No, it’s not an April Fool’s joke; there really are 10 metropolitan races scheduled to be run and won at Doomben on Tuesday following Saturday’s postponement and you better believe we have a Doomben Preview for you.
You won’t need the snorkels and flippers this time, but some wet track form could be necessary with the track still rated a Heavy 8 on Monday morning.
Fortunately, the fields remain the same, and we’ve offered a tip ahead of every race in our preview below.
Race 1 - 11:43AM AEDT
Class 1 Plate (1200 METRES)
Boom Boom Ray (1), who resumes here and is having his first start for Barry Lockwood, is my best value bet and could kick off my Doomben Preview in amazing fashion.
The son of Zoustar brings solid Victorian form including an impressive first-up win on heavy going at Bendigo last preparation where he let down powerfully to win by 1.5 lengths.
He looked good in a recent trial where he worked strongly through the line.
Courtney Bellamy, who claims 3kg, can stalk what looks a decent speed.
1 Unit Each Way – Boom Boom Ray (1)
Race 2 - 12:17PM AEDT
QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (2000 METRES)
Prince Levi (1) can be forgiven for disappointing last start over a mile at Eagle Farm when not suited by the slowly run race and clearly didn’t enjoy the firmer surface.
The William Kropp-trained gelding had been flying before that with a dominant first-up win at Gatton before coming to town second-up where he powered to the line from well back to finish a half-length second.
Two starts ago the son of Casino Prince charged home in the fastest final 600m and 200m splits of the race to impressively win over 1650m at Doomben.
While he hasn’t raced on a rain-affected track, he looks the best horse in the race and that should take him a long way.
1 Unit – Prince Levi (1)
Race 3 - 12:52PM AEDT
Fillies and Mares BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (1350 METRES)
Adiella (2) looks to have found the right race and conditions to deliver us the chocolates as my Doomben best bet.
The John Dann-trained mare was unlucky not to win last start over 1200m at the Gold Coast when held up before charging to the line to finish a nose second.
She loves a wet track which she proved first-up this preparation at Ipswich where she powered home in the heavy 10 conditions to win by 1.5 lengths.
She’s rock hard fit and gets a valuable 3kg off for in form apprentice Cobi Vitler.
2 Units – Adiella (2)
Race 4 - 1:27PM AEDT
Colts, Geldings and Entires BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (1350 METRES)
Voracious (10) was taken to Toowoomba for his first Queensland race two starts ago and duly saluted in easy fashion.
The Tony Gollan-trained son of Maurice was a dominant winner over 1400m at Eagle Farm last start when leading comfortably before dashing clear to put 3.1 lengths on his rivals.
It was an impressive run given he did it at both ends, clocking the fastest final 400m and 200m splits of the race.
He’ll strip fitter third-up and while he hasn’t raced on a heavy track, last start was a deteriorating Soft 7.
Angela Jones remains in the saddle and can drive forward and either lead or box seat from the low draw.
1 Unit – Voracious (10)
Race 5 - 2:02PM AEDT
BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (1600 METRES)
Rhuvaal (15) is up in class but has been racing in excellent form and should be able to handle the rise.
The John Dann-trained gelding impressed two starts ago when letting down strongly to win his maiden over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast.
He went back-to-back last start when charging home from near the tail after drawing a wide barrier to win over 1400m at Eagle Farm.
Both wins came on rain-affected tracks and being by Rothesay and a Commands mare, he should enjoy a heavy track.
He will carry just 54kg following Courtney Bellamy’s claim.
1 Unit – Rhuvaal (15)
Race 6 - 2:37PM AEDT
No Metro Wins Handicap (1200 METRES)
Thankyou Henry (5) got too far back over 1110m here first-up before improving noticeably second-up over this course and distance.
The Tony Georgieff-trained gelding was held up in the straight but picked up strongly once clear to finish just under a length second.
He’ll strip fitter third-up and did win his third start on a heavy track at Ipswich in his first preparation.
Ryan Maloney can settle in a prominent position before letting his mount power home.
2 Units – Thankyou Henry (5)
Race 7 - 3:12PM AEDT
BENCHMARK 78 Handicap (2000 METRES)
A classic Brisbane 2000m race where we have to guess which of the usual suspects is going to stand up this week.
I’m putting my trust in Naval Seal (10) to be that horse after he found the line well last start over 1820m at Eagle Farm to finish a head second.
He was a month between runs so will strip fitter.
I like that Ryan Maloney takes the ride as the Chris Waller-trained gelding seems to perform at his best with a senior jockey on.
1 Unit – Naval Seal (10)
Race 8 - 3:47PM AEDT
BENCHMARK 85 Handicap (1600 METRES)
Victory Win (10) was forced to go back after being caught wide early last start at Eagle Farm but to his credit, he found the line powerfully from a long way back to finish 3.1 lengths sixth.
The Neasham & Archibald-trained gelding will have taken great benefit from the run and always improves second-up as shown by his record of two wins from three races.
He’ll appreciate the rise in distance given his excellent record over this course and distance which includes back-to-back wins to end last preparation.
With Ryan Maloney in the saddle, he looks set for a very good showing.
1 Unit – Victory Win (10)
Race 9 - 4:22PM AEDT
QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1350 METRES)
Goodlucktome (1) has been racing in great form this preparation with two wins and a placing from four starts.
The Ciaron Maher-trained son of Written Tycoon proved a class above when venturing north from Sydney last start when easily winning by 1.5 lengths over 1400m at Eagle Farm.
Just two starts back he finished 2.5 lengths behind Linebacker in the G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes.
He has plenty of weight to contend with but maps to get a great run stalking the speed.
1 Unit – Goodlucktome (1)
Race 10 - 5:01PM AEDT
OPEN Handicap (1350 METRES)
This is a tricky way to end the day and readers of my Doomben Preview will probably think I have rocks in my head for supporting Nikau Spur (1).
I hear you saying, “You’re mad Shep, he’s a stayer resuming over a shorter trip”.
That’s absolutely correct but the Corey & Kylie Geran-trained son of Proisir has fired fresh in the past.
Two preparations ago he stormed home to finish 1.1 lengths third over 1200m here and last preparation he did a similar thing when resuming at the Sunshine Coast over 1350m for a 2.3 length fourth.
He’s shown an ability to handle heavy tracks as he did in the Toowoomba Cup last preparation when finishing a head second.
At the massive price and given how honest he is, I’m happy to support him on an each way basis.
1 Unit Each Way – Nikau Spur (1)