Metropolitan racing heads to Doomben this Wednesday for an eight-race card.
The track is rated a Soft 5 but we should see an improvement to the Good range on race day. With the rail out 8.5m the entire course, which will see on-pace runners favoured.
We’ve provided our best bet for each of the eight races below.
Race 1 - 12:33pm AEST
Maiden Plate (1050 METRES)
Ahoy (7) steps out for the first time for Shaun Dwyer after previously racing with Waterhouse and Bott in Sydney.
She hasn’t been seen publicly but she’ll no doubt have a good fitness level given Dwyer is starting her preparation off in town. The Astern filly races well fresh and did finish a close second over 1100m at Canterbury first-up when last in work.
From barrier 4 I’d expect Mark Du Plessis to go forward and give them something to run down.
1 Unit – Ahoy (7)
Race 2 - 1:08pm AEST
QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1350 METRES)
Miracle Of Love (7) was very good when making her debut in the Listed Woodlands Stakes at Scone.
The Paul Messara-trained filly didn’t have the clearest of paths in the run home but let down powerfully late to finish third by just 0.3 of a length.
Being a daughter of Dundeel she’ll appreciate the rise in distance. She will strip fitter second-up and is drawn to get a great run.
1 Unit – Miracle Of Love (7)
Race 3 - 1:43pm AEST
Maiden Handicap (1350 METRES)
What do we do with Landsborough Lad (1)? The David Vandyke-trained five-year-old gelding has had numerous chances to break through for his first win but is yet to do so in nine starts.
The son of Headwater has placed in eight of those starts including last time out when resuming at Ipswich over 1200m. He was caught wide early and had to work overtime so there was merit in his third placing.
He’ll have no excuses here from barrier 3 which should see Ryan Maloney race on speed. We just have to hope that he has the desire to win!
1 Unit – Landsborough Lad (1)
Race 4 - 2:18pm AEST
Class 3 Handicap (2040 METRES)
Fawkner Park (1) made a good impression when having his first start in Australia for Annabel Neasham.
The four-year-old gelding settled at the back over 1500m at Kembla Grange before storming down the outside fence to win.
This race is no harder and he’ll strip fitter second-up. He demonstrated an ability over this distance when in the UK with a 6.5 length win at Dundalk.
2 Units – Fawkner Park (1)
Race 5 - 2:53pm AEST
BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (1650 METRES)
Madame Du Gast (8) has raced well in her two starts for Chris Munce.
The four-year-old mare ran a good race to finish third over 1300m at Eagle Farm two starts back before a solid effort in stronger Saturday company last start when sixth to Brigantine over 1350m at Doomben.
The rise to 1650m looks suitable now and she did almost win over the distance at Flemington in her only other start over it at the end of last preparation. She’s drawn to get an economical run.
1 Unit – Madame Du Gast (8)
Race 6 - 3:28pm AEST
Class 1 Handicap (1650 METRES)
Purveyor (10) did a lot wrong when on debut at Beaudesert but still proved too strong when winning by a length over 1400m. The third horse was over 10 lengths away!
The Bevan Laming-trained two-year-old then raced wide throughout after drawing the outside gate but still finished off strongly for a close second over 1400m. He would have won with a better gate.
He drops to 54.5kg as he’s taking on older horses and should be close to peak fitness third-up. The rise in trip suits and he’s drawn well.
1 Unit – Purveyor (10)
Race 7 - 4:03pm AEST
Class 4 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Enterprise Pomme (1) resumes from a 9-week break. The O’Dea Hoysted-trained mare does her best racing fresh and has won two of three when first-up.
The four-year-old won over this distance at Eagle Farm when off a seven-week break three starts ago. That preceded two placings in significantly harder Saturday metro races.
She’ll appreciate dropping back to this class and gets 3kg weight relief thanks to Cejay Graham’s claim. Barrier 5 should provide her with a nice run.
1 Unit – Enterprise Pomme (1)
Race 8 - 4:34pm AEST
BENCHMARK 75 Handicap (1350 METRES)
Sunfall (7) was excellent when winning over this course and distance first-up for his new trainer Barry Lockwood.
The four-year-old gelding found 1600m a bridge too far two starts back but was quickly back in form last start when dropping back to the Doomben 1350m. He had no luck in the run, finding himself three deep throughout. Despite that, he found the line well to finish second to Brigantine by just over half a length.
He’ll be at peak fitness fourth-up and maps to get a great run. Martin Harley takes just his second ride since returning from a broken neck.
2 Units – Sunfall (7)