Punt like a Pro, without the know!
Queensland · Sunday 16 August 2026
Our top pick won 1 of 8 races at Sunshine Coast. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
top pick wonanother tip wonno tip won
Kojak has the strongest overall form line, having placed in his last three starts over 1800-2200m, including a narrow second at Sunshine Coast. He maps to control the race from barrier 2 in a slowly run maiden, and Ben Thompson's recent strike rate adds confidence. The unanswered question is the maiden tag after eight starts, but his stamina, soft-track record and the track's on-pace profile make him the most likely winner.
The step to 1800m is the query, but her profile suggests she will only be better over further. She is not the top pick because her form sample is tiny and Karl Zechner is below his best lately, but the upside and stable polish make her the second most likely winner.
Five Of Us pairs the strongest recency with ideal track/distance form: second over this exact 1800m Sunshine Coast course on Soft 7 two weeks ago and second at 1800m Gold Coast prior. From barrier 1 she maps for a soft run in a slow race. The lack of a win from 18 starts and modest stable numbers temper confidence, but her fitness and map give her a clear top-three chance.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Amelioration | 6 | Emily Lang | Renita Beaton | 56.5kg | $11.00 |
| 2nd | 6 | Five Of Us | 1 | Dylan Turner | S J Morrisey | 56.5kg | $6.50 |
| 3rd | 3 | Ship Happens | 7 | Jake Bayliss | J R Bayliss | 58.5kg | $19.00 |
| 4th | 7 | Highland Kitty | 5 | Ashley Butler | Jacob Leach | 56.5kg | $5.00 |
| 5th | 5 | Cirque De La Vie | 4 | Cejay Graham | L F Birchley | 56.5kg | $4.80 |
| 6th | 2 | Kojak | 2 | Ben E Thompson | Jack Bruce | 58.5kg | $4.20 |
| 7th | 9 | Ranger's Pride | 3 | Karl Zechner | David Vandyke | 56.5kg | $4.80 |
| 8th | 1 | Kalamia King | 8 | Leslie Tilley | J W Zielke | 58.5kg | $26.00 |
| 9th | 8 | It's Ok | 9 | Benjamin Osmond | K A Lees | 56.5kg | $101.00 |
He is lightly raced, has a winning track record and a forward barrier, and should control a slowly-run 2220m race.
Bolero is an ideal race-shape fit: she has finished second in both prior Sunshine Coast 2220m starts and comes here off a close third in Class 2 at Toowoomba, dropping back to Class 1. She has placed on Soft and maps to be handy under a slow tempo. Her modest 1-from-31 record tempers confidence, but the distance, track and class all align — she rates the clear second winning chance.
Vega Sicilia won over 2175m last start and has a staying profile that suits this 2220m test. He has raced four times around 2200m and should appreciate the small field. Concerns are significant: no place from five Soft starts, a 60kg impost after winning with 52kg, and a jockey out of form. Still, his fitness and distance strength keep him a logical place chance behind the top two.
She drops from Class 3, where she was a close third over 2060m at Doomben, and was runner-up over 2150m on Soft 5 at Ipswich. Barrier 1 with Ben Thompson gives her the tactical control expected to matter in a slowly run 2220m race. Her only query is the trip, but her sustained finishing and pedigree suggest it is within range.
He has 13 Sunshine Coast starts, placed at the track on Soft, and drops to 55kg with a claiming rider.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Bolero | 3 | Dan Mc Gillivray | Vic Heading | 58kg | $8.00 |
| 2nd | 3 | Ormond Road | 6 | Jake Bayliss | J R Bayliss | 60kg | $9.00 |
| 3rd | 8 | Moana Nui | 7 | Paul Hamblin | Cath Hamblin | 57kg | $6.00 |
| 4th | 4 | Vega Sicilia | 4 | Karl Zechner | Wayne O'Connell | 60kg | $5.50 |
| 5th | 1 | Firey Truth | 2 | Benjamin Osmond | K A Lees | 60kg | $2.40 |
| 6th | 7 | Missile Away | 5 | Montana Philpot | Belinda Mair | 55kg | $5.00 |
| 7th | 2 | More You Think | 8 | Boris Thornton | David & Marcus Scanes | 60kg | $41.00 |
| Scr | 6 | Cast Party | 1 | Ben E Thompson | S W Kendrick | 58kg | |
| Scr | 9 | Ship Happens | 1 | J R Bayliss | 57kg |
Acapulco Girl has the strongest blend of current form and 1200m suitability. She returned a solid Doomben Class 3 win on Soft 6 two and a half weeks ago and has consistently won at this trip. Despite top weight and no course experience, her on-pace pattern and proven wet-track form make her the most likely winner in an open Class 4.
