The Doomben Mile highlights a nine-race card at Doomben on Saturday with the Brisbane Racing Club celebrating their annual Country Music Raceday.
Fine weather is forecast with racing likely to take place on an improving soft surface. The rail is out 2.5m the entire course.
We’ve studied the form and provided our best bets across the meeting below.
Race 1 - 11:58am AEST
Fillies and Mares Class 3 Plate (1200 METRES)
Outlawed (8) faces her stiffest test since joining the Rob Heathcote stable but enters this race in excellent form.
Two starts back the Foxwedge mare box seated from the inside gate before proving too strong in the run home to win by 1.55 lengths over 1000m at Eagle Farm.
Last start she settled back after drawing the outside gate in the field of 11 over this course and distance. That wasn’t enough to stop her as she charged home to win impressively by 2.7 lengths.
Ben Thompson, who has been in the saddle for both her wins, can give her the run of the race from barrier 3.
1 Unit – Outlawed (8)
Race 2 - 12:33pm AEST
BENCHMARK 90 Handicap (2200 METRES)
Nikau Spur (4) has been racing in a purple patch of form in recent months.
The Kylie and Corey Geran-trained seven-year-old worked home strongly three starts ago to win over 1815m at Eagle Farm.
Following a solid third two starts ago, he bounced back to winning form last start when stepping up to 2020m here and finished off strongly to defeat a similar field to this.
This race is no harder, yet he’ll carry half a kilogram less with Mark Du Plessis to ride.
1 Unit – Nikau Spur (4)
Race 3 - 1:08pm AEST
BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (1615 METRES)
Ancient Egypt (8) has hit the ground running since joining the Barry Lockwood stable this preparation.
The five-year-old gelding didn’t have a lot of room when resuming over 1350m here two starts back but still hit the line hard to just miss the win.
Last start he stepped up to this distance at the Sunshine Coast and loved it, charging home down the outside to win comfortably by 1.3 lengths.
He drew wide that day and does again here, but we have the best in the business, Jimmy Orman to steer.
He’ll strip fitter third-up and looks to have plenty of upside.
1 Unit – Ancient Egypt (8)
Race 4 - 1:43pm AEST
Class 6 Plate (1615 METRES)
Besides a second placing over 1420m at Flemington in June, Bullfinch (3), had been finishing down the track in Melbourne this preparation.
Chris Waller brought him north and the Queensland sun had an immediate positive impact on the six-year-old gelding.
In the Listed Tattersall’s Members Cup last start, he found the line strongly to finish 1.47 lengths second behind Irish Songs who won the Glasshouse Handicap.
He was five weeks between runs so will strip fitter and is well weighted under the set weight conditions of the race.
2 Units – Bullfinch (3)
Race 5 - 2:18pm AEST
No Metro Wins Handicap (1350 METRES)
Isis Carmella (1) brings strong North Queensland Winter Carnival form to the city.
The Kevin Miller-trained five-year-old mare ran on strongly after being bumped to finish a close second in the Mackay Newmarket before savaging the line last start to win the Cleveland Bay Quality at Townsville over 1300m.
She is no stranger to Brisbane racing given she spent some time with the O’Dea Hoysted stable last year.
Bailey Wheeler, who claims 3kg, can settle in a forward position from the inside gate and give his mount every chance.
1 Unit Each Way – Isis Carmella (1)
Race 6 - 2:53pm AEST
QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1350 METRES)
Deep Respect (4) made a good impression when winning on debut over 1200m here two starts ago.
The Kelly Schweida-trained Deep Field colt didn’t lose any admirers last start when running on well to finish second to Tiger Shark.
Given that he clocked the quickest closing 400m and 200m closing sectionals of the race, the rise to 1350m should suit.
Jimmy Orman can settle just behind what looks a strong speed before launching in the straight. He should be hard to hold out.
2 Units – Deep Respect (4)
Race 7 - 3:28pm AEST
DOOMBEN MILE (1615 METRES)
Hail Manhattan (2) shocked at huge odds when running on well for third in the Coffs Harbour Cup last start.
The Peter and Will Hulbert-trained seven-year-old gelding can produce a big run on his day just as he did at the end of last preparation when winning the Mooloolaba Cup over this distance.
He’ll strip fitter third-up and a recent trial will have done him the world of good.
In an open race, I’m happy to side with this seasoned galloper who has competed in stronger races.
1 Unit – Hail Manhattan (2)
Race 8 - 4:07pm AEST
BENCHMARK 75 Handicap (1110 METRES)
Immoral (5) has always been a mare that looked to possess an ample amount of ability.
The Tony Gollan-trained five-year-old has won her past three starts with the most recent win over 1050m here her best effort.
Jimmy Orman took her back from the outside gate before storming home to win easily by 1.09 lengths.
She draws a touch sticky here, but she has shown an ability to go forward or back and Orman is one of the best in the business so we can trust he’ll pull the right rein.
1 Unit – Immoral (5)
Race 9 - 4:43pm AEST
OPEN QUALTIY (1110 METRES)
Destination (14) looked half a run short when resuming at Canterbury over 1100m.
The Richard Litt-trained gelding fought strongly but was run down in the shadows of the post to finish second by a nose.
He’ll strip fitter second-up and did win nicely when having his second run back last preparation.
This is a rise in class from last start but that is offset by him dropping 6.5kg in weight from 60kg.
There looks to be good speed in the race which will help his cause.
1 Unit Each Way – Destination (14)