Aussie News - June 30

By Adam Hamilton

It's all about Brisbane this winter.

And three Aussie meetings on Saturday night are all about the huge Queensland Constellations.

Let’s start at Albion Park itself where some of the key contenders for the Sunshine Sprint and Blacks A Fake lock horns in the Wondais Mate Open (1660m).

Inter Dominion winner I Cast No Shadow just holds favouritism for Jason Grimson from inside the back row (gate eight). He’s drawn to follow out the likely leader and his main danger, star local speedster Blacksadance (gate one).

Grimson holds a huge hand in the race with Major Meister (gate two) and Majestic Cruiser (10) also flying his stable flag.

Classy former Kiwi, Turn It Up, who may try and blast to the front from gate seven, is a $4.80 third favourite.

And Team McCarthy will be looking for an improved showing from the gifted but now enigmatic Bondi Lockdown (gate nine).

Another classy former Kiwi, Hot And Treacherous, backs up from gate four after chasing home pin-up pacer Leap To Fame at Redcliffe last two weeks ago and then running fifth in the Redcliffe Cup last week.

Lots of interest will also focus on Albion Park’s fifth race, the inaugural Queensland Sun, where the winner gets a ticket into next week’s $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun.

Shannon Price’s Speak No Truth is a heavily backed favourite ($2.20 into $2) from gate five.

At Menangle, Spirit Of St Louis is on the back-up from last week and he prepares for Queensland.

The proven Grand Circuit star faces a serious test from outside the front (gate 10) in a 2300m free-for-all with Jack Callaghan aboard.

His main rival, the emerging My Ultimate Ronnie, returns from a let-up as he prepares for the Rising Sun in Queensland next week.

Improving former Kiwi Taipo almost upstaged Spirit Of St Louis last week and has the pole against him this time for trainer-driver Brad Hewitt.

Down at Melton, powerhouse stable Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin will finalise their big Queensland team of raiders after Saturday night.

High-class former Kiwi mare Amore Vita returns from a spell from pole position in the 2240m free-for-all.

A big showing could earn her a start in the Rising Sun next week.

But two of her stablemates, Mach Dan (gate six) and Like A Wildfire (three), have plenty of class and will be hard to beat.

Mach Dan is first-up since the Miracle Mile and he’s heading north for the Sunshine Sprint and Blacks A Fake.

And trainer-driver Matty Craven has the explosive five-year-old Bettor Isolate in the free-for-all. He is another on trial for the Sunshine
Sprint.