Doomben Preview – Saturday 17th October

APOSTLE (1) looks close to another win after going agonisingly close in his past two starts.

The Pat Webster-trained gelding was on the quick back-up last start and put up a tremendous fight over 1500m at Eagle Farm, only to be caught on the line by Murkado.

Two starts ago in the Toowoomba Guineas, he settled towards the rear from an outside barrier before making a sweeping run on the turn and letting down powerfully. Ashkirk overhauled him late, and he finished a neck second.

In his first preparation, he won back-to-back races, including over 1300m at Eagle Farm when defeating the talented Martist.

Given how strongly he’s been finding the line, the rise to a mile looks ideal. With little speed expected, he should be able to settle prominently.

KENMARE BAY (2) heads north from Sydney and looks to have found a very winnable race.

The O’Shea and Charlton-trained gelding proved too strong over 2400m at Rosehill last start, letting down well to win by just under a length, with third another 3.24 lengths away.

His earlier form was also strong, with back-to-back placings that included a close third to Aethelwulf over 2000m at Rosehill. Aethelwulf has since finished runner-up in both the Newcastle Cup and The Metropolitan.

Kenmare Bay is rock-hard fit and gets a 1.5kg claim with Anna Roper aboard.

SHE MOVES TOO (15) caught the eye in a trial before recording the race’s quickest final 400m when resuming over 1350m here.

The Chris Waller-trained mare was unlucky not to finish closer last start, getting held up badly in the straight despite having plenty to offer. She finished fourth, beaten 1.38 lengths.

She’ll strip fitter, and the rise to a mile third-up looks ideal. She has also finished runner-up over the distance at black-type level.

The wide draw is likely to see her settle back, so Andrew Mallyon will want to keep in touch with the field before the straight. If he does, she’ll be charging home.

EASY LOVE (3) returned in magnificent order, winning over 1400m at Eagle Farm last start.

The David Vandyke-trained mare was a touch slow away and then held up in the straight, but she let down powerfully after switching to the inside and put her rivals away with ease.

She’ll strip fitter second-up, and the rise to a mile suits.

Bella Youngberry’s 2kg claim is a plus and she should help settle relatively handy, particularly with little speed expected.

CARDONETTE (9) placed in each of her first four starts before breaking through for her maiden win first-up at the Gold Coast.

The Tony Gollan-trained mare started a $1.35 favourite and never looked in doubt, rounding up the field on the turn before powering clear to win hands and heels by just over a length.

She impressed over this course and distance last start, settling back from a wide barrier before charging down the outside to win comfortably by just under two lengths.

The draw is a touch awkward again, but we’ll trust Ben Thompson to find a way through.

CUTEPI (4) rises in weight but will appreciate the drop in class after finishing three-quarters of a length second to the flying Lockyer over this course and distance last start.

While the Kris Lees-trained mare wouldn’t have won, she did have an impeded path in the straight so there was plenty of merit in the performance.

Two starts back she clocked the quickest final 200m of the meeting when winning by 2.47 lengths over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast.

She’s drawn to get a sweet run on speed for Daniel Moor.

SPIETHTACULAR (7) began this preparation with back-to-back seconds before breaking through over this course and distance last start.

The Tony Gollan-trained mare led into the straight and booted clear to win by just under a length.

She’s at peak fitness and has been highly consistent, finishing in the quinella in 11 of her 14 starts.

Angela Jones can use the inside barrier to lead or take the box seat. If she gets that position, Spiethtacular should be hard to hold out.

PROPAGANDA (12) has made a terrific start to his career, with four wins and two seconds from six starts.

The Troy Pascoe-trained gelding returned in fine fettle, opening this preparation with a strong win at Toowoomba before exploding over the final 100m at the Gold Coast last start to win by two lengths.

This is his toughest test to date, but he’s a stylish mover and gives every indication that he’ll be even better over six furlongs.

He maps to get a beautiful run for Anthony Allen from the low draw.

TEN DEEP (12) looked ready for a bold first-up showing after two slick trials, but a wide run got in the way.

The Tony Gollan-trained mare was caught three-deep throughout over 1200m at Eagle Farm and finished seventh, beaten 3.56 lengths.

She’ll take benefit from that outing and should appreciate the rise to 1350m, with three of her five career wins coming over the distance.

Unlike last start, she draws the inside barrier, which should allow Emily Lang to give her a great run on speed.

GOLDEN STRAAND (4) is an emergency for The Everest Consolation, officially known as the Group 2 Sydney Stakes, so he looks extremely well placed in this Brisbane Open Handicap.

The Matthew Smith-trained entire resumed over 1100m at Randwick last start, finding a split and surging to the line to win by a neck.

He’s since returned to the trials, where he finished a close third despite racing wide throughout and being under double wraps.

The son of Snitzel is undefeated second-up and can keep that record intact with even luck.