Group l racing returns to Doomben this Saturday for a nine race program, highlighted by the Dooomben 10,000 (1200m). The weather is fine, the track is good (4) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.
Race 1. (11:25) Valmont Coatings Handicap (Class 6) 1200m
2 Femme Fireball (Bet Now: $7.00 TOP ODDS) is a Heathcoate/Anderson trained mare resuming and this would be a nice way to start the new training partnership with a win during the Carnival. This mare had a very good Spring/Summer, winning a few races on the bounce before not quite measuring up to Stakes grade. Resumes without a public trial, but she was down to resume in the Silk Stocking last week before the rain hit. So if she was ready to resume at blacktype level, I dare say she’s forward enough.
She’s very hard to catch is 1 River Racer (Bet Now: $6.50 TOP ODDS) but back to mares grade at this level, she could improve. Bumped into Chapter And Verse at Eagle Farm last time out where she was back and wide, never really in the hunt, but closed off alright in an encouraging effort in what I think will be a good form race. Tends to race well at Doomben, so giving her some respect.
5 Prue’s Angel (Bet Now: $8.50 TOP ODDS) is a talented daughter of Sequalo for the Tony Gollan stable resuming. This girl hasn’t raced since the QTIS race on Magic Millions Day where she was outclassed but far from disgraced behind Chapter And Verse, and we saw what he did two weeks back at Eagle Farm. 1200m first up for this girl tells me she’s ready to go because she has previously resumed over shorter trips.
Race 2. (12:00) Mittys Handicap (Class 6) 1200m
7 Ef Troop (Bet Now: $3.50 TOP ODDS) is a talented son of Spirit Of Boom resuming for the Tony Gollan stable. This bloke had a three run Spring prep where he was touted as a leading chance to fly the Queensland flag in Sydney/Melbourne but didn’t measure up. Been given a good break and looked very good to my eye in a recent Doomben trial win. If he’s right, he’ll go awfully close.
2 No Annamossity (Bet Now: $21.00 TOP ODDS) is a Heathcoate/Anderson trained galloper who had trialled well prior to resuming in the Ascot Handicap at this track/distance three weeks ago where he got back in the run, which is hard to do and win on a bog track, but he got quite close to knocking off Mr Marbellouz in a close finish. Good second up record and saves his best for Doomben.
6 Taillevent (Bet Now: $17.00 TOP ODDS) is a Bruce Hill trained gelding who is five weeks between runs since resuming on Toowoomba Cup Day where he got well back off the pace and was never really a winning threat but made up ground and was an eye catcher behind Natch. Can sit much closer in the run from the inside gate and does like racing at Doomben. One for multiples.
Race 3. (12:35) Ambassador Travel Handicap (80) 1350m
16 Cruze (Bet Now: $5.00 TOP ODDS) has been a bit of an enigma for Barry Lockwood but his last few runs have been full of merit. Dominant win two back over 1800m at the Gold Coast before coming back to 1400m at Eagle Farm where he was really good, surged hard late but just missed out on picking up Angel Dane. Would prefer him up in trip on a bigger track, but he’s going well.
14 Tokoriki Lad (Bet Now: $7.50 TOP ODDS) is a definite threat for me here. He resumed over 1200m at Eagle Farm two weeks ago where he didn’t get the best of runs in the straight and was held up at times. Should have finished closer but was never going to beat Chapter And Verse, who is on the Stradbroke path, so that form should hold up well and this horse did show good form towards the end of last prep.
2 Snitch (Bet Now: $21.00 TOP ODDS) is the real unknown here. Now with Tony Gollan after formerly being with Ben Currie and the horse found some positive form in his final run for Currie, which came over 1400m at the Sunny Coast when beaten narrowly by Mr Belaggio. Has had an interrupted prep but there were good signs last time out and is a winner at this track in his lone run here. Hard fit now, he’s a threat.
Race 4. (13:10) Queensland Day Stakes 1350m
Little bit of a query on her at the 1350m, but on class, 12 Multaja (Bet Now: $2.15 TOP ODDS) does look the one to beat. Impressive winner of the PJ Bell two back at Randwick before going to the Hawkesbury Crown where she took on the mares and was very good in defeat behind Irithea. Back to her own age, hopefully she can sit off a genuine speed and finish over the top of these.
3 Racecourse Road (Bet Now: $4.40 TOP ODDS) has done nothing wrong in recent times for Chris Munce. He has won his past two, the latest coming at Eagle Farm four weeks ago when proving too good for a Derby aspirant in Trusty Lad. Been given a little freshen up and from the gate, expect Lloyd to punch forward, lead and give them something to chase. Last 100m will be the test.
4 Vega One (Bet Now: $6.50 TOP ODDS) is three weeks between runs for Tony Gollan since contesting the Mick Dittman here where he just got too far back in the run and was never likely on that bog surface of picking up impressive winner Plague Stone. He’s a talented animal but can miss the start so heart will be in the mouth at the start if you’re on, because I don’t think he can give away a start and win. Not a Long Shot, but hard to see anything outside this trio as winning threats.
Race 5. (13:50) Rough Habit Plate 2000m
Could the trip away sharpen up 1 Dealmaker (Bet Now: $1.85)? He’s been racing very consistently all prep for Chris Waller but in his last few runs, he’s been very one paced and not gone on to win despite looking the winner. Think he gets a great chance to get a win on the board from the inside gate with J Mac steering and the trip away could give him a new bout of zest for racing.
