Australia: Kovalica brings sterling record into Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm
With the benefit of a recent prep race and a fine record of 4 for 6, Kovalica deserves the role of favorite in the one-mile Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane on Friday.
Trained by leading trainer Chris Waller, Kovalica won his final four races in 2022, including the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes at 1 5/16 miles at Eagle Farm in December. In his lone start this year, Kovalica was third in the South Pacific Classic at seven furlongs at Royal Randwick on April 8, closing from last of 12 to lose by 2 3/4 lengths.
Kovalica, who tends to run from off the pace, won two one-mile races in 2022, a maiden race and a minor handicap. He was the 6-5 favorite in early betting on Thursday for the Grade 3, $231,400 Queensland Guineas, which drew a field of 16 3-year-olds.
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The Fortune Teller, the winner of the Group 3 Carbine Stakes at a mile at Randwick on April 1 for his first stakes win, also should be a factor from off the pace in the Queensland Guineas.
Eagle Farm has a nine-race program beginning at 9:28 p.m. Eastern or 6:28 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
In the race prior to the Queensland Guineas, Private Eye gains much-needed class relief in the Group 2 Victory Stakes at six furlongs.
A 5-year-old gelding, Private Eye was second in the $9.3 million Everest Stakes at Randwick on Oct. 15 and won the $1.94 million Nature Strip Stakes two weeks later.
But Private Eye is winless in his last three starts, the most recent of which was a 12th-place finish in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes at six furlongs at Randwick on April 1. Private Eye has since finished second of three in a half-mile schooling race at Warwick Farm on April 21.
In the $198,300 Victory Stakes, Private Eye has eight rivals, notably Rothfire, a three-time group stakes winner in 2020 and 2022. Rothfire was second in the Ascot Handicap at five furlongs at Eagle Farm on April 15 in his first start of the year. Rothfire has won 5 of 10 starts at Eagle Farm.
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