THE FORECAST: Hoodoo Voodoo

Some horses have all the luck. And some, well, they don’t.

I reckon more than a few accusatory glances have been exchanged between the connections of Queensland Derby contender WARMONGER  in recent weeks. Who kicked the black cat while walking under a ladder smashing mirrors?

First the horse gets too far back in a slow run Port Adelaide Guineas, charges and misses. Then he pulls a wide gate in the Chairman’s Stakes, turns for home in another postcode and rips home for fifth. The South Aussie Derby? You guessed it. A wide gate again and another unlucky second.

The Queensland Derby surely brings a change of luck, right? Wrong. Barrier 23. Cop that punters. I heard Mick Price (currently holidaying in Southern France) was stoked when he got the news.

France looks nice.

Then I hear on the grapevine that a high-profile owner who has booked their trip (and after race celebration party) has been struck down with the flu! Flights, accommodation, and after party potentially down the drain. Instagram is the real loser here.

At the risk of sounding like Jonathan Frakes from Beyond Belief, I ask you this, is Warmonger cursed?

Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t, I think AUTUMN ANGEL  will win the Derby anyway.

As usual there are more than a few Victorian trainers who have amazingly found “the right race” for their horses in Brisbane this weekend. Strange how it happens isn’t it? I don’t blame them though with 13C forecast for Caulfield on Saturday.

Paul Preusker will be applying the Reef oil this weekend and crikey doesn’t he have some good chances at Eagle Farm!

POISON CHALICE  (R1) is Benny’s Best Bet and with good reason, the horse was massive first-up down the straight. He is stakes class in waiting looks a great bet on Saturday.

If the rain arrives CAPTAIN ENVIOUS  can win the Premier’s Cup (R3) then roll onto STEPARTY  (R6) who will need to run a huge race to convince Preusker to tackle the Stradbroke.

Then again, if the sun keeps shining up north, maybe he won’t take much convincing.

BEST: Caulfield R9 No. 15 MIRZAAN

BEST EACH-WAY: Eagle Farm R7 No. 5 ANTINO

BEST ROUGHIE: Eagle Farm R5 No. 7 CAN’T RECALL ONE