Do you bar La Crique or fill-up at Eagle Farm?

Friday, 7 June 2024 by Gavin Haynes

Group One performer La Crique. Photo: Trish Dunell

Star Kiwi-trained mare, LA CRIQUE, competes in Race 7 at Eagle Farm on Saturday, and the question is, do you climb on and fill up, or do you “bar” her?

LA CRIQUE competes following a 2nd at Rotorua to Karman Line where she ran a HorseTorque SR of 92 (XR 98/103), which was a perfectly respectable effort. She did so fitted with the dreaded bar plates, which given she will wear them tomorrow as well, is a positive for those who “Homer Simpson back into the hedge” at the mention of them!

The Alexanders have made no secret about the challenges of managing her feet, but they are happy and confident in where she’s at. She’s entitled to improve off her Rotorua effort, and off a similar 112-day break in January, she elevated from an SR of 94 to 104 following a 28 day back-up. That saw her win the G1 Otaki WFA Classic.

We know LA CRIQUE has delivered 104 (Flemington), 105, and 107 ratings and certainly hasn’t been an overtaxed mare.

James McDonald riding her is obviously a massive positive as well.

Incidentally, the recent Rotorua figure of LA CRIQUE'S was on the same card that saw Geriatrix deliver a HorseTorque SR of 91 before returning an 89 to win at Eagle Farm for us last week. Different class of race, yes, but it underscores the reliability of Gavin’s HorseTorque figures applied TransTasman.

The Queensland Oaks is the headline race at Eagle Farm, and there are plenty anticipating a “MOLLY BLOOM bounce-back” after she was well-covered by SCARLET OAK and others two weeks ago at Doomben.

She hasn’t had circumstances go her way compared to her competition, and she’s well capable of returning figures 2-3 lengths better, which is more than enough to close the margin and win.

SCARLET OAK has come a long way in her own right since catching the eye with an SR of 84 when winning on debut at Matamata. James McDonald will again be a key player as he seeks to navigate a winning path from barrier 14.

As always, check out all Gav’s analysis for Eagle Farm and across Australia with HorseTorque, not to mention Hong Kong and me with New Zealand!

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The HorseTorqueNZ Best Bet:

Otaki Race 3: 6 BELLE’S ECHO (rated $2.10)