Doomben hosts a throwback-style Saturday this weekend, with a neat eight-race program that harks back to a simpler time on the calendar.
Under fine skies and with the rail pushed out 2.5 metres, conditions look ideal for a fair surface where position and timing should prove crucial.
It shapes like a day where tempo and track pattern will be worth monitoring early, but on paper punters can expect genuine racing and every chance for the best horses to rise to the top.
Here are the horses I’m backing at Doomben to get the job done, with zero Harley Jarvis energy involved.
HELL OR HEAVEN (3) is a Hellbent gelding facing the race day starter for the first time.
The Kelly Schweida-trained gelding had one trial in November but was given time to mature, and that looks to have benefited him based on his two trials this time in work.
After cruising around for second in his first trial here over 840m, he was given a solid hit out over 1000m at the Gold Coast where he moved stylishly to win.
The third horse in that trial was beaten by 4.5 lengths and subsequently saluted at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
He’ll enjoy a nice run for Cejay Graham from the inside gate.
Selections: 3-1-2-14
| 3. Hell Or Heaven (1) 57kg |
ECLAIR AWESOME (4) is a racing in fine form and looks a major player.
The Jack Bruce-trained mare was unlucky not to win last start over a mile at Eagle Farm where she was held up for the best part of the straight, only getting clear with a 100m to go at which point she stormed home to finish just over a half-length second.
She’ll appreciate returning to Doomben where she proved too strong over this distance two starts ago.
They’ll need to run slick final sectionals to hold her out with just 54kg and a fitness edge.
Selections: 4-1-2-6
| 4. Eclair Awesome (5) 54kg46312 |
PHENOM (13) returned in super order last start over 1350m here.
Now in the care of Todd Pollard, the Zoustar mare settled near the tail thanks to an awkward jump before rocketing down the outside to finish just under a length second.
She’ll have come on nicely since that run and has won two of three second-up races.
This is a drop in class and she gets in well under the set weight conditions of the race.
She maps to get a sweet run for Damien Thornton.
Selections: 13-7-8-11
| 13. Phenom (1) 58kg866×2 |
FALCON LAIR (2) ventures north from Sydney in excellent form.
The Annabel & Rob Archibald-trained gelding finished in the placings in three consecutive races to start this preparation before stepping up to this distance at Hawkesbury last start.
He loved the extra journey, letting down powerfully to win comfortably by 1.38 lengths.
Ryan Maloney is a significant booking in relation to his chances, and he maps to get an economic run from an inside draw.
Selections: 2-4-1-8
| 2. Falcon Lair (2) 58kgx3321 |
ICARIAN DREAM (1) possesses a class edge over her rivals and if she runs up to her best, she should be awfully hard to beat.
The Ciaron Maher-trained filly had no luck in a stronger race at Warwick Farm last start when caught wide throughout, yet she still only weakened late to finish 1.71 lengths behind the winner.
She’ll appreciate returning to Brisbane given she won the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes at Eagle Farm as a two-year-old.
Barrier 2 could pose issues given she’ll seeing she’ll get back in the run, but there looks good speed in the race so if Ryan Maloney can get her off the fence entering the straight then she should take some stopping.
Selections: 1-3-2-8
| 1. Icarian Dream (2) 60kg43376 |
LUNAITE (16) has raced well in her two races this preparation but is due for a change of luck.
The Paul Snowden-trained mare suffered from heat stress when resuming at Port Macquarie before fighting gamely in a Country Championships Wild Card race at Scone where she finished 1.64 lengths fourth despite racing wide throughout.
She won her only previous third-up race and while she’d appreciate some cut in the ground, she has won at Rosehill on a good surface.
Kyle Wilson-Taylor can settle in a prominent position from the good draw.
Selections: 16-8-6-9
| 16. Lunaite (4) 55kg14×54 |
WITHOUT PARALLEL (16) returns to the races for the first time since finishing tenth in The Kosciuszko.
The Matt Dunn-trained mare flies fresh, having won two from two first-up, including last preparation when saluting over 1200m at Eagle Farm.
She looks ready to produce a bold showing following two trial wins.
With just 52kg on her back thanks to Jett Newman’s 3kg claim, she should prove hard to run down.
Selections: 16-3-2-12
| 16. Without Parallel (6) 55kg1150x |
MARGOT’S DEEL (15) returned in great order last start in Military Rose Plate at the Gold Coast.
The Jason Edwards-trained mare settled back over 1200m before launching down the centre of the straight to finish just over a half-length second.
She’ll strip fitter and loves racing at Doomben having won over this distance second-up last preparation.
The wide barrier isn’t ideal, but she’ll settle back anyway, and there should be enough speed in the race to allow her to sprint home with just 52kg on her back.
Selections: 15-2-1-9
| 15. Margot’s Deel (14) 52kg211×2 |