Missile One is a proven Sunshine Coast performer and comes off a last-start Class 4 win at the track. The main query is whether she is as effective at 1200m as at 1000m, but she maps to race prominently and looms as the chief threat.
Italian Dancer represents genuine each-way value.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | Italian Dancer | 2 | Stephanie Tierney | S W Kendrick | 55kg | $8.50 |
| 2nd | 10 | Carbonara | 9 | Taylor Marshall | R L Heathcote | 54kg | $6.00 |
| 3rd | 4 | Tiz Worthy | 1 | Ryan Maloney | David Vandyke | 58kg | $3.30 |
| 4th | 1 | Acapulco Girl | 6 | Ashley Butler | David Vandyke | 59.5kg | $5.00 |
| 5th | 5 | North Of Eli | 3 | Brandon Lerena | Phillip Burns | 57.5kg | $26.00 |
| 6th | 9 | La Rosetta | 7 | Bella Youngberry | A J Edmonds | 54kg | $5.50 |
| 7th | 8 | Tonkatsu Goddess | 8 | Mark Du Plessis | Todd Pollard | 56kg | $15.00 |
| 8th | 2 | Ten Good Reasons | 4 | Rob Thorburn | G R Duncan | 57kg | $7.50 |
| Scr | 3 | Missile One | 5 | Cejay Graham | Jack Bruce | 58kg | |
| Scr | 6 | Don'tcha Think | 9 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 57kg |
Fiery Lass is the clear form anchor: she has placed in her last two starts, including a third at this track on Soft 7, and maps well from barrier 3 with only 56kg. The Sunshine Coast Soft profile rewards prominent runners, and she is already proven there. The knock is that she is 0-for-9, but her consistency and fitness edge make her the most likely winner.
Dark Mode made a promising debut, running third on a Soft surface at Gold Coast. The step to 1300m second-up is a positive, and the jockey-trainer combination has a 33% strike rate. The main risks are the 60kg impost and limited race experience, but this is the kind of improver that often wins a moderate maiden.
She is third-up, maps well from barrier 4 and should relish 1300m.
Bowling Harry caught the eye with a strong second at Warwick last time, beaten under half a length. He has improved through four runs and gets a suitable 1300m assignment.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 18 | Fiery Lass | 3 | Tiffani Brooker | Renita Beaton | 56kg | $3.80 |
| 2nd | 5 | Fidardo | 17 | Adam Sewell | G R Duncan | 59.5kg | $10.00 |
| 3rd | 19 | Bowling Harry | 7 | Dan Mc Gillivray | Paul Butterworth | 58kg | $13.00 |
| 4th | 6 | Phoenix Legend | 12 | Brandon Lerena | Phillip Burns | 59kg | $11.00 |
| 5th | 9 | Lili Anna | 4 | Mark Du Plessis | Nicholas Beck | 57.5kg | $10.00 |
| 6th | 22 | Exobrazen | 1 | Jake Bayliss | Belinda Mair | 58kg | $12.00 |
| 7th | 14 | Swift Storm | 16 | Adin Thompson | G Heinrich & B Rodgers | 57kg | $13.00 |
| 8th | 1 | Dark Mode | 9 | Ben E Thompson | Todd Pollard | 60kg | $4.00 |
| 9th | 21 | Kindred | 14 | Emily Lang | Billy Healey | 56kg | $51.00 |
| 10th | 17 | Holy Steps | 5 | Montana Philpot | John Holcombe | 56.5kg | $71.00 |
| 11th | 24 | Cool Thoughts | 6 | Sonya Dixon | 54.5kg | $151.00 | |
| 12th | 7 | Mizfawaz | 15 | Paul Hamblin | T P Bita | 58kg | $201.00 |
| 13th | 2 | Interactive | 19 | Taylor Marshall | A J Edmonds | 60kg | $10.00 |
| 14th | 12 | Arkendeith | 11 | Ashley Butler | K M Schweida | 57kg | $26.00 |
| Scr | 3 | Slightly Squeeze | 17 | Tiffany Hardgrave | 60kg | ||
| Scr | 4 | Bobby's My Mate | 19 | Tony Georgieff | 59.5kg | ||
