The countdown to the Magic Millions is on and this Saturday’s racing action is headlined by the Magic Millions Prelude meeting at Doomben.
Every race on the card will be a key form pointer to the Magic Millions and the feature race is the Vo Rogue Plate, which includes the likes of Cifrado and Chrysaor.
It is the final metropolitan meeting of the year in Brisbane and we are keen to find some winners!
Race 1 - 1:13pm AEDT
Peachester Lodge Handicap (1110 METRES)
Get Up Girl has been transferred to the care of Tony Gollan after starting her racing career with Clinton McDonald in Victoria.
She performed well in stronger races than this in Victoria and Gollan has an outstanding record with recycled horses.
I think she is clearly the horse to beat and I expect her to be well-backed.
2 Units – Get Up Girl
Race 2 - 1:48pm AEDT
QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap (1200 METRES)
This is a small field and Wolfgang has opened as a $1.30 favourite.
I haven’t seen anything in the form of Wolfgang to suggest that he is deserving of starting that short, but I don’t want to bet against him in this field either.
No Bet
Race 3 - 2:23pm AEDT
Ladbrokes Handicap (1615 METRES)
I don’t think that there is as much between Aussie Nugget and Eaglemont as the current market suggests.
Aussie Nugget savaged the line to finish fifth at Doomben first-up and he was only narrowly denied by Indifference at Eagle Farm last start.
The Dansili gelding generally improves the further that he gets into his racing campaign and he has scored three wins from his seven third-up starts.
This is his chance to return to winning form.
2 Units – Aussie Nugget
Race 4 - 2:58pm AEDT
Magic Millions Handicap (1050 METRES)
Orbisyn may not have lived up to the hype, he was touted as a potential Everest contender at one point, but he is a horse that does have ability.
He finished his last campaign with three wins and a second place finish and he has established himself as something of a Doombem specialist.
The Rich Enuff gelding has early speed and I’d like to see Paul Hamblin ride him aggressively in the early stages of this race.
1 Unit – Orbisyn
Race 5 - 3:33pm AEDT
BRC Membership Plus Handicap (1350 METRES)
This is a genuine drop in class for Midnight In Tokyo and he gets his chance to return to winning form.
She has improved each time that she has been seen at the races this campaign and she finished a gallant second behind Dream Hour in The Gateway last start.
The switch back to Doomben suits and if she is able to replicate her last start effort she will prove extremely tough to beat.
3 Units – Midnight In Tokyo
Race 6 - 4:12pm AEDT
Magic Millions Shoot Out (2020 METRES)
This is a more open race than the market suggests and I think that Head Of State can run a race at big odds.
His first two race starts this campaign were good and his last start effort at Doomben was too bad too be true.
If you put the pen through his last start, the form around him is good and he maps to get a lovely run in saddle with Mark Du Plessis in the saddle.
1/2 Unit – Head Of State
Race 7 - 4:52pm AEDT
Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1350 METRES)
This is an interesting edition of the Vo Rogue Plate.
Show Me Mercy has opened as a clear favourite, but it doesn’t surprise to see a strong early betting move for Chrysaor.
It took a while for Chrysaor to show his ability, but he did exactly that when he won the Callander-Presnell during the Spring Racing Carnival.
I like the way that he has trialed ahead of his return to the races and he maps to get a lovely run in transit with James Orman in the saddle.
2 Units – Chrysaor
Race 8 - 5:32pm AEDT
LISTED Nudgee Stakes (1200 METRES)
This is an excellent edition of the Nudgee Stakes.
I can’t get Comrade Rosa as short as her current quote and there are two horses I am keen to bet in this race.
Parisal has always been one of mine and this is a drop in quality for her.
She ran well in both The Nivison and The Invitation in Sydney before she finished a close second behind General Beau at Flemington on Champions Day.
I like the fact that she has been freshened up and given a barrier trial since her last race start.
Lady Laguna is over the odds at her current quote.
She doesn’t win out of turn, but she doesn’t run a bad race and I like the way she returned to the races at Randwick.
This race is no tougher and I like the fact that Tyler Schiller has made the trip up from Sydney to ride her.
2 Units – Parisal
1 Unit – Lady Laguna
Race 9 - 6:12pm AEDT
The Buffering (1350 METRES)
The Buffering is anither race where I am keen to take on the favourite and back a pair of runners.
Tamerlane is racing well and there is no concerns that he will run the trip – you can’t say the same thing about the favourite Zoustyle.
The Godolphin galloper scored a very classy win in the Paris Lane Stakes at Flemington during the Spring and he finished alongside Munhamek in The Damien Oliver on Victoria Derby Day.
He is another horse that has been freshened up and given a barrier trial between race starts.
She will need some luck in running, but Startantes is a better chance than her price suggests.
The Star Turn mare has scored four wins from her six race starts at Doomben and she is weighted to win this contest.
2 Units – Tamerlane
1 Unit – Startantes
Race 10 - 6:52pm AEDT
Class 6 Handicap (1200 METRES)
This is a tricky way to finish the day and the majority of punters will be going wide in the quaddie.
I’d love to see Cejay Graham ride Sailor’s Secret aggressively in the early stages of this race and if they do that I think the Better Than Ready gelding will be in the finish.
His first-up victory was tough and the Kelly Schweida stable is absolutely flying at the moment.
I’m happy to gamble at $9.50 in an open race.
1 Unit – Sailor’s Secret