Spring’s knocking and Doomben’s ready to answer with a cracking nine-race card this Saturday.
The rail’s out 2.5m and we should be racing on a Soft 5 possibly Good 4, so expect fair conditions and a few classic Doomben form reversals to spice things up.
There’s plenty of depth across the day, but all eyes will be on Race 4 where the boom three-year-old Sunrays makes her long-awaited return.
Let’s break it down and find the plays race by race, runner by runner, I’ll sift through the form, spot the setups, and highlight the horses ready to peak. Well, give it my best shot anyway!
NORTHERN DECREE (7) looks close to a win after finishing runner-up in his past two starts.
The Rob Heathcote-trained gelding will appreciate the drop in class after giving a massive sight over this distance at Eagle Farm last start, only to be run down late to finish a half-length second.
He’s a previous winner over the course and distance when deep into a preparation as he is here.
Ben Thompson takes the ride, and I’d imagine will settle in a prominent position given there’s few go forward horses.
| 5. Northern Decree (7) 57.5kg38722 |
SOUL OF SPAIN (6) returned in great order last start over 1680m at Ipswich.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding dropped back early, cruising in the rear half of the pack before unleashing a powerful finishing burst to claim victory by half a length, a margin that belied the authority with which he dominated the closing stages.
He’ll strip fitter second-up and will appreciate the rise in distance as the import showed last preparation when producing a strong effort to win over 2200m at Warwick Farm.
While he rises in class, he looks to have plenty of upside and will carry just 52.5kg with top jockey Ben Thompson riding.
| 6. Soul Of Spain (3) 52.5kg731×1 |
SO YOU ARE (4) should be at at peak fitness now after a strong effort to finish two lengths third over 1900m at Rosehill last start.
The second placed horse in that race, Travolta, has since won to frank the form.
The Stirling Osland-trained gelding was doing his best work late suggesting that the rise to 2200m looks ideal now.
Last preparation he fought gamely over this course and distance only to be beaten by a whisker.
He looks well placed in this field and maps to get a great run.
| 4. So You Are (3) 55.5kg2×823 |
SUNRAYS (1) took all before her last preparation and was arguably Queensland’s second best two-year-old behind Cool Archie.
The Kelly Schweida-trained filly resumes here looking to continue her impressive record that reads five wins and a second from six starts.
Her sole defeat came first-up on a heavy track, but she’s unbeaten in four runs at Doomben, which more than offsets that concern.
She’s awkwardly drawn but is clearly the class runner in the field and gets 1.5kg off for Emily Lang’s claim.
| 1. Sunrays (7) 60kgx211x |
EXCEED SPEED (2) has been building nicely through this preparation and is now at peak fitness.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding gave too much start away two races ago before working home strongly to finish 1.11 lengths second over 1350m here.
Last start he proved too strong over 1400m at Eagle Farm where he let down strongly to comfortably win and suggest that a rise in distance would suit.
This is his first start over a mile, but he gets the services of Ben Thompson and importantly a good barrier.
| 2. Exceed Speed (4) 60.5kg8×421 |
SHELSTEIN (10) was ultra-impressive when having his first start in Queensland two starts ago.
The Annabel & Rob Archibald-trained gelding kicked off his campaign at Ipswich over 1200m where he let down powerfully to put them away with contempt for a 4.5 length win.
Unfortunately, a wide barrier saw him settle a long way back last start at Eagle Farm and he was forced to make a wide, long run which saw him weaken late to finish 2.15 lengths fourth.
He’ll strip fitter third-up and draws to get a much better run.
| 10. Shelstein (5) 58.5kg23×14 |
BUNKER HUT (4) finds himself in a very winnable race thanks to his superior Sydney form.
The Michael Freedman-trained gelding was last seen putting up a terrific fight in the heavy conditions at Rosehill when finishing a half-length third.
He looks set to peak here third-up and gets in with just 56.5kg thanks to Jace McMurray’s 3kg claim.
From the inside barrier, McMurray can give him the run of the race and I’m happy to mark him as my best bet on the card.
| 4. Bunker Hut (1) 59.5kg12×43 |
VIMINELE (2) caught the eye when resuming as a gelding over 1200m at Eagle Farm last start.
The Lindsay Gough-trained son of Spill the Beans settled a long way back but stormed home as if he was shot out of a cannon to finish 1.12 lengths second.
He’ll strip fitter second-up and will appreciate the rise in trip given he’s won two of five starts over this course and distance.
Emily Lang, who claims 1.5kg, is riding in great form and just needs to get him clear air in the straight as he’ll be hard to hold out.
| 2. Viminele (2) 60kg659×2 |
GOSPEL GIRL (10) has come back this preparation in fine style and is looking for her third win in a row.
The Tony Gollan-trained mare controlled the race beautifully in front two starts ago to easily win by a length over 1200m at Eagle Farm.
She did it the hard way last start when despite racing three-wide the trip, she proved too strong to win again at Eagle Farm by just under a length.
She’s drawn a touch sticky but with an ounce of luck she’ll be fighting out the finish.
| 10. Gospel Girl (6) 58.5kgx2311 |