Doomben hosts nine races this Saturday with conditions lining up nicely across the board.
Fine weather leading in, a good track likely, and the rail 0.5m out should keep things fair.
It shapes as a meeting where race shape and execution matter more than anything else.
Let’s get into this Doomben card and try to get some bread.
SARRISMO (7) ventures north from Sydney on the back of an excellent first-up run.
The O’Shea & Charlton-trained gelding maintained his perfect fresh record by leading comfortably over 1400m at Warwick Farm before proving too strong in the run home for a 1.67 length win.
Aided by a super piece of work to win a trial in between races, he’ll come on nicely second-up.
While the wide draw is not ideal, he possesses the early speed for Ben Thompson to slide across and find a forward position.
Selections: 7-5-8-10
| 7. Sarrismo (7) 57kg223×1 |
ANEMACORE (3) will appreciate getting back onto a dry deck after finishing seventh in the Gold Jewel last start at the Gold Coast.
The Shaun Dwyer-trained gelding has won his past three races on good surfaces, including two starts ago when he charged home to win the Sunshine Coast Cup.
He was seven weeks between runs last start so will have come a lot since then and the rise to a mile looks suitable now that he gets conditions to suit.
The small field and a lack of speed should see Michael Rodd land in a nice spot.
Selections: 3-4-6-1
| 3. Anemacore (3) 59kg11317 |
DANXIA (2) has enjoyed the move from Ciaron Maher to the Colt Prosser stable.
The son of El Roca did well to hang on for the win in the heavy conditions last start Coffs Harbour.
He looked a lot more comfortable on the dry surface of the Beaumont track first-up when letting down powerfully with the big weight to salute by the barest margins.
He’ll strip fitter third-up and is drawn well for Corey Sutherland, who claims 3kg.
Selections: 2-13-7-11
| 2. Danxia (1) 60kg46×11 |
FIRST MISSION (6) was forced to work early when resuming at the Gold Coast last start, but to his credit he fought on well to finish a length second.
The former Sydneysider hasn’t run a bad race and has finished in the top three in each of his four races since joining Kelly Schweida’s stable last preparation.
He was stiff not to win second-up last campaign over this distance at Eagle Farm when finishing a neck second after finding it hard to get clear.
The jockey suggested he became lost in the straight last start, so blinkers go on for the first time.
Selections: 6-4-12-5
| 6. First Mission (6) 58kg123×2 |
PRINCE LEVI (3) is racing in a rich vein of form and looks well placed in this Open Handicap.
The William Kropp-trained gelding showed what a massive heart he has last start over 2050m at the Gold Coast when finishing strongly to win narrowly with 60kg.
Just three starts ago, he was given a peach of a ride by Mark Du Plessis to claim a 1.82 length win over this course and distance.
He’s only a small horse in stature, so the drop from 60kg to 54kg is a big plus as is the inside barrier which should see him enjoy an economical run.
Selections: 3-9-8-1
| 3. Prince Levi (1) 54kg32121 |
LOVEY DOVEY (9) has hit her straps this preparation and has thrived on racing.
The Chris Waller-trained mare caught the eye last start over 2050m at the Gold Coast when charging through the pack to miss nailing Prince Levi on the line by a nose.
Prior to that, she won back-to-back races over 2150m and 2190m at Ipswich before clocking the quickest final 600m and 200m splits of the race when coming from well back to finish just under a length second over 2200m at Eagle Farm two starts ago.
She’s rock hard fit and will appreciate the drop in class.
Selections: 9-14-8-1
| 9. Lovey Dovey (4) 59kg51122 |
TRUE AMOR (1) suffered slow recovery when having his first race for the Munce stable two starts ago, so he can be forgiven for a perceived disappointing effort.
He bounced back last start and showed what he was capable of when sitting handy over 1200m here before doing enough in the run home to hang on for a nose victory.
The I Am Invincible gelding has since been back to the trials which will have tuned him up nicely for the rise to 1350m, which is a distance he finished second by a whisker over in the Gold Coast Rising Stars last preparation.
Courtney Bellamy, who claims 3kg, can drive forward and settle in a prominent position.
Selections: 1-6-8-10
| 1. True Amor (7) 59kg12261 |
CASTILLIAN (1) didn’t do a lot in his first two runs back this preparation but improved out of sight last start at the Gold Coast.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding was given a positive ride by Angela Jones, and it proved to be winning tactics as he dashed clear to win the 1400m contest by 2.26 lengths.
He races well over this course and distance having only been out of the quinella once in five starts.
Jones will likely adopt similar tactics to last start and if she can control the race, he’ll be hard to run down.
Selections: 1-5-4-8
| 1. Castillian (5) 60kg3×861 |
DOMINANT DARCY (3) has been in red-hot form this preparation with four wins and second from her five starts.
The Tony Gollan-trained mare improves every time she steps on the track and that was apparent last start at the Gold Coast where she proved strong in a 1.69 length victory.
She’s won all three of her starts over this course and distance so will love returning to Doomben.
Emily Lang, who has a great association with the mare, is back in the saddle and should give her the run of the race from the low draw.
Selections: 3-10-8-15
| 3. Dominant Darcy (2) 59.5kg12111 |