2017 Doomben Cup Day Preview

You won’t find too many tougher ways to start a day of racing for punters. There are plenty of winning chances in the opener and luck in running could prove crucial. The market really has zeroed in on the leading contenders and the likes of Blackjack Bella, Saga Miss, Gully Command and Heart Of A Warrior all look to have found their right prices. I am more than happy to stay out.

No Bet

Allied Power showed what he is capable of when he showed a most impressive turn-of-foot to win at Gosford last start and he looks like a horse that can go on with the job. Team Snowden have an excellent record when they send horses to Queensland and this trip really could be the making of the All Too Hard colt. The wide barrier draw isn’t an issue as he will get back anyway and the in-form Hugh Bowman will have him running on at the right time.

2.5 Units Allied Power

This is a competitive edition of the Chief De Beers and you can make a case for a number of the horses in this field. The galloper that does standout at his current price is Mount Nebo. He was never able to get into the race at Toowoomba, but he has always been better over 1050 metres. Two starts ago he was outstanding over this track and distance and he is unbeaten in his two race starts at Doomben. Hugh Bowman is in the saddle and showed at the Gold Coast two weeks ago that he is a class above when he is in form.

1 Unit Mount Nebo

This is one of the more interesting betting races of the afternoon. Savanna Amour showed she was a horse with plenty of talent in the Autumn and she stamped herself as a serious filly with her win in the Gold Coast Guineas last start. She is a horse with a will to win and always finds the line strongly. Tactical Advantage drops back in class after racing credibly in both the Darby Munro Stakes and the Arrowfield Sprint. He has not had a great deal of luck in his past two race starts and his recent barrier trial at Royal Randwick was excellent.

2 Units Savanna Amour

2 Units Tactical Advantage

This is an interesting edition of the Bright Shadow and I expect that the form coming out of it should be fairly strong going further into the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival. Bjorn Baker has indicated that Bonny O’Reilly will remain in Sydney and that leaves Untamed Diamond as the clear favourite. She is a progressive mare on the way up and she looks perfectly placed to make the step-up to this level. She makes her own luck right on the speed with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle and she will be very tough to beat.

2 Units Untamed Diamomd

Kenedna and Dawn Wall dominate The Roses betting and it really is difficult to separate these two horses. Kenedna was very gallant in the Australasian Oaks and was only narrowly run down by the ultra-talented Egg Tart, while Dawn Wall returned to winning form with a most impressive performance in the Gold Coast Bracelet. Tactics will be crucial for Dawn Wall. She has shown a degree of tactical versatility during her racing career, but she was excellent right on the speed in the Gold Coast Bracelet and I would love to see Hugh Bowman press forward from the wide barrier draw. Kenedna does get a long way back and she will need luck in running at the time, so I lean towards Dawn Wall but I don’t want to lose on either horse.

3 Units Dawn Wall

1.5 Units Kenedna

The 2017 Doomben Cup has drawn one of the strongest fields in the recent history of the race. It’s Somewhat has been absolutely flying this preparation and he goes into this race as a deserving favourite. He may have won the Doncaster Mile second-up, but the Doomben Cup was always his major target and he could go to another level over 2000 metres. James Doyle should have no problems finding the lead in the early stages of the race and that is where you want to be at Doomben.

There are a number of progressive horses in the Doomben Cup field and one of them is Amelie’s Star. She looked like a potential Caulfield Cup contender when she won the Colin Stephen Quality in 2015, but injury kept her away from the races for over a year. The Testa Rossa mare has made a very promising return to the races and the way that she wound up in the Queen Of The South Stakes was most impressive. She is clearly looking for the step-up to 2000 metres and it would not surprise if she went to another level.

Maurus loomed as the winner before he died on his run late in the Hollindale Stakes and I am surprise to see him at $16. There is no doubt that he took a fair amount of benefit from that run and he does love a wet track.

2.5 Units It’s Somewhat

1 Unit Amelie’s Star

1 Unit Maurus

The BRC Sprint is a very tricky race and not one that I want to get too invested in. You can make a case for Jungle Edge, Hopfgarten, Ulmann, Federal and Splurge and there are simply too many chances to bet into the race with any real confidence. The best ride on the day could very well win this race and it would not surprise if one of the outsiders popped up at a nice price.

No Bet