Racing
Ladbrokes Blog: 2025 Caloundra Cup Day Preview
This Saturday marks the conclusion of the Queensland Racing Carnival with Caloundra Cup Day at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
The nine-race meeting features a strong mix of staying tests and sprint showcases, headlined by the Listed Caloundra Cup, Group 3 Winx Guineas, and Listed Glasshouse Handicap.
Let's wrap up the Queensland Racing Carnival in style!
Dive into my preview below and let's find some winners on Caloundra Cup Day.
Race 1 - 12:23pm: BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Mr Verse (7) returns to the races for the first time since storming home from the tail of the field to win over 1600m at Pakenham by 4.25 lengths in February.
The Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained gelding looked super in a recent trial on the Sunshine Coast Poly track where he let down strongly to easily run down his rivals for a length win.
He's never been out of the top three in four starts and is no stranger to wide draws which is the case here.
While this is short of his best distance, there looks to be good speed in the race which will help him run over the top of them in the first on Caloundra Cup Day.
1 Unit Each Way – Mr Verse (7)
BET NOW: Sunshine Coast Race 1
Race 2 - 12:58pm: BENCHMARK 80 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Caspernova (7) was scratched from a very winnable race at Eagle Farm on Wednesday in preference for this Winter Provincial Sprinters Final.
The Rob Heathcote-trained gelding was unlucky not to win when resuming last start over 1110m at Doomben when slow away and settling back before storming home to miss the win by a neck.
He'll strip fitter and won over this distance when second-up last preparation, in fact he's only been out of the quinella once in eight starts over 1200m.
Ryan Maloney takes the ride and should be able to give him the run of the race from the inside barrier.
2 Units – Caspernova (7)
BET NOW: Sunshine Coast Race 2
Race 3 - 1:33pm: BRUCE MCLACHLAN CLASSIC (1000 METRES)
Certified Copy (2) has come back this preparation in good fashion and is looking for his third win in a row.
The Bevan Laming-trained gelding was run down in the shadows of the post first-up to finish a nose second over 1200m here.
He went one better second-up when proving too strong over 1110m at Doomben before making a mess of his rivals by 3.5 lengths in heavy conditions last start over this distance at the Gold Coast.
Cody Collis, who claims 2kg, should be able to land in a forward position.
1 Unit – Certified Copy (2)
BET NOW: Sunshine Coast Race 3
Race 4 - 2:08pm: 3YO Handicap (1000 METRES)
Overfull (11) returns to her home state on the back of two excellent runs in New South Wales.
The Peter Robl-trained filly gave a sight first-up in the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone only to be swamped late to finish just over a half-length fourth.
She then led over 1100m at Rosehill before being run down to finish a neck second.
She'll strip fitter third-up and she won her only previous start over this course and distance.
With just 53kg on her back, Damien Thornton will look to lead or settle handy, either way she'll get a nice run on speed.
1 Unit – Overfull (11)
BET NOW: Sunshine Coast Race 4
Race 5 - 2:47pm: OPEN Plate (1000 METRES)
Steady Ready (1) can be forgiven for failing in the Ladbrokes Lightning Quality when resuming last start as he was found to be lame.
The Tony & Maddy Sears-trained gelding has since been back to the trials and produced a very pleasing piece of work to win.
He'll strip fitter and boasts an impressive second-up record of four wins from six starts.
Last start he carried 60kg so will appreciate dropping to 57kg and is extremely well weighted under the set weight conditions of the race.
1 Unit – Steady Ready (1)
BET NOW: Sunshine Coast Race 5
Race 6 - 3:23pm: GROUP 3 WINX GUINEAS (1600 METRES)
Bollinger Miss (14) takes on the mile in the Group 3 Winx Guineas for the first time but looks up to the challenge.
The Chris & Corey Munce-trained filly settled a long way back first-up over 1200m at Doomben before finding the line well to finish 1.6 lengths fifth.
It was a similar scenario last start in the TL Cooney at Ipswich where she settled back and saved ground on the turn before being held up late to finish a length third.
She registered quicker closing sectionals than any other horse in the race which suggests she's now looking for this distance.
The bigger Sunshine Coast track will be more suitable for her racing style.
1 Unit Each Way – Bollinger Miss (14)
BET NOW: Sunshine Coast Race 6
Race 7 - 4:02pm: LISTED GLASSHOUSE HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
Warnie (4) can bounce back in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap after a horror watch in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich last start.
He enjoyed the run of the race until they hit the straight when he was caught on the fence with nowhere to go until the race was all over which saw him finish two lengths fifth.
The Ciaron Maher-trained son of Highland Reel was gelded during his break and it has been the making of him as a racehorse.
He kicked off this preparation with a neck fourth in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford before savaging the line from the tail in the Group 2 Moreton Cup two starts ago to finish 1.1 lengths third.
He's drawn out which could be a positive as it will be easier for Ryan Maloney to get him clear air in the straight.
1 Unit – Warnie (4)
BET NOW: Sunshine Coast Race 7
Race 8 - 4:45pm: LISTED CALOUNDRA CUP (2400 METRES)
Half Yours (12) faces his biggest test to date in the Listed Caloundra Cup but he's only lightly raced and has upside which is an advantage given most of his rivals have found their level.
The Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained gelding was narrowly beaten first-up over 1400m on the Hillside track before dominating second-up over a mile at Seymour.
After a six-week freshen-up and a solid trial, he stepped up to 1800m, settled back, before Dylan Gibbons produced a winning move to surge around the field from the 800m, and powered home to win by over three lengths.
Unfortunately, he was caught wide throughout last start over 2000m at Rosehill but to his credit he was able to work strongly to the line with 60kg to finish a half-length second.
He drops to just 54kg.
1 Unit – Half Yours (12)
BET NOW: Sunshine Coast Race 8
Race 9 - 5:25pm: BENCHMARK 85 Handicap (1400 METRES)
Northern Decree (13) returned in good order over 1200m at Eagle Farm last start.
The Rob Heathcote-trained gelding picked up strongly in the final furlong to finish 2.6 lengths third.
He's on the quick back-up but did win last preparation second-up when just 10 days between runs over this distance at Eagle Farm.
Luke Dempsey should be able to land in a prominent position from barrier 4.
1 Unit Each Way – Northern Decree (13)
BET NOW: Sunshine Coast Race 9 