Our 2025 QTIS Jewel Prelude Day preview focuses on the two-year-olds that are set to shine at Doomben this Saturday as they look to book their place in the upcoming $500k QTIS Jewel in two weeks’ time.
Races three and four will see the juveniles step out against their own sex and with $250k up for grabs across the two events, we’re in for an exciting day of racing.
The rail will be out 4m for the entire circuit, the track is currently rated a soft 5 and we’ve run the rule over all ten events.
So, check out our expert QTIS Jewel Prelude Day preview, tips and Doomben best bets for Saturday below!
In the first of our QTIS Jewel Prelude Day preview and tips we have Deer Trail who just looked in need of the run when resuming off a lengthy break.
Having not raced since December 2023, the Tony Gollan trained gelding settled back and just held his ground over the final part.
Only lightly raced having had the eight starts, he’s produced some very handy performances and looks to have plenty of upside.
He has won over this track and trip previously and draws to get the right run.
1 unit – DEER TRAIL
Diablo Bolt is racing in terrific form and should find this easier than what he contested last start.
The Hellbent gelding returned off a break to make it back to back wins, before contesting the Gold Coast Lord Mayor’s Vase last time, where he settled back at the tail and powered home into second.
A winner of seven from seventeen, the four year old continues to rise through the grades and looks a strong stayer in the making.
Placed over 2200m previously, he’ll have no trouble with the rise in trip and the low draw can see him settle handily under Jag Guthmann-Chester.
1 unit – DIABLO BOLT
Penrod step out at the races for the first time.
Prepared by David Vandyke, the Better Than Ready youngster has just had the one public trial and could not have been more impressive.
Pressed forward off the wide gate, he showed good early speed and left them in his wake as he extended strongly in the straight under very little pressure.
Eased right down, he won the heat by five lengths from Love To Torque, who won well at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
Barrier eight could prove a touch tricky, but he looks very professional and gets Angela Jones in the saddle.
1 unit – PENROD
All Glass makes her debut, and she comes off an impressive Sunshine Coast trial win.
A daughter of All Too Hard, she was slowly away but picked up very nicely in the straight to cruise past the leader under a hold and win the heat by just under four lengths.
She looked to have plenty in hand and if she does everything right here, I think she’ll run a big race.
The inside draw is a big plus provided she can jump away on terms.
Jim Mason has hit the ground running since he returned to the training ranks and he’s sure to have this filly primed and ready to go.
1 unit – ALL GLASS
Shadow Power is racing well hasn’t had a lot go right for him at his past two outings.
Stepping up the mile here two runs back, the Dundeel gelding had to switch across heels to make his run and charged late to grab second.
Last start, he was taken back off the wide gate but they walked in front and he did well to charge home late into third.
He finds a similar race and the inside draw can see him within striking distance under Mark Du Plessis.
1 unit – SHADOW POWER
Mintaka Lad has been the runner up in two runs back this campaign and looks ready to fire.
He resumed with a solid effort at Eagle Farm, where he was slow away but finished off strongly to get within a head on the line and last start, he had no luck at all off the wide gate.
Always wide and exposed, he hit the front 150m out but was just collared in the shadows of the post.
The son of Deep Field presents at peak fitness and he’s got a great record over this track and trip.
Noel Callow jumps aboard and can afford him every chance from gate four.
1 unit – MINTAKA LAD
Astapor has returned to the stable of Clinton Taylor and will kick off his campaign here.
The son of Tassort showed plenty of talent in his first preparation, recording back-to-back wins before stepping out at stakes level.
Tranferred to Joe Pride during the winter, he just had the three runs where he finished fourth behind Gatsby’s in the Listed Rosebud before tackling the Group 3 McNeil Stakes.
He comes here off a good break and looked sharp winning a recent Rockhampton trial.
Already a winner over this course and distance and he draws to receive all the favours under Justin Stanley.
1 unit – ASTAPOR
Rockribbed returns to the races and he looks ready to go off a very nice trial win.
The Tony Gollan trained gelding boasts a terrific first up record and he loves it here at Doomben.
Now a seven year old, he was in red hot form last campaign and this looks an ideal race for him to kick off.
He does have a tricky draw, which is a concern, but he gets in nicely with the 2kg claim for Emily Lang and if she can get across find cover early, I think he’ll be hard to beat.
1 unit – ROCKRIBBED
Space Tracker strips fitter for the two runs back and looks ready to peak.
He didn’t have a lot go right when resuming at Eagle and was found to have pulled up with mild heat stress.
Out to 1350m at Doomben last start, he just wanted to race a touch keen but finished off strongly to get within a neck of the eventual winner.
The Irish bred gelding has a great record here at Doomben and he does race particularly well over this trip.
Jag Guthmann-Chester stays aboard for Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald and if he can slot in find cover early, he’ll be right there at the finish.
1 unit – SPACE TRACKER
Flying Trapeze is racing well and comes off a solid last start effort to finish the runner up over this track and trip.
The Gary Portelli trained gelding loves it here at Doomben, having recorded one win and three second placings from his four appearances.
He had no luck at all three runs back in the Listed Canterbury Sprint and turned out an honest performance in the Magic Millions Cup at his following start.
He’s hard fit and Cejay Graham knows how to get the best out of him.
1 unit – FLYING TRAPEZE