| Scr | 8 | Daybreak Warrior | 15 | K M Schweida | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 10 | Wee Winn | 2 | Jace McMurray | Billy Healey | 57.5kg | |
| Scr | 11 | Welcome Advice | 10 | Cejay Graham | Jack Bruce | 57.5kg | |
| Scr | 13 | My Chevalier | 8 | Ryan Maloney | Richard Laming | 57kg | |
| Scr | 15 | Too Mars | 18 | Richard Laming | 55.5kg | ||
| Scr | 16 | Winning Harlow | 13 | Benjamin Osmond | K A Lees | 55kg | |
| Scr | 20 | Dual Mastery | 21 | Emma Fouchard | 58kg | ||
| Scr | 23 | Money On My Mind | 20 | Beau Gorman | 54.5kg |
Andi Don't Care brings the strongest class profile into this BM62, having won a Doomben CL1 and run fourth in BM70 before a short freshen. She maps on-speed in a moderate-tempo 1000m, which suits Sunshine Coast's soft-surface pattern where being top-three at the 400m is the key edge. The only significant knock is a 0-from-3 first-up record, but her overall form and fitness profile make her the most likely winner.
Believe In Angels was a closing third over this exact 1000m trip at Sunshine Coast on a Soft 7 first-up, and is entitled to improve second-up with a 1-win, 1-place record from two previous second-up attempts. He drops from Sydney BM72 company to a provincial BM62 and boasts an 80% place rate on soft going. The main knock is his career strike rate of one win from 15, but his consistent placing pattern and clear class edge make him a strong place/win threat.
Custo ran a sound third in a BM65 over this course and distance on Soft 6 two weeks ago, with the same formline containing several rivals. He draws barrier 3, maps prominently, and Lerena's 25% recent strike rate adds confidence. His overall win rate and lack of a Sunshine Coast victory from six attempts are concerns, but his consistency and wet-track record give him solid place claims in an open BM62.
However, he is winless from three starts at Sunshine Coast over 1000m and winless on Soft, which is a concern today.
Moroccan Wind is the clear form anchor. He won over this exact 1000m journey at Sunshine Coast on Soft 6 two weeks ago and has outstanding course/distance credentials, with two wins and a placing from three attempts. The rise in grade is the main concern, but he maps forward, is building a strong record, and retains the in-form Jake Bayliss.
Second-up she is 1-from-3 with a win, and with only 55kg and a 2kg claim she maps to lead.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Believe In Angels | 8 | Mark Du Plessis | P P Jenkins | 60kg | $6.00 |
| 2nd | 6 | Custo | 3 | Brandon Lerena | Ruby Chatterton | 59.5kg | $3.70 |
| 3rd | 9 | Caxton Lass | 5 | Dan Mc Gillivray | R L Heathcote | 58kg | $8.50 |
| 4th | 11 | I Miss Margie | 4 | Tiffani Brooker | T N Miller | 56.5kg | $8.50 |
| 5th | 7 | Andi Don't Care | 6 | Emily Lang | T J Gollan | 59kg | $5.50 |
| 6th | 3 | Gold Fever | 11 | Paul Hamblin | Cath Hamblin | 61kg | $19.00 |
| 7th | 2 | Marty Mcfly | 1 | Bella Youngberry | Billy Healey | 60kg | $4.80 |
| 8th | 10 | Loken | 7 | Montana Philpot | John Holcombe | 55kg | $9.50 |
| Scr | 1 | Agenda Setter | 2 | Archie Mc Colm | S W Kendrick | 58.5kg | |
| Scr | 5 | Moroccan Wind | 9 | Jake Bayliss | S W Kendrick | 60kg | |
| Scr | 8 | Supido's Choice | 10 | Adam Campton | 59kg |
Shahar returns to the identical R58 1000m Soft6 conditions where she finished a narrow second on Aug 2. She has since been solid and stays with Ben Thompson. Fit, forwardly drawn and in a stable pattern.
