashion, so we thought we’d have a crack at it.”

“She didn’t do it easy, but Ronnie did the right thing keeping her in the three wide tracking line, she’s all about rhythm and looked to settle well mid race.”

“The filly is named after our foreman’s mother so I’m sure he’ll be at home thrilled with that.”

“We’d love to get some black type with her as soon as possible and todays win opens up some nice options.”

“They’re a talented bloodline (Delago Deluxe/Danagall) her brother came out and won by six lengths at Lismore on Monday and the owners went and bought the stallion from the Australian Bloodstock auction as well, so we’ve got the whole family.”

“Sukwhinder was the cheapest of the lot at just $10,000 so she’s already paid her way.”

Jockey – Ron Stewart

“I was a little worried being three deep, but I was surprised how well she travelled into it at the turn and she really stuck it out up the long Eagle Farm straight.”

“Niedorp is a nice horse but had a bit of weight and even though her trip may have been a bit better, we were just a little stronger on the day.”

Race 2 - 12:18PM BRC MEMBERSHIPS OPEN Handicap (1000 METRES)

1^st  - Single Bullet – Gary Portelli – Michael Cahill

2^nd – Whypeeo – T &T Edmonds – Matthew McGillivray

3^rd – Crusher – Mark Currie – Jim Byrne

Owner – Paul Peters

“Fantastic win he’s been a little bit unlucky his last couple of starts, but today he showed what he’s made of.”

“We got pretty excited with him as a colt, we did have to geld him but it’s good to see he’s still got plenty of zip in the legs.”

“We did nominate for Sydney, but the wet track down there would have been no good, so today the track was perfect for him and we might be back.”

Jockey – Michael Cahill

“I love riding no Single Doubt horses and he’s typical of the breed he really ground it out today.”

“The further we went the better he travelled, they out paced him a bit early but once we got inside the six hundred metres I knew he was going to be in the finish.”

“I had a walk of the track it looks to be pretty fair, if I had to choose I’d probably say four to eight metres off the rail.”

Race 3 - 12:53PM COUNTRY MUSIC RACEDAY BenchMark 75 Handicap (2400 METRES)

1st - Makdanife - Chris Waller - Brad Stewart

2nd - Ocean Addict - Anderson & Heathcote Racing - Jackson Murphy

3rd - Jake's Hill - Chris Waller - Robbie Fradd

Assistant Trainer - Paul Shailer

"He was first beaten at the Gold Coast last week, it was a dissapointing run we were expecting him to come up and do well."

"He's had an ultra consistent prep and we thought he might, be at the end of his tether, but after that effort maybe he just didn't handle the trip up from Sydney three days before the race."

"There was a bit more tempo on today which probably helped him, though he looked like he found a bit of a flat spot mid race, Brad did a good job to pick him up and ride him out."

Jockey - Brad Stewart

"It was my first time on the horse there weren't too many instructions other than get him some cover and see what he can produce."

"It's a good training effort after he dropped out last over the 2200 metres last week, to be the strongest over the last furlong over 2400 metres this week."

Race 4 - 1:28PM BIG SCREEN ON THE GREEN Class 6 Plate (1815 METRES)

1^st – Looks Like Elvis – Bryan Dais – Nick Keal

2^nd – Magnufighter – Dale Smith – Gary Duncan

 3^rd – Perfect Witness – Tony Gollan – Matthew McGillivray

Stable Rep – Nikki Dais

“The Newcastle Cup has been the goal all along and to have him running so well in these lead up races has us really excited about what he can do.”

“We’ve gone about it a bit differently this prep, he was exceptional in some very good races including multiple trips to Sydney last prep without winning.”

“This time round we came in with a real plan to build him up in some more winnable races and go after a target later in the prep and he’s right on track.”

Jockey – Nick Keal

“Coming to the 600 he was just jogging in behind them, I was thinking how good’s this I’m very lucky to ride this horse.”

“We were almost pocketed at the corner but I managed to get him out and he won it with ease, he had another gear there if he needed it.”

Race 5 - 2:03PM ARIAT COUNTRY MUSIC RODEO OPEN Handicap (1400 METRES)

1^st – The Avenger – Chris Waller – Michael Cahill

2^nd – So Spirited – Steven O’Dea – Steph Thornton

3^rd – Fortensky – Chris Waller – Robbie Fradd

Assistant Trainer – Paul Shailer

“He’s a really good doing horse, the trip is part of the plan he strips a lot fitter and allows us to travel without galloping him.”

“He’s a really hard horse to keep fit he gets fat very easily, which is half an excuse for him not being strong late on a few occasions.”

“Him and Fortensky both came out of really strong benchmark races last start, so we knew if he ran up to his ability he’d be right in the finish.”