3 A Man To Match (Bet Now: $7.00) was much better in the Gunsynd after an inglorious resumption. He too produced good late splits behind Gem Song, clocking 10.78 between the 400-200m, then his last furlong was 11.40, so similar to the others, just condition giving out at the end after chasing before the turn. He’s been touted as a leading Derby chance for the locals for some time now. Time to stand up and be counted.
Not dropping off 2 Trusty Lad (Bet Now: $15.00). On face value, it was just a run last time out in the Gunsynd, but those on speed or near it were advantaged and this bloke just got too far back. Still, managed to clock sub 34 for his final 600m and 11.26 for his final 200m, second quickest behind Belle Roc. Crying out for more ground, which he gets here, and third up, so he should be near ready fitness wise.
Race 6. (14:30) Champagne Classic 1200m
Looks a good race for the WaterBott colt 4 Czarson (Bet Now: $5.00). The 1000m sprint set up beat him first up on the Kensington track when beaten narrowly by Human Nature. He was run off his legs and off the bit a fair way out, but surged hard to just miss. 1200m looks more his go, and from the first prep, he did seem to race quite positively when on speed. If that eventuates here, hard to beat.
1 Dubious (Bet Now: $4.40) is the interesting one. Been in work forever it seems but continues to race well. Just have to put a line through his Slipper run given he failed to handle the bog, like most in the race, behind Kiamichi. Much better suited on firmer footing with somewhat fresh legs. Just depends what is left in the tank because he has been up forever it seems.
10 Oh Five Glory (Bet Now: $18.00) is a Team Hulbert trained filly who was completely unwanted in betting when resuming in the Dalrello but despite having no friends in the market, I thought she ran really well in defeat from off the pace when a narrow third. She is a filly who will lap up the extra trip and you’d like to think there is a stack of improvement left in the tank.
Race 7. (15:10) Members Handicap 1600m
Do like 10 Gem Song (Bet Now: $2.45) here but betting on him will come down to price. I’d want $3+ before diving so anything short, potentially short, and he can win without my money on, but it was a dominant win in the Gunsynd last time out under a very confident steer from Blake Shinn, who had him off the speed and was really patient in letting him down, before class took care of the rivals late. Harder here against the older horses, but will need to win this IMO to be considered a worthy Doomben Cup contender.
Now that he’s got a win on the board, I think 4 Plein Ciel (Bet Now: $9.00) can go on with it. Lovely ride from Williams got him home last time out in the Easter Cup at Caulfield, getting the dream run nearer the inside and proving too good. That form has been franked via Observational, and was only fourth up there, so you’d like to think there is a bit of improvement left.
Firmer footing will really suit the Chris Waller trained 2 Cellarman (Bet Now: $26.00). Very good effort fresh in the Weetwood behind Sexy Eyes before struggling to pick his feet up on the Doomben bog in the Ascot Handicap won by Mr Marbellouz. The key to him is a dry track, which he likely gets this time around, and third up, he should just about be ready fitness wise.
Race 8. (15:50) Doomben 10,000 1200m
I’ve been a big knocker of 2 Nature Strip (Bet Now: $2.20), but he put the Group l query to bed with a tough on speed win in the Galaxy last time, beating subsequent Group l winner Pierata. The key to this horse has always been how he can better off harnessing his energy in the lead because the talent is there to see, but he just wants to get over and done with it. There were good signs in the Galaxy and the recent trial. Yes, head high carry somewhat, but still looked to relax much better. Has the speed to lead and $3.50 all in looked a very acceptable price IMO. Hopefully I’m right.
It’s almost at the stage of contender or pretender time for 1 Osborne Bulls (Bet Now: $3.00). He’s been touted as the best sprinter in Australia but is yet to put the runs on the board in terms of winning. Beaten comfortably by Santa Ana Lane in the TJ Smith before going to the All Aged where I thought he had every chance when second to Pierata, but was held comfortably on the line by that horse. This is his moment to stand up.
The horse that will do no work in the run is 13 Outback Barbie (Bet Now: $16.00), resuming for Tony Gollan. Dodged the Guineas last Saturday in preference for this. It is a big ask, first up in a major against the big boys and girls, but she’s certainly talented and the big tick is blinkers first time, signalling clear intent, and from all reports, she flew in a recent Eagle Farm jumpout.
Race 9. (16:30) Chairmans Handicap 2000m
2 Libran (Bet Now: $11.00) beats these doesn’t he? Chris Waller trains this very talented and classy stayer, who hasn’t won in a little while but gee he finds a race to break the run of outs. Forget his run last time out in the JRA Plate given he was wide all the way and sitting back off a very slow tempo. 2000m at this level I like, drops a fair bit in depth and has class. Don’t think weight will be an issue.
Hard to ignore what 9 Le Juge (Bet Now: $6.50) has done recently. I’ve been against him for the most part, including last time out at Eagle Farm over 1800m, but can’t ignore what he did there. Had no right to win given the slow tempo but he picked up and really sprinted hard to get the win, clocking 32.66 for his final 600m. Pretty good effort that so I think he can measure up here.
15 Morendi (Bet Now: $41.00) looks to be ticking over beautifully for Darren Graham. He ran over 1800m at Eagle Farm two weeks ago and just had no hope of winning given the winner ran 32.66 for his final 600m. Morendi just doesn’t have that kind of speed in the legs but he stuck to the task pretty well over an unsuitable trip. Much better suited here I feel and is a live chance.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Eight Number 2 Nature Strip
NEXT BEST: Race Five Number 1 Dealmaker
LONG SHOT: Race Nine Number 2 Libran
Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):
Leg One: 1, 4, 5, 10
Leg Two: 10
Leg Three: 2
Leg Four: 2, 5, 6, 9, 15
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