She is classy, handles soft ground and draws the inside, but she has not yet done it at this Sunshine Coast 1000m and her second-up stats are thin. She is a clear major threat but rates just behind Shahar on specific course/distance evidence.
Second-up and with the race run at a fast tempo, he can settle handy and improve sharply. The main concerns are the 60kg impost and a lack of soft-track wins, but his course form keeps him in the top three.
His Sunshine Coast 1000m record shows four placings from nine attempts and he handles soft ground.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3 | Vin Santo | 5 | Tiffani Brooker | Renita Beaton | 60kg | $5.50 |
| 2nd | 8 | Icymiss | 2 | Boris Thornton | Matthew Hoysted | 57kg | $5.00 |
| 3rd | 11 | Starsarise | 3 | Jace McMurray | Kristie Clark-Peoples | 57kg | $6.50 |
| 4th | 7 | Shahar | 4 | Ben E Thompson | Nick Keal | 57.5kg | $5.50 |
| 5th | 9 | Lady Willpower | 1 | Micheal Hellyer | Pat W Webster | 57kg | $3.20 |
| 6th | 10 | Riva D'amor | 12 | Montana Philpot | D J Hansen | 55kg | $9.00 |
| 7th | 12 | Beau's Girl | 13 | Bella Youngberry | Rochelle Pereira | 54.5kg | $41.00 |
| 8th | 4 | Kvas | 11 | Rob Thorburn | Nathan Evans | 56kg | $26.00 |
| Scr | 1 | Purosangue | 5 | Kristie Clark-Peoples | 60kg | ||
| Scr | 2 | Tara's Reward | 8 | Taylor Marshall | Jack Bruce | 60kg | |
| Scr | 5 | Extreme Ally | 10 | Beau Gorman | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 6 | Flitgrove | 9 | Beau Gorman | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 13 | Gallery Master | 6 | Kayla Johnston | Julie Harris | 52kg | |
| Scr | 14 | Gulf Of Saros | 7 | Emily Lang | T N Miller | 54kg |
Little Beginnings maps perfectly from the inside draw in a race devoid of genuine pace. He has been highly competitive at BM78 level in Sydney, including a 1400m Randwick second, and his soft-track place record is solid. The slight rise in class is offset by a favourable tempo and track profile that rewards on-pace runners.
Italian Riviera has the strongest course-and-distance profile in the field, with two wins and a placing from four starts at the Sunshine Coast 1400m, including a soft-track win last time here. Her 33% win rate on soft ground is a clear positive. The wide draw is the main concern, though Sunshine Coast on soft penalises wide barriers far less.
However, her 1400m record is limited and she has won only once in ten soft-track starts.
Her brilliance over 1200m and soft-track form demand respect, and Ben Thompson stays on.
Last-start BM70 winner over 1400m at Eagle Farm maps to settle on the speed from barrier 8, exactly where Sunshine Coast Soft races are won. He is lightly raced, carries 55kg and has placed in two of three soft-track starts. The rise to BM78 is offset by weight and momentum. The main query is a first look at the track, but his pattern suggests he is still improving.
