The countdown to the Queensland Derby gets underway at Eagle Farm on Saturday with a smart line-up of three-year-old staying types facing off in the Queensland Guineas 2024 field.

Ducasse is narrow favourite at time of publish to take out the Queensland Guineas 2024 in Brisbane this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Group 2 $350,000 Queensland Guineas (1600m) has drawn a capacity line-up of promising youngsters including a couple of talented last start Group 3 winners out of Sydney leading the markets.

The early Queensland Guineas betting favourite and market mover is the Michael Freedman-trained Ducasse with a wide alley (16) but still plenty of support paying $6 through Ladbrokes.com.au to salute.

Tommy Berry partners the up-and-coming Trapeze Artist colt in Brisbane replacing Blake Shinn who was aboard for the horse’s last start Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) win at Randwick in the wet on April 6.

In a wide-open Queensland Guineas betting market the current next best fancied at $7 is the James Cummings-trained Razors to be ridden fourth-up and fit by Robbie Dolan.

The Godolphin-raced Sidestep gelding has been working his way through the grades well and was narrowly denied a Black-Type success at Randwick on April 13 beaten a nostril flare in the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m).

He is yet to win over further than 1400m, but there is support in the markets for him to relish the step-up to a mile and handle himself well in the sunshine state.

Another danger following closely at Queensland Guineas odds of $7.50 is Kintyre for Gary Portelli.

Apprentice Cejay Graham rides the consistent Hallowed Crown gelding from a favourable gate three draw giving them the early advantage in the run on Saturday.

Kintyre won over 2000m at Randwick on April 20 doing the hard work on a Heavy (9) course to salute in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate.

He was third to Ducasse the run before the Carbine, but has the benefit of the extra run now and will enjoy the distance relief.

The other single-figure Queensland Guineas hopefuls include the Annabel Neasham-trained Group 1 performed Better Than Ready colt Port Lockroy ($7.50) with work to do from out wide, Robrick ($8), and Tony Gollan’s locally-trained son of Snitzel Transatlantic ($9.50).

The Queensland Guineas 2024 closes the Eagle Farm card as Race 9 at 4:13pm (AEST) on Saturday with markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available in full by clicking here.

2024 Queensland Guineas Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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