Wednesday’s Doomben meeting presents an eight-race card where conditions should give us a solid guide to finding a few winners. With the rail out 9 metres the entire circuit, the pattern is likely to favour runners on speed or those able to settle close enough without covering extra ground.
Showers are forecast and the track, currently a Soft 5 on Tuesday, looks set to edge further into the heavy range. That should place added emphasis on horses that can handle some give while still maintaining their position in the run.
With that setup, runners that map forward and cope with soft conditions look the right profile, and if the expected pattern plays out, they’ll be the ones worth siding with across the program, hopefully steering us into a few Doomben winners along the way.
CRUSADER VOYAGE (4) looks well placed arriving in Queensland and having his first race for Jack Bruce.
Formerly with Chris Waller, the Camelot gelding has placed in six of 10 starts in New South Wales.
The wet track shouldn’t cause him any concern given he found the line strongly on debut to finish a head third on a heavy Canterbury track.
A recent trial will have tuned him up nicely for a first-up attack.
| 4. Crusader Voyage (4) 58kgx3249 |
KATIE AINE (7) returns to the races for the first time since suffering from slow recovery over 1650m here in February.
The Chris & Corey Munce-trained filly looked super in a recent Doomben 1000m trial win where she raced on speed before moving clear late to salute by 1.59 lengths.
She looks to have furnished in her time off.
She’s draw perfectly for Tahlia Fenlon in the inside barrier and the young hope should enjoy a nice run on speed.
| 7. Katie Aine (1) 56kg5636x |
SIESTA (2) resumes here for new trainer Tony Gollan after previously racing with the Price & Kent Jnr stable in Victoria.
The daughter of Invader races well fresh and won first-up last preparation over a similar distance at Geelong despite racing three-wide and greenly.
Two trials will have tuned her up nicely with the most recent producing a nice piece of work to win.
There doesn’t look to be a lot of speed which should see Ryan Maloney race on speed.
| 2. Siesta (4) 58.5kg1256x |
MOSHULU SPIRIT (7) was solid on debut in February but a spell following that run has done the gelding a world of good.
The Jack Bruce-trained son of Spirit Of Boom returned with an excellent performance last start at the Sunshine Coast where he settled handy before letting down powerfully to gap his rivals by 4.64 lengths.
The addition of a tongue tie and a soft track worked in his favour and that will be with him again.
Ben Thompson retains the ride and should be able to settle in a prominent position.
| 7. Moshulu Spirit (5) 58kg7×1 |
ALL KINDS OF FOLK (6) has been competing well in stronger races and will appreciate the drop in class.
The Todd Pollard-trained gelding gave a start last time out over a mile at Eagle Farm before working home well for a 2.04 length fourth.
He takes on this distance for the first time but is at peak fitness and given how he found the line then it shouldn’t pose a problem.
They should roll along which will aid his cause.
The low draw should see him get every chance to add another win to his CV.
| 6. All Kinds Of Folk (7) 58.5kg5×105 |
SAN GABRIEL (3) stormed home in the fastest final 200m of the day when finishing 1.05 lengths third over 1400m at Ipswich last start.
The Rob Heathcote-trained gelding will strip fitter and has won two from three when third-up.
One of those wins came last preparation when third-up over this course and distance in heavy conditions.
While he’s drawn wide, that may prove to be a positive late in the day.
| 3. San Gabriel (8) 58.5kg23×83 |
CINDERSEA (5) cost herself victory when resuming from a let-up last start at the Gold Coast thanks to poor racing manners.
The Michael Freedman-trained mare looked the winner when she strode to the front in the straight but wanted to lay in which required Rachel King to stop riding yet she still was only beaten by a neck.
Prior to that, she had won two races in a row at this track.
There looks to be good speed in the race which should see Jace McMurray, who claims 2kg, settle off it before making his move.
| 5. Cindersea (5) 57.5kg22112 |
NORTH POLE (5) returns from a 13-week break and looks well placed to pick up where he left off.
The Kelly Schweida-trained gelding was last seen controlling the race perfectly over 1600m at Eagle Farm to win an Open 3YO Handicap by a whisker.
He ended last preparation with three wins from four starts.
A recent trial will have tuned him up nicely and he loves the sting out of the ground.
| 5. North Pole (4) 59kg1411x |