Saturday’s Ladbrokes Doomben 10000 Day shapes as one of the standout meetings of Stradbroke Season, with a deep nine-race card and quality from top to bottom.
At the time of writing the track is rated a Soft 7, and with showers forecast throughout the week, conditions are set to play a key role across the program.
Six black-type races headline the meeting, including what looks like one of the strongest editions of the Ladbrokes Doomben 10000 assembled in recent years, bringing together an outstanding field of elite sprinters.
The supporting features are just as compelling, with the Spirit Of Boom Classic carrying extra significance following the recent passing of the outstanding sire whose name the race honours.
With strong fields, competitive betting races, and depth across all nine events, it’s a meeting that promises both quality racing and plenty of intrigue, so, let’s get into our Ladbrokes Doomben 10000 Day preview and try to find some winners.
MIDNIGHT DYNAMITE (2) returned in great order last start over 1200m at Randwick with a win.
The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding settled outside the lead before showing plenty of fight to get the bob in right on the line.
He’ll strip fitter, loves this distance and will appreciate the sting out of the ground given he won his only heavy track race and boasts a soft track record of three wins from five starts.
James McDonald takes the ride and will give him the run of the race from the inside barrier.
| 2. Midnight Dynamite (1) J: James McDonald 61kg 161×1T: Bjorn Baker |
GALANO (6) kicked off his campaign last start with a strong win over 1400m at the Gold Coast where he charged home despite being held up.
The Matt Dunn-trained gelding has an impressive second-up record, winning three of his four attempts. Notably, two preparations ago he scored a dominant 2.9-length victory over 1500m at Muswellbrook while carrying a hefty 63kg.
While his record over a mile doesn’t look great on paper, he did win his only previous start over this course and distance on heavy going which was part of his first preparation with Dunn.
He’s bred to swim and should settle midfield or better.
| 6. Galano (6) J: Ben Melham 60kg 615×1T: Matthew Dunn |
HIDDEN ACHIEVEMENT (2) drew an outside barrier when resuming in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas last start and it proved costly as he got too far back before finding the line well to finish 2.52 lengths fourth.
The Chris Waller-trained colt will enjoy a return to Queensland, given he finished 1.25 lengths second to Cool Archie in the Group 1 Ladbrokes JJ Atkins last Stradbroke Season.
He’ll strip fitter and is a previous second-up winner on a Soft 7 Gosford track.
Barrier 3 should see him enjoy a nice run for James McDonald.
| 2. Hidden Achievement (3) J: James McDonald 57kg x00x4T: Chris Waller |
DREAM ROCA (9) produced a strong effort first-up in the Listed Dalrello Stakes when chasing home the ultra-impressive The Next Episode to finish 4.09 lengths third.
While well beaten, the winner is the second favourite in the BRC Sires’ Produce, so is elite quality and that’s great form.
The Liam Birchley-trained gelding will strip fitter second-up and impressively won the Karaka Millions when having his second run back last preparation.
Ben Thompson can land in a handy position from the inside gate.
| 9. Dream Roca (1) J: Ben Thompson 55kg x11x3T: Liam Birchley |
WELWAL (2) could not have been more impressive in winning the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude last start.
The Price & Kent Jnr-trained gelding produced a dazzling turn of foot to salute by 1.5 lengths eased down.
He’s seven weeks between runs but races well on the fresh side and does his best work on rain-affected tracks.
There looks to be good speed in the race which should allow James McDonald to slide across and find some cover.
| 2. Welwal (9) J: James McDonald 60kg 6×341T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
LONHRO’S QUEEN (6) resumes here looking to continue her excellent first-up record that stands at three wins from four starts.
That includes her first run for the Munce stable last preparation where she finished off strongly to win over 1000m at Eagle Farm.
She races well on rain-affected tracks with her only heavy track race resulting in 2.42 length victory when first-up two preparations ago.
The likely strong speed will aid her cause with Tim Clark settling midfield before launching.
| 6. Lonhro’s Queen (8) J: Tim Clark 55kg 2410xT: Chris & Corey Munce |
NELLIE LAYLAX (8) returned from a let-up in fine style last start over 1835m at Eagle with a 1.13 length second.
The Annabel & Rob Archibald-trained gelding was forced to come wide on the home turn, and it proved to be the difference with the winner saving ground, but he let down strongly in the heavy conditions.
He thrives in the wet and will appreciate the rise in distance as was the case last preparation when he easily accounted for his rivals in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup at Randwick on a Heavy 10 deck.
The inside barrier should see him enjoy an economic run for Ben Thompson.
| 8. Nellie Leylax (1) J: Ben Thompson 54.5kg 70492T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
PAYLINE (10) produced an outstanding performance in last year’s Ladbrokes Doomben 10000 when storming home in the heavy conditions to finish a half-length third.
The Chris & Corey Munce-trained gelding is racing in better form this year than he was heading into last year’s edition.
He returned with a strong effort to finish a close third in the Listed Ascot Handicap before handling the heavy conditions well last start to finish 1.71 lengths second in the Group 2 Victory Stakes.
The stunning chestnut is a much better horse at Doomben and loves getting his toe in the ground.
While a wide draw would normally not be ideal, the inside going could be chopped up by this stage of the day and he’s also been jumping well lately which should see Kyle Wilson-Taylor slide across and find a spot in the two or three running line.
| 10. Payline (12) J: Kyle Wilson-Taylor 58.5kg 32×32T: Chris & Corey Munce |
ACCIDENTAL BID (8) has started his Australian career with Ciaron Maher in perfect fashion.
The import kicked off this preparation with a maiden win at Pakenham over a mile.
He stepped up to this distance last start, a month between runs as he is here, and absolutely brained his rivals in a 7.75 length demolition.
This is harder again, but he looks to have a touch of class, and it must be noted that last start was on a Heavy 8 track.
With a touch of luck from the wide draw, he should prove hard to beat.
| 8. Accidental Bid (14) J: John Allen 57kg 20×11T: Ciaron Maher |