Ten races will be run and won this Saturday at Doomben on Ladbrokes Cox Plate Raceday.
The rail is in the true position for the entire circuit and the track at time of publication is rated a Soft 5.
Rain is forecast for the latter part of the week before a fine day on Saturday.
We’ve cast our eye over the form and provided our top selections for each race below.
Race 1 - 12:38PM AEDT
LADBROKES COX PLATE RACEDAY Fillies & Mares Class 6 Handicap (1350 METRES)
Argyle Pink (5) was brave last start when working from a wide gate to find the front before fighting strongly to finish third by just under a length over 1350m at Eagle Farm.
That followed a very good first-up second and a luckless run second-up when finishing at the back of the pack at Toowoomba.
The Tony Gollan-trained grey mare should be primed for a peak performance fourth-up.
From barrier 2, Angela Jones can find a prominent position easily which will give her mount every possible chance.
1 Unit – Argyle Pink (5)
Race 2 - 1:13PM AEDT
LADBROKES ANAMOE 2022 BENCHMARK 78 Handicap (2000 METRES)
Blackcomb (3) ventured north from Newcastle three weeks ago and proved too strong over 1830m at Eagle Farm.
The Kris Lees-trained Vancouver mare stormed home down the outside to win with something in hand suggesting the rise to 2000m will suit.
That was her third win from her past five starts and that consistency is something that cannot be said about the majority of horses in this race.
This race is no harder and she looks hard to beat again.
2 Units – Blackcomb (3)
Race 3 - 1:48PM AEDT
LADBROKES STATE OF REST 2021 QTIS 2YO Handicap (1110 METRES)
Les Ross typically has a huge contingent in this two-year-old race but I’m looking away from his runners and going with the southern horse, Serial Offender (9).
The Matthew Dale-trained daughter of Better Than Ready is here for the lucrative QTIS bonus money and looks well placed.
She warmed up for this with a nice piece of work in a recent trial where she cruised home over 800m at Hawkesbury to finish 2.1 lengths behind Gai’s Artist.
That horse won narrowly but impressively on the Kensington track on Wednesday.
Group 1 winning jockey Damien Thornton takes the ride.
1 Unit – Serial Offender (9)
Race 4 - 2:23PM AEDT
LADBROKES SIR DRAGONET 2020 Class 3 Plate (1600 METRES)
Rising Pacific (4) has improved this preparation with each run and demonstrated last start that he is well and truly ready for Saturday racing.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding settled just off the speed before storming home to win by 3.41 lengths over this course and distance.
He’s still on the rise and will be rock hard fit fifth-up.
1 Unit – Rising Pacific (4)
Race 5 - 2:58PM AEDT
LADBROKES LYS GRACIEUX 2019 BENCHMARK 68 Handicap (1110 METRES)
Helluva Barty (6) resumes here on the back of a soft trial.
The O’Dea Hoysted-trained son of Hellbent didn’t have luck first-up last preparation before suffering from poor post-race recovery second-up. He was sent to the paddock after that.
He’s a quality galloper when right as he showed two preparations ago when winning two in a row over 1200m at this track.
There looks to be good speed in the race which will aid his cause given he’ll likely settle back for Justin Huxtable.
1 Unit – Helluva Barty (6)
Race 6 - 3:33PM AEDT
LADBROKES WINX 2018 Class 3 Plate (1200 METRES)
Lubrication (14) resumes here following two very nice trials where he’s been strong through the line on each occasion.
The Matt Dunn-trained I Am Invincible gelding has performed well in stronger races than this including a third placing in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate over 1100m here last preparation.
He has been gelded during his time away and that should really get his mind on the job.
It will be interesting to see where Jimmy Orman settles from the inside gate given that the horse has traditionally got back but hopefully, he can settle closer.
1 Unit – Lubrication (14)
Race 7 - 4:12PM AEDT
LADBROKE IT! QTIS 3YO OPEN (1200 METRES)
Abounding (3) resumes here and once again comes up with an outside gate, this time starting from barrier 10 in the field of 10.
The Rob Heathcote-trained Rich Enuff filly caught the eye in a recent trial when charging down the outside under her own steam to narrowly miss winning.
While she has only won once in seven starts, she was narrowly beaten in three black-type races to end last preparation.
If Martin Harley can find a spot from the tricky gate, she should be challenging for the win.
1 Unit – Abounding (3)
Race 8 - 4:57PM AEDT
LADBROKES RACING CLUB C,G&E Class 6 Handicap (1350 METRES)
Preach (3) has been racing in a purple patch of form, registering wins in his past two starts.
Two starts back the Team Edmonds galloper led all the way for a 1.54 length win over this course and distance.
He repeated the dose last start when again leading all the way for a tough win over 1400m at Eagle Farm.
There doesn’t look to be a great deal of speed in the race which should see Cejay Graham control proceedings.
1 Unit – Preach (3)
Race 9 - 5:42PM AEDT
LADBROKES COMMUNITIES BENCHMARK 80 Handicap (1600 METRES)
Eagles Crag (11) was excellent in his first start for the O’Dea Hoysted stable after previously racing in Victoria.
The six-year-old gelding fought bravely but succumbed late to Cottee’s fitness edge at the end of 1500m at Eagle Farm to finish a nose second.
He’ll strip fitter second-up and does boast two wins and a second from four second-up races.
He’s drawn perfectly in barrier 1 for Ben Thompson.
2 Units – Eagles Crag (11)
Race 10 - 6:20PM AEDT
LADBROKES ODDS SURGE BENCHMARK 78 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Outlawed (13) is a model of consistency having won or finished runner-up in all six starts this preparation.
The Rob Heathcote-trained four-year-old mare was beaten by a wide gate when running on strongly for a half-length second over 1200m at Eagle Farm.
She has a good record over this course and distance having easily won here four starts back by 2.7 lengths.
Martin Harley can track the speed drawn to his inside to settle in a prominent position.
1 Unit – Outlawed (13)