Doomben Preview – Saturday April 12 

While Day 2 of The Championships is the main event on the Australian racing calendar this Saturday, there’s nine races scheduled to be run and won at Doomben and you better believe I have a tip for each of them in my Doomben Preview. 

It seems to have been a regular occurrence in recent times to be mentioning the possibility of showers or rain in Brisbane and that’s again the case this weekend so the track will most likely be in the Soft range. 

While I’ve landed on several horses at good each way odds, my best bet looks the business in race 8.

I’ve put in the hard work so you don’t have to, and you can find my Doomben selections plus best bets below. 

Get Ready Lass (2) tried hard when having her first start in The Debut at the Gold Coast on Magic Millions Day where despite being caught wide in the run, she found the line quite well for 3.2 length fourth. 

The Chris Anderson-trained Better Than Ready filly was sent for a spell after that and returned recently at the Gold Coast where she gave them a galloping lesson in a 5.5 length win.  

She’ll strip fitter second-up and should enjoy the slight rise in distance. 

She’s drawn a touch sticky but Ronnie Stewart should be able to use her early speed to push forward and find a prominent position. 

1 Unit – Get Ready Lass (2) 

So You Are (11) is a lightly raced stayer who hasn’t run a bad race in five starts.  

The Stirling Osland-trained three-year-old son of So You Think found the line strongly from the back last start at Wyong over 2125m to finish a head third. 

He won back-to-back races prior to that at Toowoomba where he proved too strong for a 1.8 length win and at Scone where he produced a long run over this distance to win well. 

With just 52kg on his back, he may prove hard to hold out.  

1 Unit – So You Are (11)  

Carpaccio (12) should be at peak fitness now and ready to breakthrough following three strong races Queensland. 

The Barry Lockwood-trained son of Merchant Navy loomed as the winner first-up at the Gold Coast, but condition gave out late and he finished just under a length fourth.  

Two starts ago he fought bravely at Eagle Farm to finish a neck third before producing an excellent effort over this course and distance last start when running on powerfully from the back for a neck second. 

He drops in weight with the rise in class, but this isn’t really any harder than what he’s been facing. 

1 Unit – Carpaccio (12)   

Apuntar (1) improved noticeably second-up and I’m expecting further improvement here with the rise in distance. 

The Kevin Kemp-trained gelding settled handy over 1350m here last start before doing his best work through the line to finish second by a half-length. 

He’ll strip fitter third-up and finished second in heavy conditions the only previous time he raced over this course and distance. 

Cody Collis, who claims 2kg, can settle in a forward position which should be advantageous given there doesn’t look to be a great deal of speed. 

The Toowoomba galloper is one of the better bets in my Doomben preview. 

2 Units – Apuntar (1)    

Smart Legend (7) was very good in his first start for Peter Robl after previously racing with Les Bridge in Sydney. 

The son of So You Think wanted to overdo it early over this course and distance so Jag Guthmann-Chester let him role to the front and lead.  

It proved to be the right call as he was strong in the run home to win by neck. 

He was a month between runs so will have come on nicely and he maps to get a great run on speed. 

1 Unit Each Way – Smart Legend (7)      

Sicilian (16) ran super in her first race for Tony Gollan after previously racing with the Waterhouse & Bott stable in Sydney. 

The daughter of I Am Invincible was posted three-deep over 1000m at Eagle Farm but put up a fight when she was entitled to weaken to finish a length second. 

She’ll strip fitter second-up and given she’s placed twice at Listed level she’s well weighted in this field. 

Senior jockey Angela Jones replaces the apprentice and should give her every chance with a go forward approach. 

1 Unit – Sicilian (16)   

Autumngirl (8) is a lightly raced and beautifully bred filly that has an abundance of potential.  

The Kelly Schweida-trained daughter of The Autumn Sun kicked off last preparation with a strong maiden win at Ipswich where she looked a class above before suffering from heat stress and poor recovery at her next start. 

She was sent for a spell and returns here on the back of a nice piece of trial work where she found the line powerfully under her own steam.  

Cejay Graham should enjoy a nice run just off the speed and I’m happy to make her one of the better chances in my Doomben preview. 

2 Units – Autumngirl (8)  

Thankyou Henry (5) got too far back over 1110m here first-up before improving noticeably second-up.  

The Tony Georgieff-trained gelding was held up second-up in the straight but picked up strongly once clear to finish just under a length second. 

He takes on 1350m for the first time but given the way he powered to the line last start over 1200m here to finish just under a length second, I believe he’ll handle it well. 

Emily Lang takes the ride and with her claim he’ll carry 55kg which is the lightest weight he has carried for some time. 

I made him one of my better bets last start and I’m going back to the well and making him the best bet in my Doomben Preview. 

2 Units – Thankyou Henry (5)   

Set To Shine (12) offers good each way value in what is a tough way to end the day at Doomben. 

The Tony Gollan-trained mare gave a good sight over 1400m at Eagle Farm last start before being run down by stablemate Warby to finish a half-length second. 

That followed a strong Eagle Farm win when she let down powerfully to win narrowly. 

She’s at peak fitness and I she’ll enjoy returning to Doomben where she has won twice and placed once from three races over the distance. 

Emily Lang can give her a great run from an inside barrier and with just 52kg on her back, she may prove hard to catch. 

1 Unit Each Way – Set To Shine (12)