Wednesday racing heads to Doomben for an eight-race program, with the track rated a Soft 5 and sunny weather forecast.
Given we are still in winter, it is hard to see the track conditions improving too much, so we should be working around that Soft 5 range throughout the afternoon. The rail is out 9.5m, which is always worth noting at Doomben, as that set-up has traditionally favoured on-pace runners.
With that in mind, the speed map and early positioning look important across the card. Horses with tactical speed should get every chance if they are good enough, and that will be a key part of the race analysis when assessing the main winning chances and betting opportunities.
Let’s try to find some winners.
URBAN PRINCESS (7) gets her chance to break through in what is not the most engaging race to start the day.
The Brent Gray-trained mare caught the eye two starts back over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast when making good ground through the ruck to finish 2.37 lengths third.
She gave a great account of herself last start when stepping up to 1700m at the Gold Coast, where she settled handy before pairing off with Coccinella. She was overpowered late but still finished 1.59 lengths second, with 3.46 lengths back to third.
She is rock-hard fit and gets the services of Michael Rodd.
| 7. Urban Princess (6) 56.5kg53832 |
RAGING RAIDER (8) should appreciate dropping back to this level after looming and just not having the finish to go with them late when finishing 3.19 lengths sixth in a Saturday race at Eagle Farm.
The Paul Butterworth-trained filly was very good the start prior over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast when charging late to miss the win by a head.
She will strip fitter third-up and gets last season’s top Brisbane jockey, Ben Thompson, in the saddle.
Experience and fitness should give her an advantage, and I would expect her to be reasonably handy in the run given there does not look to be a great deal of speed.
| 8. Raging Raider (5) 56kg34×36 |
MOSCOW MULE (1) was doing his best work late when finishing nearly five lengths away in third over 1300m at Eagle Farm on debut.
The Matt Dunn-trained gelding took strong improvement second-up and was stiff not to win over this course and distance. He was held up and shuffled back to last entering the straight before launching late to finish second by 1.43 lengths.
He should strip fitter again third-up and Ben Thompson sticks.
The barrier is a touch sticky, but he should settle close enough in the run to give this a shake.
| 1. Moscow Mule (7) 60kg32 |
WOUNDER (8) has won just once in 18 starts but should find this race a lot easier than what she has been contesting in Sydney.
The Chris Waller-trained mare ran well last start in a Benchmark 72 Handicap at Warwick Farm where, despite suffering a puncture wound to her foot, she fought gamely to finish 2.2 lengths fourth to subsequent Saturday metropolitan winner Satono Jasmine.
Prior to that, she had finished close-up fourths at Canterbury and Hawkesbury, with a length third at Canterbury in between.
She is deep into her preparation and gets in with just 54.5kg.
| 8. Wounder (6) 54.5kg44344 |
SARAH’S SONNET (8) has displayed good staying potential in her young career.
The Tony & Maddy Sears-trained mare opened this preparation with back-to-back placings, going down by just a nose second-up over 1800m at the Gold Coast.
She stepped up to 2233m last start and handled it with aplomb, easily putting her rivals away by 1.33 lengths with the jockey riding hands and heels.
In her only previous fourth-up run, she proved too strong over a similar distance at Lismore.
Mark Du Plessis taking the ride is a positive.
| 8. Sarah’s Sonnets (6) 54.5kg1×321 |
ZALIQUE (9) looks to have come back this preparation a more furnished horse.
The Matt Dunn-trained gelding looked super when winning two trials and took that form to the races when winning in dominant fashion at Grafton after sitting second in the run.
This is only his second campaign, so he has upside.
He has drawn well for Daniel Moor, which should see him stalking likely leader La Profecia.
| 9. Zalique (3) 57.5kg64×1 |
STEIN (11) was a touch unlucky last start when held up before finishing 4.74 lengths sixth over this course and distance in a Saturday three-year-old race won by the red-hot Grinzinger Champ.
The Chris & Corey Munce-trained mare looks better suited dropping back to this Class 1 Fillies and Mares Handicap.
Two starts back in a similar class to this, she caught the eye working home in the quickest final 400m and 200m splits of the race when finishing 1.25 lengths third over 1200m at Eagle Farm.
The blinkers come off for the first time, and she should race on speed.
| 11. Stein (6) 57.5kg3×636 |
FLAXLANDS (13) is racing in great form and looks well placed to go back-to-back.
The Chris Waller-trained mare was ridden further forward last start over this course and distance, and the tactic paid dividends as she won easily by 1.2 lengths.
That followed a 1.3 length third at Ipswich where she was beaten by the outside barrier but did rocket home in the fastest closing sectionals.
Given how well the tactics worked last start, Jake Bayliss will likely look to be positive again.
| 13. Flaxlands (7) 54.5kgx1431 |