Doomben is back in the spotlight this Saturday with a strong 10-race card that offers plenty of angles for punters willing to get stuck into the form.
Fine weather is forecast, the track is rated a Good 4, and the rail sits in the true position, setting up what should be a fair and genuinely run meeting.
The program has a good mix of emerging talent and proven performers, with several races where speed, positioning and timing will be crucial around the tight circuit.
I’ve gone through the replays, mapped the races, and landed on my best bets for the Doomben meeting.
Let’s see if we can knock over a few winners.
ON THE CLOCK (3) will take great benefit from his debut race on Sunshine Coast Cup Day.
The Liam Birchley-trained gelding worked early over 1000m to sit outside the lead before tiring in the final 100m to finish 2.9 lengths fourth.
Blinkers going on for the first time is a positive and he’ll appreciate racing at Doomben.
Jag Guthmann-Chester will drive forward from the nice draw and give his mount every chance.
Selections: 3-1-8-2
| 3. On The Clock (3) 58.5kg4 |
DOMINANT DARCY (3) returned in super order two starts ago over this course and distance.
The Tony Gollan-trained mare led from the inside barrier and never gave her rivals a chance, dashing clear to win by 2.78 lengths.
She stepped up to 1350m last start and was run down late to finish 1.28 lengths second, so the drop back to 1200m looks ideal.
Emily Lang retains the ride and will look to lead, but if they push up on her inside, she can easily camp on the leaders’ backs.
Selections: 3-4-5-9
| 3. Dominant Darcy (2) 56.5kg2×12 |
PRINCE LEVI (8) has been building to a win and gets a great opportunity here.
The William Kropp-trained gelding has run into the red-hot Enterprise Private his past two races with his most recent effort seeing him find the line strongly over 2200m at the Sunshine Coast only to be nailed late to finish a neck second.
Two starts back he produced a solid effort to finish 2.2 lengths third over 2200m here.
He maps to get an economic run for Mark Du Plessis.
Selections: 8-2-3-1
| 8. Prince Levi (1) 56kg82632 |
Former Victorian TEN DEEP (4) moved to the Tony Gollan stable ahead of this preparation and could not have started the new relationship in better fashion.
The five-year-old mare started a well-backed favourite and enjoyed a nice run just behind the leaders before letting down nicely to win narrowly over 1200m here.
She’ll strip fitter and is a previous second-up winner over this distance at Sandown where she broke her maiden in a six-length romp.
Jasper Franklin, who claims 3kg, can settle on speed from the low draw which should make her hard to beat.
Selections: 4-1-5-2
| 4. Ten Deep (2) 61kg229×1 |
NEIL (5) returns to the races for the first time since winning a Highway Handicap in August.
The Matt Dunn-trained gelding races particularly well fresh having won first-up two preparations ago when breaking his maiden at Grafton as well as finishing a close second over 1000 at Eagle Farm when kicking off last preparation.
He looked good in a recent trial where he led all the way.
Gun apprentice Jett Newman claims 3kg and should be able to settle in a prominent position.
Selections: 5-8-4-9
| 5. Neil (3) 60kgx261x |
TOO MANY THOUGHTS (9) returned from a let-up in superb style last start with a win over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast to take his record to three wins from his past four starts.
The Mark Currie-trained gelding raced three-wide on speed but still had the strength to run down the leader and win by a head.
He’ll have come on nicely and loves this distance.
Fresh off his four-timer at last Saturday’s Eagle Farm meeting, 3kg claimer Jai Williams can either lead or settle handy from the low draw.
Selections: 9-17-5-3
| 9. Too Many Thoughts (3) 60.5kgx1311 |
FABULANTES (1) produced a real eye-catcher last start at the Sunshine Coast.
The Rob Heathcote-trained gelding settled at the tail from the wide draw before weaving a passage through the pack and unleashing a withering burst to finish a half-length second.
He takes on this distance for just the second time, but he is better equipped to handle the rise now and is at peak fitness.
The speed isn’t breakneck which should see Daniel Moor land in a prominent position.
This race is named in memory of a lovely lady, Sandi Bradford. She loved grey horses and the only one in the race is Silver Smash (11), so I wouldn’t be surprised if she salutes as Sandi had an uncanny knack of finding a winning grey horse.
Selections: 1-9-11-5
| 1. Fabulantes (4) 60kg51572 |
TALTARNI FIELDS (1) will find this a touch easier than last start when he competed in the Magic Millions Class 6 Plate where he put up a good fight for a three-length third despite working early from a wide barrier.
The Kelly Schweida-trained gelding is a model of consistency having finished outside the top three on just three occasions in 18 starts.
He’ll strip fitter third-up and is a previous winner over this course and distance.
He’s ideally drawn in barrier 1 which will allow 3kg claimer Corey Sutherland to settle on speed.
Selections: 1-16-20-2
| 1. Taltarni Fields (1) 61.5kg22×33 |
HELL (3) can bounce back from a heartbreaking defeat at the Sunshine Coast last start where he was run down in the final strides with a return to Doomben.
The Hellbent gelding produced his best run since joining the Tony Gollan stable two starts ago over 1200m at Eagle Farm where he zoomed around his rivals to lead comfortably before producing plenty to hold them at bay for a 1.54 length win.
The tighter Doomben circuit suits his racing style perfectly and he won his only previous start over this course and distance.
Jai Williams, who claims 3kg, can use his natural early speed to find the front with little resistance and being at peak fitness he should be able to keep going.
Selections: 3-2-4-7
| 3. Hell (2) 58kgx2712 |
BENGAL DIAMOND (14) will appreciate the rise to a mile for the first time.
The Adam Campton-trained mare got back and encountered traffic problems last start over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast but worked home powerfully once clear to finish 2.21 lengths sixth.
Ben Thompson is a positive returning to the saddle given he gave her a great ride two starts ago at Eagle Farm where she settled closer before proving too strong in the run home for a 1.06 length victory.
There doesn’t look to be that much speed in the race which should see Thompson settle midfield or better.
Selections: 14-2-3-5
| 14. Bengal Diamond (6) 54kg55816 |