Saturday metropolitan racing in Queensland this weekend comes to us from Doomben where a nine-race card is scheduled to be run.
Rain throughout the week will see racing take place on a rain-affected surface. Hopefully it’s no worse than a soft rating but there is a possibility it will be heavy so it will pay to monitor the weather for the rest of the week. The rail is out 3.5m the entire circuit.
Our top selections for each of the nine races can be found below.
Race 1 - 12:53pm AEDT
QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap (1200 METRES)
Oceans Of Energy (4) didn’t do a great deal in two trials leading into her debut at Grafton, preferring to save herself for the real thing.
The Matt Dunn-trained filly certainly did that, impressing with a 3.59 length win over the 1006m on a heavy track.
Being an offspring of Dundeel she’ll appreciate further but for now, the rise to 1200m second-up looks ideal. Andrew Mallyon should be able to settle in a handy position.
1 Unit – Oceans Of Energy (4)
Race 2 - 1:28pm AEDT
BENCHMARK 90 Handicap (2200 METRES)
Fast Talking (1) looks ready to peak fourth-up after three solid efforts this preparation.
The David Vandyke-trained eight-year-old worked to the line well to finish third to Navajo Peak last start over 2000m here.
Last preparation when having his fourth run back, he powered through the heavy conditions to win by 2.5 lengths over 2200m. He sets up similarly here and gets similar conditions. He looks the testing material.
2 Units – Fast Talking (1)
Race 3 - 2:07pm AEDT
OPEN Handicap (1615 METRES)
Stuttering (3) has found a new lease of life this preparation with his past three starts being particularly good, which coincided with the return of Mark Du Plessis to the saddle.
The Rob Heathcote-trained six-year-old won three starts back over 1400m at Eagle Farm before finishing under half a length away from the winner in his next two starts. He steps up to 1600m for the first time since August 2020, but looks ready for it. As a three-year-old he chased home the talented Vanna Girl to place on several occasions over it so it’s a distance within his capabilities.
Du Plessis can roll forward and give them something to run down.
1 Unit – Stuttering (3)
Race 4 - 2:47pm AEDT
Class 3 Plate (1050 METRES)
This is a seriously tough race to work out with luck in running having a big say in the outcome!
Putontheredlight (14) is a frustrating horse that can find a reason not to win but she always runs a good race as proven by her record of 11 placings from 16 starts. Last start she was held up in the straight but once clear found the line well to finish second to Situation Room over this course and distance. Blinkers made a big difference on that occasion.
She draws beautifully here to get a nice run. She’ll just need clear running in the straight.
1 Unit – Putontheredlight (14)
Race 5 - 3:27pm AEDT
Colts, Geldings and Entires BENCHMARK 78 Handicap (1350 METRES)
Charge On (4) has been racing well since joining the Adam Campton stable.
Two starts back the six-year-old flew along the fence to win over 1200m here. Last start he charged late but just fell short in beating Valley Of Dreams over this course and distance.
Queensland’s top pilot Jimmy Orman takes the ride and should be able to settle in the first few pairs before launching in the straight.
1 Unit – Charge On (4)
Race 6 - 4:07pm AEDT
Fillies and Mares BENCHMARK 78 Handicap (1350 METRES)
Reeanon (10) faded late when finishing fourth by 1.6 lengths over 1110m here first-up. The Barry Baldwin-trained daughter of Scissor Kick will be fitter second-up and will appreciate the rise to a more suitable distance of 1350m.
The last time she raced over this track and distance, she led all the way before being run down on the winning post by Chatty Lady. It was a rain-affected track that day.
From barrier 1, Mark Du Plessis can drive forward and lead or box seat which will give the mare every chance of winning.
1 Unit Each Way – Reeanon (10)
Race 7 - 4:43pm AEDT
3YO QUALITY HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
Spirit Queen (11) will be aided by a strong speed that looks likely to be set here.
The O’Dea Hoysted-trained Spirit Of Boom filly settled a long way back after drawing wide in the QTIS 3YO Jewel last start. She had a lot of ground to make up in the straight before savaging the line to finish second by 1.4 lengths to All That Pizzazz. She did a similar thing the start before when third.
She draws well in barrier 5 which should see Nikita Beriman settle closer in the run.
1 Unit – Spirit Queen (11)
Race 8 - 5:23pm AEDT
BENCHMARK 85 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Manhood (6) was backed to produce a big run when resuming over 1200m at Eagle Farm last start and he delivered.
The Annabel Neasham-trained gelding raced outside the lead before sprinting quickly to stride away for a half-length win. He’ll take benefit from that run and when second-up last preparation on a rain-affected track, he bolted in by 4.5 lengths over this course and distance.
He’s drawn perfectly for Jag Guthmann-Chester who can drive forward and lead or take a sit in the second pair.
2 Units – Manhood (6)
Race 9 - 6:00pm AEDT
BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (1615 METRES)
Telephone Booth (8) looks close to a win after three solid runs this preparation.
The Mark Currie-trained grey mare led over over 1350m here two starts back before being run down in the shadows of the post. Last start she was held up in the straight but once clear worked to the line well for fourth behind Dune Forty Five.
She drops from a Benchmark 78 to a Benchmark 70 and gets the services of top apprentice Angela Jones. The rise to 1600m suits fourth-up, she prefers tracks with the sting out of them and maps to get a great run. There’s a few boxes ticked in what looks a tough get out stakes.
1 Unit Each Way – Telephone Booth (8)