Felix The Scat (Eagle Farm, Race 8 #7)
Felix The Scat (Eagle Farm, Race 8 #7)
TRAINER: Tony Gollan
RACE: Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2400m)
There is a real sense of timing about this three-year-old gelding out of Coolmore Stud’s one-season shuttler Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy).
His past three runs have all seen improvement at each trip to the track and it culminates here in the Queensland Derby over 2400 metres.
He has always shown plenty of promise, even as a two-year-old, and former trainers Peter and Will Hulbert had him earmarked as a Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) contender.
While those plans fell through and a stable change occurred to Tony Gollan, it was no knock on his raw talent but rather his manners that needed straightening out.
Whilst they are still noticeable, Gollan has managed to correct a lot of his quirks including his barrier manners.
This will really be put to the test this Saturday when Felix The Scat jumps from barrier 22 (which will become 18 if emergencies don’t get a run).
He will likely flop out the back as is customary and need some luck in running, however there are no doubts he will handle the distance.
If he gets a toe into the race from a rival look for him to be storming home over the concluding stages.
Felix The Scat was the first winner from three to race from the Fairway Thoroughbreds-bred Smart Missile (Fastnet Rock) mare, Miss Pocket Rocket.
Miss Pocket Rocket was a $140,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Gai Waterhouse and was unfortunately retired after the single career start.
Her Dam Petrushka (Stravinsky) was the daughter of stakes winner Irongail (Canny Lad) and a half sister to Godolphin’s star broodmare Youthful Presence (Dehere).
Youthful Presence has produced four stakes-winners, including the Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) champion Hauraki (Reset) and the South Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) hero Kidnapped (Viscount).
With breeding lineage like this, the case for Felix The Scat only firms and he has come up as the clear value in early betting markets.
Brutal Bowler (Eagle Farm, Race 5 #14)
TRAINER: Kris Lees
RACE: Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m)
What a performance it was from this son of Brutal (O’Reilly) at his first attempt over 1400 metres.
Trained by Kris Lees and ridden by Craig Williams, Brutal Bowler was sent out as favourite at the Sunshine Coast and put pay to his rivals with ease. He sat off the field, before weaving in and out of runners to find the line in impressive fashion.
This second up performance came after a moderate 1200-metre debut effort, where he didn’t get the required tempo to storm home in a similar fashion.
Connections clearly have a high opinion of this colt with a nomination for the JJ Atkins (Gr 1, 1600m) next month, but will need another strong performance here to make the field.
Brutal Bowler was a $240,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase from Newhaven Park for Lees Racing and Bahen Bloodstock.
He is the third winner from three foals to race from stakes-placed Fastnet Rock (Danehill) mare Refer, a granddaughter of stakes-winner Lady Of Persia (Persian Bold) from the family of Group 1 winners Cheeky Choice (Redoute’s Choice), Zabrasive (Zabeel) and Gypsy Goddess (Tarzino).
Brutal Bowler is the sixth winner for O’Reilly’s (Last Tycoon) brilliant sprinter / miler Brutal.
Kris Lees says he has plenty of upside and so does the market with plenty of early support for this colt.
It now all comes down to him to make it back to back victories.
Bella Nipotina (Race 7, #9)
TRAINER: Ciaron Maher
RACE: Kingsford Smith Cup (Gr 1, 1300m)
It feels a bit strange to call a bonafide Group 1 star with over $9 million dollars in earnings a ‘runner to follow’, but she arguably doesn’t get the respect she deserves.
Bella Nipotina is the perfect example of the saying ‘you don’t know what you have until it’s gone’, and whether this is her last racing season or not, she has been a marvel.
Her last start effort in the Doomben 10,000 (Gr 1, 1200m) was an indication that she is racing as well as ever, running down the favourite I Wish I Win (Savabeel) by 0.1L.
Her campaign so far has seen her run second in the TJ Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) before a brave fourth at Ascot in The Quokka (1200m).
It has seen her go between Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle and now Brisbane, whilst delivering at every run.
Bella Nipotina was an $80,000 purchase from the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and is now a two time Group 1 winner.
Bred by Michael Christian and partners at Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, she hails from the family of Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner In Top Swing (Beautiful Crown).
Her dam Bella Orfana (Star Witness) sadly passed away earlier this year, leaving just the one further weanling to run.
Bella Nipotina will look to continue that legacy this weekend when she tackles the Kingsford Smith Cup at a distance she has only raced once at (1:1-0-0).
If she were to achieve more Group 1 glory, this could be the sweetest win yet.
See more of Luke Hovhanesian at https://thegreattipoff.com/tipster/luke-hovhanesian/tips