Jockey – Michael Cahill

“I thought So Spirited might drop off a bit quicker than he did after the tough trip, but it turned into a real battle there he’s a handy horse and we only got him in the concluding stages.”

“It comes down to narrow margins in races like this small field not too much between them ability wise and we were able to enjoy a nice run in transit which was probably the difference.”

Race 6 - 2:42PM MELBOURNE CUP DAY @ EAGLE FARM QTIS Three-Years-Old Colts and Geldings Handicap (1000 METRES)

1^st – Go Deep – Darryl Hansen – Jake Bayliss

2^nd – Mad Irish Tycoon – Tom Button – Elise Smith

3^rd – Ruuca – T & T Edmonds – Matthew McGillivray

Stable Rep – Kane St Vincent

“Darryl has been away three weeks and we haven’t had everything go to plan, so it’s nice to have a winner for him to come back to.”

“We knew he had the ability to come from the tail, we didn’t expect him that far back but Jake took the only cover he could find and he rattled home with some good sectionals.”

“The instructions have always been to find a backside and get him to settle and Jake just really made sure it happened today.”

“A big thanks to Darryl and the owners to let me take care of the horses while he’s gone, I ride him in work and he’s a bit of a favourite, so I’m rapt.

Jockey – Jake Bayliss

“Watching his replays he looked like a fierce bugger and I thought we would settle a bit further forward but when we missed the start it wasn’t the worst thing.”

“I put him to sleep at the back while they ran along a bit and gee he showed a good turn of foot, if he can learn to drop the bit and finish off like that consistently he’s got a bright future.”

“If you jump fast and get a squeeze you end up three of four wide in the breeze and nothing in the tank, it worked in our favour today.”

Race 7 - 3:22PM MOET & CHANDON CHAIRMAN'S CLUB BenchMark 70 Handicap (1200 METRES)

1^st – Veranes – Chris Waller – Robbie Fradd

2^nd – Dreamtimer – Kevin Kemp – Nick Keal

3^rd – Frangipani Moon – David Vandyke – Matthew McGillivray

Assistant Trainer – Paul Shailer

“She jumped away nicely today, which enabled Robbie to give her a really good run in the right part of the track late.”

“The track is racing very fair today credit to Mick Goodie and his team, we were a way back on the turn and she picked her way through nicely.”

“I thought this horse was pretty deserved of a win, she’s been looking like she’s going to win a race and just peaking, the seven day backup may have helped her.”

“We were going to put blinkers on today but held off so that is something which may sharpen her up even further.”

Jockey – Robbie Fradd

“I don’t think there are any paper plates or cups around because I threw the lot at her late.”

“Last two starts she’s drawn well and hasn’t appreciated being on the inside of horses, so I made sure today I brought her out in the middle of the track and let her go.”

“Even at the top of the straight she still didn’t like being crowded and only really good going in that last two hundred.”

Race 8 - 4:02PM WWW.BRC.COM.AU Class 3 Plate (1400 METRES)

1^st – Aeecee Tong De – Desleigh Forster – Jim Byrne

2^nd – Countess De Galvez – Mark Currie – Baylee Nothdurft

3^rd – Dissolution – David Vandyke – Michael Hellyer

Trainer – Desleigh Forster

“She didn’t see any of the fence last start, was wide the trip and never got into it.”

“Really good to bounce back today, we know now we can just write that run off she showed her true ability from a good draw and ride today.”

“She came to me through Basil Nolan who bought her to breed with, but she’s a really nice race mare she’s Group three placed in Melbourne and looks to be getting back to that form.”

“Bas is set to take her to a sire soon and all things considered she should be back with me after that.”

Jockey – Jim Byrne

“The track is pretty good today there is a bit more cushion than previous weeks, I think horses are getting their chance wherever they land that just happened to be the fence for us.”

“Unfortunately we had a bad draw last start and never got on the track, she had the gusto to challenge them at the three hundred and didn’t really concede till about the hundred, so the writing was on the wall.”

Race 9 - 4:42PM EVENTS AT BRC Class 6 Handicap (1400 METRES)

1^st – Oink – Kelly Schweida – Jackson Murphy

2^nd – Auerbach – Chris Waller – Robbie Fradd

3^rd – Reckless Choice – Steven O’Dea – Steph Thornton

Trainer – Kelly Schweida

“Couldn’t be happier for the horse, they all knock him for running places, but we love him, he averages about $10,000 every time he goes around and he’s done that from the cheap seats today.”

“Even though he was wide Jackson looks like he was able to find a little bit of cover and we needed every metre of that straight to get there.”

“His last run was super at big odds he’s been knocking on the door and a real stable favourite.”

Jockey – Jackson Murphy

“We were flushed in the three wide line down the back and rather than make a bold move I thought we’d try to track up.”

“He covered a lot of ground and got out wide in the straight early on, that was a big effort to keep putting in with others coming on his inside.”