Trainer John O’Shea believes that Federal has strong form lines behind him heading into the Group 2 $175,000 MIRVAC QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Federal, above, heads into the QTC Cup at Eagle Farm with some strong form. Photo by Steve Hart.
Federal has been marked at $7.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au in a very congested QTC Cup market order that has five runners listed between $6 and $8.
The Gerald Ryan trained Spill The Beans is the early favourite at $6 ahead of Target In Sight at $7, Federal and Perfect Fit at $7.50 and last start BRC Sprint winner Snippets Land at $8.
Federal was a narrow winner three starts back in a 1400m BenchMark 85 Handicap at Rosehill before running fourth to Music Magnate in the Group 3 $150,000 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 16.
The Medaglia D’Oro four year old was then beaten two and a half lengths when fourth to Clearly Innocent in the Listed $140,000 Yarraman Park – Horsepower Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) at Scone on May 14 with Music Magnate running second.
The Bjorn Baker trained Music Magnate then went on to win the Group 1 $750,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10000 (1350m) at Doomben on May 28, giving O’Shea plenty of confidence that Federal will be very competitive in the QTC Cup.
“He comes into this off what have turned out to be a couple of pretty good form races at Randwick and Scone where he wasn’t far behind Music Magnate who has gone on to win a G1. He wouldn’t have been out of place in the Stradbroke, but we’re happy to go this way,” O’Shea said.
Sam Clipperton takes the ride on Federal who is on the minimum weight at 53kg and will jump from barrier nine with the early scratching of Danish Twist who had drawn inside of him.
The favourite Spill The Beans drew sixteen in the original barrier drew of fifteen plus five emergencies but will probably jump from gate twelve when the field is reduced the fifteen horse limit at final scratching time on Saturday morning.
Spill The Beans will line up in the QTC Cup with first class form as well and after winning the Group 3 $200,000 Blacktown Workers Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) at Hawkesbury on April 30 was beaten a nose when second to Serene Majesty in the $400,000 Inglis 3yo Guineas (1400m) at Scone on May 14.
Market order for the QTC Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $6 Spill The Beans, $7 Target In Sight, $7.50, Perfect Fit, Federal, $8 Snippets Land, $13 Stratum Star, $14 That’s A Good Idea, Eloping, I Am Zelady, $16 Le Cordon Bleu, $17 Trubia, $18 Sultry Feeling, $26 Echo Gal, $31 Miss Cover Girl, $41 Taddei Tondo, $51 Tan Tat Diamond, $61 Steel Zip, Liberation, $91 Timeless Prince.
