It’s Stradbroke Handicap week and what better way to warm up for the big day than a nine-race card at Doomben this Wednesday!
The rail is out 9m the entire course with conditions forecast to be perfect for racing.
We’ve scrutinised the form and provided our top selections in each race below.
Race 1 - 11:58pm AEST
Fillies and Mares Maiden Plate (1110 METRES)
Equine Art (7) is on debut for Sunshine Coast trainer David Vandyke.
The daughter of Exceed And Excel showed good speed in her home track trial over 850m to comfortably win by two lengths.
Ryan Maloney looked to have good grip on her in the trial and he remains in the saddle for the race ride.
From barrier 3 she should enjoy a lovely run on speed.
1 Unit – Equine Art (7)
Race 2 - 12:33pm AEST
Colts, Geldings and Entires Maiden Plate (1110 METRES)
Perigean (7) looks close to a win after finishing runner-up in all three of his races this preparation.
The Tony Gollan-trained son of Extreme Choice raced greenly first-up when finishing a half-length second at Ipswich before returning to that track second-up where he was forced to work too hard from an outside barrier.
Last start he led over 1100m at Ipswich and gave a good sight but the 60kg told and he was run down by his stablemate Costner to finish two lengths second.
He’s at peak fitness and Gollan choosing to use Cejay Graham’s 1.5kg claim is astute as it drops him down to 56kg.
The addition of blinkers is a positive as is an inside barrier.
1 Unit – Perigean (7)
Race 3 - 1:08pm AEST
QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)
Hell March (4) produced a very nice effort when debuting over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast.
The Toby Edmonds-trained Hellbent colt worked early from the outside barrier to lead and gave a good kick but was no match for southern horse Peace Centre late when finishing 1.8 lengths second.
He’ll have taken benefit from the experience and will strip fitter second-up.
Jimmy Orman will ride again and should give his mount the run of the race from the inside gate.
1 Unit – Hell March (4)
Race 4 - 1:43PM AEST
BENCHMARK 65 Handicap (2060 METRES)
Anemacore (1) looks ready for the rise to this distance after finding the line strongly in all three runs this preparation.
The Shaun Dwyer-trained gelding went within a nose of winning over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast first-up before recording the quickest final 600m of the race when finishing a length third over 1350m at Ipswich despite not handling the tight track.
Last start over a mile here, he was forced to settle at the back after drawing an outside gate but once again rattled home to finish two lengths fifth.
He starts from barrier 1 so that should see Michael Rodd settle closer in the run and if he’s in striking distance at the top of the straight, he should prove hard to hold out.
2 Units – Anemacore (1)
Race 5 - 2:18PM AEST
QTIS Three-Year-Old BENCHMARK 65 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Invincible Shield (7) could not have been more impressive in his first start for Tony Gollan after previously racing in Victoria.
The son of I Am Invincible resumed over this course and distance with Craig Williams making full use of the inside barrier to drive forward and lead before booting clear to easily win by 3.3 lengths.
This is a rise in class from Maiden company, but he looked to have a lot more in the locker so should handle it well.
‘Willo’ sticks and should again afford his mount every chance with an on speed run.
2 Units – Invincible Shield (7)
Race 6 - 2:53PM AEST
Class 1 Handicap (1650 METRES)
Jungle Prince (1) looks primed for a bold third-up performance after an eye-catching run last start.
The Tony and Maddy Sears-trained three-year-old gelding savaged the line over 1350m here to finish just under a length second.
The rise to a mile third-up looks ideal and the fact that Jimmy Orman is sticking with him adds confidence.
He should enjoy a beautiful run from the inside gate and I’d be surprised if he doesn’t run top two.
1 Unit – Jungle Prince (1)
Race 7 - 3:28PM AEST
Class 6 Handicap (1650 METRES)
Rogue Bear (2) resumes here on the back of two trials where he worked to the line nicely on both occasions.
The Kris Lees-trained former import races well fresh, boasting two wins and a third from five first-up races.
One of those wins came when resuming last preparation over 1400m at Taree in an Open Handicap.
Craig Williams is a key booking and should be able to settle in a prominent position.
1 Unit Each Way – Rogue Bear (2)
Race 8 - 4:03PM AEST
OPEN Handicap (1350 METRES)
Punch Lane (13) had a gear malfunction and then was slow away when resuming over 1200m here last start.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained son of So You Think did well considering to run on for a two length third.
He’ll strip fitter and has run well over this distance when second-up in the past including a win at his second start in Victoria.
He loves this distance having won three and placed in two others from six starts so with Craig Williams riding, I can see him fighting out the finish.
1 Unit – Punch Lane (13)
Race 9 - 4:34PM AEST
BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Blakmax (4) will appreciate dropping in class and coming back to midweek racing after working overtime from a car park draw over 1350m here last start.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding ran well first-up when second behind the flying Typhoon Taavi but hasn’t had luck since.
He will strip fitter and has won two and placed second once from four second-up races.
Ryan Maloney is back in the irons, which is a plus given how well he gets on with the horse.
1 Unit – Blakmax (4)