A capacity field of three-year-old’s will line up at Eagle Farm on Saturday to contest another wide-open edition of the Group 1 Queensland Derby.
All eyes will be on Explosive Jack as he looks to join Dayana as the only other horse to complete a Derby four-peat, while Senot Toba and stablemate Let’s Karaka Deel look to be the main dangers coming off a last-start second in the South Australian Derby.
Favourites have typically dominated this race over the last decade, but there is still enormous value to be found in the market.
With $600,000 on the line, be sure to read our thoughts on each and every runner in our 2021 Queensland Derby Preview below.
Explosive Jack
Explosive Jack has a chance to make history on Saturday by claiming a Derby four-peat.
The Maher and Eustace-trained colt won his first black-type race, the Tasmanian Derby, in February before going on to claim a Group 1 double with impressive wins in the ATC Derby at Randwick and the South Australian Derby at Morphettville.
Not surprisingly, he’ll go around as a short-priced favourite alongside stablemates Let’s Karaka Deel and Toscanini and looks extremely tough to beat with a pair of wins over this trip.
Barrier 6 should give John Allen plenty of time to get back and run on and there is no doubt the pair will be fighting out the finish.
Let’s Karaka Deel
Let’s Karaka Deel has been a consistent customer this time in work finding the money in all three of his starts.
The son of Dundeel was enormous last time out in the South Australian Derby where he wound up from well back in the field to finish a clear second to stablemate Explosive Jack.
Fitter for three runs back, he has to be included as one of the main dangers to the favourite.
Kukeracha
Kukeracha has shown improvement in recent runs finishing third in the Queensland Guineas and runner-up to Criminal Defence Rough Habit Plate at Doomben.
It does appear he’s looking for further now, but this remains a significant step up in class.
Achiever
Achiever is looking to make it a double on Saturday after going all-the-way to win narrowly at Rosehill over shorter two weeks ago.
He’s been a fairly consistent horse this time in and was also very competitive two back when third in the Frank Packer Plate.
The wide gate is a slight issue, but he’s rock-hard fit and looks a decent each-way play at the current price.
Toscanini
Toscanini has mixed his form this time in work after winning fresh at Randwick Kensington earlier in February.
The colt out of Fastnet Rock ran an eye-catching fifth in the Rough Habit at Doomben two weeks ago, but his previous run over 2400m in the Australian Derby at Randwick left a lot to be desired.
Criminal Defence
Rough Habit Plate winner Criminal Defence has drawn ideally on Saturday with Melbourne Cup winner Jye McNeil booked to ride.
The son of Nicconi entered Derby calculations with a comfortable one-length win over Kukeracha last time out and should enjoy a similar sit just off the speed.
That performance suggested he’ll handle 2400m in his stride and he appears to have strong each-way claims.
Bucharest
Bucharest is having his second run back from a brief trip to the paddock after resuming to run fourth a fortnight ago in the Rough Habit.
Chris Waller’s lightly-raced colt was no match at this level in the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas and looks tough to recommend from the awkward gate.
Horrifying
Horrifying heads to Queensland on the quick backup following a narrow win at Flemington last Saturday.
The son of Shocking has landed in the money in six of his 11 starts to date, but this remains a significant step up in class facing black-type company for only the third time.
Has each-way claims.
Senor Toba
Senor Toba’s recent form reads well heading into the Derby, but he does have a wide draw to contend with.
Chris Waller’s three-year-old made up for a disappointing first-up run with a comfortable win the Frank Packer Plate at Randwick two back before a last start third to Criminal Defence in the Rough Habit.
Up in trip with Hugh Bowman on board is a big tick, but where the pair wind up in the run is a query.
Bold Executive
Bold Executive has been a consistent customer this time in work, albeit in much easier races.
He won well first-up on the Gold Coast and was a clear winner over 2200m at Eagle Farm four runs back, but still looks out of his depth here after failing to fire in the Rough Habit two weeks ago.
Sagacious
Sagacious is a true on-pacer that will no doubt look to run the race on his own terms after drawing barrier 1.
He followed a similar script last time out in the Rough Habit before being swallowed up down the straight to run second last. Cannot recommend.
Maranoa
Maranoa has finished in the money in each of his four starts to date, which includes a win in the MTC Guineas at Wagga two back.
He’s clearly a horse of ability for the Waterhouse and Bott team, and while this is his toughest assignment to date, he does appeal as a potential knockout chance at odds.
Mr Gee
Mr Gee hasn’t returned the same horse that won back-to-back starts at Kembla Grange and Hawkesbury over the summer.
The son of All Too Hard finished 11 lengths off Saturday’s rival Achiveer last time out at Rosehill and would need to improve drastically to be any real factor here.
Fortified
Fortified is shooting for his hat-trick following back-to-back wins against easier company at Eagles Farm and Ipswich leading in.
The three-year-old son of Ocean Park has missed the money only once in six starts and showed an enormous turn of foot last time out to win by four lengths.
Represents strong each-way value at the $17.00 price.
Calm Seeker
Calm Seeker has failed to find the placings in his last four starts and looks out of his depth here.
Hezashocker
Hezashocker will make his Australian debut on Saturday for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr team.
The New Zealand import has made only three starts across the ditch, with the most recent resulting in a narrow win in the Group 2 Trelawney Stud at Ellerslie.
With a firm track expected, this looks tough from an awkward draw.
Mr Mort Shark
Mr Mort Shark ran a clear second to Fortified at Ipswich two weeks ago and is unlikely to trouble most of these.
Quiet Michael
Quiet Michael has turned into a different horse since venturing over from New Zealand in March.
The three-year-old won his maiden well at Hawkesbury two back and wasn’t far off Rebel Rama last week at Rosehill over 2000m.
Warrants consideration in exotics on the quick backup.
Sino Defeat
Sino Defeat hasn’t won a race since this time last year and is it hard to see him winning a race of this quality.
He did make up good ground for fifth last time out behind Fortified and Mr Mort Shark at Ipswich, but this is much tougher.
Olympic Class
Olympic Class is the second emergency at long odds.
Stylebender
Stylebender is the third emergency on Saturday and is unlikely to gain a start in the field.
Queensland Derby Tips
Explosive Jack at $2.90
