The Queensland Racing Carnival rolls on this Saturday for nine of the best on Doomben Cup Day.
The time-honoured Group 1 feature is an intriguing affair with Zaaki and Huetor looking to become just the fourth horse to win the Doomben Cup on multiple occasions.
With four other black-type races on the card, it shapes to be an enthralling day’s racing. You can find our thoughts on each race below.
Race 1 - 11:43am AEST
Class 6 Handicap (1600 METRES)
Drive A Deel (5) has improved with each run this preparation. The Rob Heathcote-trained four-year-old mare worked to the line well to finish 0.7 lengths behind Alburq last start start the Sunshine Coast over 1600m.
The daughter of Dundeel is ready to peak fourth-up. Last preparation she won fourth-up at this course before going on a winning streak.
She loves racing at Doomben and is undefeated in two starts over this course and distance. Top jockey Jason Collett takes the ride and can settle just behind what looks a solid tempo.
1 Unit Each Way – Drive A Deel (5)
Race 2 - 12:18pm AEST
Class 3 Plate (1350 METRES)
Brigantine (1) is unbelievably well placed under the conditions of the race. The Godolphin galloper has multiple black-type placings and now finds himself in a Class 3 at set weights.
The four-year-old resumed in the Listed ATC Cup last start at the Sunshine Coast and worked home well from the tail of the field. He’ll take improvement from the run second-up.
The rise to 1350m looks ideal. He’s drawn a touch sticky but gets the services of Jimmy Orman.
1 Unit – Brigantine (1)
Race 3 - 12:53pm AEST
LISTED BILL CARTER STAKES (1200 METRES)
Queen Of Dragons (12) makes her return to racing following a good first preparation that saw her finish just 1.18 lengths second to Militarize. That horse went on to win the Group 1 Sires Produce and Champagne Stakes so it’s a quality form line.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly has warmed up for this first-up assignment with two trials. On each occasion she has worked to the line strongly under her own steam.
Barrier 4 gives Ryan Maloney options. He can go forward but if the speed is hot then he can take a sit and hit the line hard.
1 Unit – Queen Of Dragons (12)
Race 4 - 1:28pm AEST
GROUP 3 PAM O'NEILL STAKES (1600 METRES)
Frumos (12) worked home fairly when resuming over 1300m on a heavy Rosehill to place fourth to Healing Oasis last start.
She’ll strip fitter second-up and appreciate racing on a soft surface. She drops 4.5kg and in a vote of confidence, James McDonald sticks.
The Chris Waller-trained mare has never raced over 1600m but gives every indication she’ll handle it given she has won over 1500m before and given potential Group 1 mare Hope In Your Heart a tough race over that trip. She maps to get a great run.
1 Unit – Frumos (12)
Race 5 - 2:03pm AEST
DARBY McCARTHY (1110 METRES)
Golden Boom (4) sat three wide and was forced to work in the run when resuming in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate. Despite that he fought bravely to finish fifth, 1.86 lengths behind Lady Laguna.
Queensland’s top trainer Tony Gollan has since sent him back to the trials where he looks slick, leading and going on to win by two-lengths with something in hand.
He’ll strip fitter and did win his only other second-up race. Ryan Maloney can give him the run of the race from barrier 1.
2 Units – Golden Boom (4)
Race 6 - 2:38pm AEST
LISTED CHIEF DE BEERS (1110 METRES)
Orbisyn (14) resumes here for David Vandyke and has a history of racing well fresh with two wins from three first-up races. That includes last preparation when winning first-up at Ipswich over this distance.
The Rich Enuff gelding will have a good level of fitness leading into his first-up assignment following three trials. He’s won all of them with the most recent resulting in an easy 7.8 length victory.
He has good early speed so Taylor Marshall will drive forward with the light weight and look to lead or box seat.
1 Unit Each Way – Orbisyn (14)
Race 7 - 3:17pm AEST
GROUP 1 DOOMBEN CUP (2000 METRES)
Zaaki (1) returns to Doomben looking to add a second Doomben Cup to his trophy cabinet after putting his rivals to the sword by seven-lengths in the 2021 edition.
The Annabel Neasham veteran may be getting on in years, but he is showing no signs of slowing down. He resumed with a great effort to finish second to Giga Kick in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes before winning his third Group 2 Hollindale Stakes despite working early and nothing really going right.
He’ll strip fitter third-up given he jumped from 1400m to 1800m last start. He should be able to find a forward position with reasonable ease given there isn’t a lot of speed drawn to his inside.
Click this link for our detailed analysis of every Doomben Cup runner.
3 Units – Zaaki (1)
Race 8 - 3:57pm AEST
GROUP 3 LADBROKES BRC SPRINT (1350 METRES)
Scallopini (1) is a marvel for the O’Dea Hoysted stable. The eight-year-old gelding returns from a successful Melbourne trip in the BRC Sprint field.
The son of Snitzel easily countered a wide gate to win the Listed The Elms Handicap two starts back before showing a tremendous turn of foot to win the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue. Both races were at Flemington over 1400m.
He races well fresh and looked good in a recent trial. He’s a versatile galloper which is a plus as the barrier could potentially be tricky.
1 Unit Each Way – Scallopini (1)
Race 9 - 4:33pm AEST
GROUP 2 THE ROSES (2000 METRES)
Fireburn (1) races for the first time since finishing fourth in the Group 1 Australian Oaks. The Gary Portelli-trained filly is six weeks between runs and was recently given a solid test when winning a trial to keep her up to the mark.
The 2022 Golden Slipper winner is clearly the best rated horse in the race and looks incredibly well weighted under the race conditions.
Jason Collett is back in the saddle for The Roses and has won both times he’s ridden the daughter of Rebel Dane. She loves a heavy track but is just as good on soft going.
1 Unit Each Way – Fireburn (1)