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Emma Reeves aids us with programming and identifies who she thinks is the best placed horse each weekend.  Surfin’ Bird, Saturday 16th May, Scone, Race 9: I’m looking forward to this weekend because I always find it’s a very successful one for us across both states. Although Surfin’ Bird is yet to win in Stakes company, she proved that she is well and truly up to it two weeks ago when just getting her head down a stride past the post. She races the girls once again, the extra 100 metres will suit and the handicap conditions mean that she’s much more suitably weighted than she was last time.She’s such a lightly raced mare that it’s hard to tell, but she seems to race very well when fresh. I’ve heard nothing but positive comments from her foreman and riders since her first up run though, so I’m happy to overlook any concerns there. This has been a long range plan for her and I think the puzzle pieces are coming together nicely. I think she’ll be hard to beat and hopefully secure her position amongst the Queensland Carnival team. ​  

THURSDAY 21st MAY - HAWKESBURYRail Position: +5m 1100-450, +3m 450 -WP, True remainderMISS FARNAN, Race 6, 1100m, 3.20pm, R King, 55.5kg Miss Farnan ran creditably when resuming at Goulburn earlier this month. She’s taken good improvement from the outing so she strips fitter here, and she sticks to 1100 metres for now as she’s a very speedy filly so we expect it to suit her. Rachel will roll forward from barrier 8 to get across into a more favourable inside position, and whilst she’s untested on a wet track we’re hopeful she’ll get through it. This race is restricted to horses that have only won one race so it’s a nice progression for her, and we are confident that she will run a competitive race.SATURDAY 23rd MAY - SANDOWNRail Position: TrueHOME INVASION, Race 1, 1000m, 11.55am, C Newitt, 56.5kg Home Invasion has come through last week’s win at Bendigo in marvellous order. She showed so much determination to repel her challengers, and her fantastic attitude is going to take her a long way. She sticks to 1000 metres for now which should suit her well as she’s got an abundance of speed, and the 1000 metre start at this track is in a chute so there’s a long run to the one and only turn which will enable her to flow forward from barrier 7 and make her own luck on the speed again. She’s taking on better opposition here so it’s going to be much tougher, but she’s got plenty of upside in only her third career start and she’s right in this.SLY BOOTS, Race 7, 1600m, 3.25pm, C Newitt, 58kg Sly Boots made an encouraging return at Hawkesbury three weeks ago. He got back in the field but closed off strongly in the final furlong, so he’s going to relish stretching out to the mile here. He’s not raced in Melbourne previously but he’s a sensible older gelding, so we’ve no concerns about his ability to adapt to this way of racing and the change of scenery might be just what he needs at this stage of his career. He’s drawn a tricky gate in 13 but he rarely shows much gate speed, so Craig will get some cover and let him travel where he’s comfortable in the run. As a result of his racing pattern he tends to require a bit of luck in running, but Sandown’s an expansive track with a long home straight so he’ll have plenty of time to hit top stride and we expect him to close off strongly and give this a good shake.SATURDAY 23rd MAY - RANDWICKRail Position: TrueTHRICE, Race 4, 2400m, 12.45pm, Zac Wadick (2kg), 61.5kg Thrice has come through his latest run at Gosford in good order. Things didn’t go his way that day as it was a bit of a messy race, and he was one paced late but he ultimately wasn’t beaten too far. He’s crying out for this step up to 2400 metres so we are confident it will bring about significant improvement, and the return to this bigger track is another big positive. We’ve put blinkers on him which he worked very well in on Tuesday morning, and he also wore them when he raced in Ireland so he’s got previous experience in them and they should sharpen him up nicely too. He’s got another big weight here but Zac takes a valuable 2kg off his back, and we’re confident that the combination of the step up in trip and gear change will put him right in the finish.THE THREE HUNDRED, Race 8, 1600m, 3.05pm, A Hyeronimus, 57kg The Three Hundred made an encouraging enough return at Hawkesbury earlier this month. As Adam said, he just peaked on his run late but he’s taken plenty of improvement from it so he strips much fitter here. He’s stepping up to the mile which he won a Group 3 over in July last year, so we know it will suit him and he also get a bit of weight relief on this slight step up in grade after shouldering 60kg last time. This is a competitive race with some smart types in opposition, but he profiles as a sharp improver second-up and we expect him to run a competitive race.SATURDAY 23rd MAY - DOOMBENRail Position: +2M EntireSTARDOM, Race 4, 1110m, 1.28pm, J Childs, 55.5kg Stardom ran a much-improved race to finish fourth in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas last time. She’s come through that run in terrific shape and she’s loving life up in Queensland, so she couldn’t be in better shape ahead of this run. It’s not a Black type race so it’s slightly easier than the race she contested last time, and whilst she’s dropping back in trip to 1100 metres she’s a fast filly who’s capable of adjusting accordingly. She’s got the gate speed to roll forward from barrier 10 and get across into a prominent position, and Jordan got a terrific tune out of her last time so we’re delighted he retains the ride here. She ticks plenty of boxes and we expect her to be right there at the finish.TOMATO TOASTIE, Race 6, 1600m, 2.38pm, T Clark, 53.5kg Tomato Toastie was excellent in defeat when finishing second in the Listed Silk Stocking at Gold Coast last time. She showed there that she can mix it with the older mares who reoppose here as she’s one of only two three-year-olds in the field, so whilst it’s a tougher race we’re confident she can rise to the occasion and she gets some weight relief as a result which is not to be sniffed at. We’ve always thought she’d relish this distance, so it has the potential to unlock further improvement and if she builds upon her last start effort she’ll be right in the finish.VAUBAN, Race 8, 2000m, 3.57pm, T Clark, 59kg Vauban is thriving ahead of this run. He’s really enjoying his new scenery up in Queensland, and he’s such a professional and well-travelled gelding that he just takes everything in his stride and gets on with the job. He was last seen finishing third in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes in late March, after which he enjoyed a week on the water walker before coming back into work. His recent trial where he was very strong through the line helped blow the cobwebs away, so whilst all his rivals have had a recent run he’s not lacking for fitness and he’s ready to rock and roll here. It’s a small but strong field, and Pride Of Jenni never fails to keep everybody on their toes so she’s likely to roll forward and make it a genuine test. Despite a couple of impressive runs over 2000 metres, her record at this distance is not as strong and she was well beaten in this race last year so it’ll be interesting to see how she fares this time around. Vauban should have every opportunity to settle in the pack, stalk the speed and work into the race from the 800 metres. It’s an intriguing contest, but if Pride Of Jenni goes hard up front and sets it up for the closers we see no reason why he won’t be closing off strongly and featuring in the finish.