Liberty Steps is the value play. He has an outstanding Sunshine Coast 1400m profile, with three minor placings from four attempts, and should receive every chance from barrier 3 in a slowly-run race. The knock is his 0-from-18 record on soft tracks, but he has placed twice on the surface and the track guide says wet form is a tie-breaker rather than a filter.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | Archer's Game | 5 | Ashley Butler | Kristie Clark-Peoples | 56.5kg | $18.00 |
| 2nd | 8 | Carravilla | 7 | Ryan Maloney | Chris & Corey Munce | 56.5kg | $2.20 |
| 3rd | 4 | Italian Riviera | 13 | Stephanie Tierney | S W Kendrick | 57kg | $6.50 |
| 3rd | 5 | Little Beginnings | 1 | Benjamin Osmond | K A Lees | 59kg | $4.00 |
| 5th | 12 | Demitasse | 10 | Dylan Turner | Ruby Chatterton | 55.5kg | $18.00 |
| 6th | 6 | Liberty Steps | 3 | Leslie Tilley | A & D Simpson | 58kg | $10.00 |
| 7th | 3 | Mississippi Prince | 14 | Boris Thornton | Brent Gray | 60.5kg | $8.00 |
| Scr | 1 | Pocket Full | 9 | Archie Mc Colm | S W Kendrick | 59kg | |
| Scr | 2 | Lupine | 12 | Kristie Clark-Peoples | 60.5kg | ||
| Scr | 9 | Four Ace | 2 | Corey & Kylie Geran | 56kg | ||
| Scr | 10 | Glass Of Rose | 6 | Mark Du Plessis | Jeff Dunn | 56kg | |
| Scr | 11 | Grinzinger Champ | 4 | Ben E Thompson | Jack Bruce | 56kg | |
| Scr | 13 | Meldubious | 8 | Jace McMurray | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 55kg | |
| Scr | 14 | Fifth Force | 11 | Emily Lang | Billy Healey | 54kg |
Clearly George maps to take control from gate 1 in a race lacking genuine tempo, which is a big edge at Sunshine Coast on Soft. He was a close second over 1600m here two weeks ago, has a sound 1400m record and handles wet ground.
He rates second rather than top pick.
Badda Boom Baby showed what she can do here on July 19 when winning the 1400m BM58 on Soft5, then was safely held over 1600m. Back to her pet trip with a big claim and low weight, she can bounce back. Sunshine Coast's on-pace bias suits her style and she is a genuine place chance with win upside.
Simba's Pride is the value runner.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Weekend Spirit | 9 | Emily Lang | Jack Bruce | 59.5kg | $9.00 |
| 2nd | 7 | Badda Boom Baby | 5 | Maddie Mankelow | Renita Beaton | 55kg | $5.50 |
| 3rd | 10 | Evade The Game | 3 | Leslie Tilley | P P Jenkins | 57kg | $15.00 |
| 4th | 6 | Gas Brigade | 4 | Mark Du Plessis | Jarred Coetzee | 59kg | $8.50 |
| 5th | 2 | Homeric | 8 | Ryan Wiggins | Chris & Corey Munce | 60kg | $3.70 |
| 6th | 1 | Clearly George | 1 | Olivia Kendal | Vic Heading | 58.5kg | $8.50 |
| 7th | 12 | Ralos Star | 12 | Rob Thorburn | Julie Harris | 55kg | $13.00 |
| 8th | 3 | Clubman | 2 | Tiffani Brooker | Stephen Sutherland | 59.5kg | $21.00 |
| 9th | 9 | Galactic Legend | 6 | Kayla Johnston | J L Johnston | 54.5kg | $31.00 |
| 10th | 4 | Simba's Pride | 10 | Harrison Shaw | Kris Zahmel | 59.5kg | $10.00 |
| 11th | 11 | In Great Spirit | 7 | Cejay Graham | Chris Anderson | 57kg | $10.00 |
| Scr | 8 | Dazzling Diamond | 11 | Ron Stewart | J L Johnston | 57.5kg | |
| Scr | 13 | I Say I Say | 13 | Ben E Thompson | R L Heathcote | 55kg |
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