Doomben Preview – Wednesday 1st of November

Doomben is on the quick back-up this Wednesday with a seven-race card on the same date Victoria hosts the Bendigo Cup meeting.

The track is rated a Soft 5 with fine weather forecast and the rail is out 6m the entire course. 

We’ve run the rule over the meeting and provided our top picks for each race below. 

Octavio (1) may have found the right race to finally deliver on his first win after placing in four of his five career starts. 

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro gelding was narrowly beaten first-up at the Sunshine Coast before boxing on well for a 2.5 length third over 1350m at Ipswich. 

The rise to 1640m is ideal third-up. 

Jimmy Orman retains the ride and has a winning strike-rate of 26% when teaming up with Waller runners. 

2 Units – Octavio (1) 

Conquistadores (2) should be at peak fitness following three solid runs to begin this preparation. 

The Peter and Will Hulbert-trained three-year-old gelding hit the front in the straight over 1600m at the Sunshine Coast last start but was run down in the shadows of the post by Lissaro.  

Mark Du Plessis can settle in a forward position which should give his mount every chance. 

1 Unit – Conquistadores (2)  

Radiant Remi (5) started this preparation in the right style with a narrow win at Ipswich. 

Since then, the Tony Gollan-trained daughter of Spirit Of Boom has run well without a lot of luck in three races. 

Last start she got too far back at Ipswich but worked home strongly for a length second over 1100m at Ipswich. 

Angela Jones climbs back in the saddle and the only previous time she rode the mare resulted in a win over this course and distance. 

1 Unit – Radiant Remi (5) 

This race has been decimated by scratchings with half the field already having come out at time of writing. 

Daytona (3) looks well placed at set weights dropping back from a Benchmark 75 Handicap.  

The Tony Gollan-trained gelding raced three wide without cover but still managed to finish third over 1200m here first-up.  

He then had an impeded path when finishing fourth by 1.52 lengths to Pocket Full at Eagle Farm last start. Outlawed was second that day and has subsequently won well on Saturday. 

Maps to gain a nice run in the small field for Ryan Maloney. 

1 Unit – Daytona (3)  

Russian Mystic (7) is now with the astute Barry Lockwood stable after previously racing with Saab Hasan in Victoria. 

Life in Queensland has agreed with the four-year-old gelding based on his excellent trial form.  

After running on well to just miss the win in his first trial, he showed plenty of speed but did it well within himself when winning his most recent trial by 2.25 lengths. 

There doesn’t look to be a great deal of speed in the race which should see Jaden Lloyd go forward and take up a prominent position. 

1 Unit – Russian Mystic (7)  

Alberich (1) ran well in his first run in Queensland after previously racing in Sydney.  

The Chris Waller-trained gelding worked to the line nicely to finish fourth by 1.4 lengths over 1350m at Ipswich. 

He clearly was looking for a longer trip and he gets that here, stepping up to 1640m. 

Jimmy Orman replaces Damien Thornton and should be able to settle in a prominent position from barrier 3. 

1 Unit – Alberich (1)   

Tojaki (12) has enjoyed the move to Stu Kendrick’s Sunshine Coast stable after previously racing with the Maher Eustace team – who is gearing up for a shot at back-to-back Melbourne Cup wins on November 7 – in Victoria.  

The four-year-old mare bolted in by 3.5 lengths over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast first-up to break her maiden status.  

She then rose to 1400m last start and again romped in by two lengths. 

Jake Bayliss should be able to dictate the speed and which should make her hard to run down. 

2 Units – Tojaki (12)