There is no Black Caviar vs Hay List battle, but the 2012 edition of the $400,000 Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben should still be a memorable race given it appears as if the locals have a great chance of snaring a major, with the likes of Buffering, Facile Tigre and Woorim representing the ‘Sunshine State’.
The support card is very good, with three other blacktype events, with each of them being significant in their own right as it will be a good guide for the better races later on in the Carnival.
The $125,000 Group Three Rough Habit Plate (2000m) has always been a good guide to the Grand Prix and then the Derby. The kiwis should always be respected and they look very hard to beat here with Malandrino, Nashville, Urunga and Poste Restante representing the land of the long white cloud.
The $115,000 Group Three Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) is seen as a last resort for horses to squeeze into the Doomben Cup field and it also tunes them up for the O’Shea Stakes and then the Brisbane Cup. The grand old New Zealand stayer Six O’Clock News, fresh from an Auckland Cup placing, looks one of the main players, as well as Streets Away from the Alan Bailey yard.
The $100,000 Listed Hampden Stakes (1200m) for the juveniles promises to be one of the highlight races of the afternoon given we see boom youngster Better Than Ready step out after his outstanding debut win, which promped racecaller Alan Thomas to say it was the most impressive debut win from a two-year-old in Queensland since Falvelon.
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Race One: Channel Seven Handicap (90) 1600m Form Guide
Back Me: Going for Ausworld. His form this preparation has been very good but hasn’t put a win together yet. His run at Ipswich last start behind Telesto Warrior was solid given he was a fair way back and was forced out near the car park on the home turn. Hard to beat for me now he is back on top of the ground.
Don’t Back Me: Angel Of Mercy is the clear class runner, but it isn’t easy for a three-year-old filly to beat the older horses, especially when she is carrying topweight.
Big Danger: Winning form is good form and Telesto Warrior has that and with the claim for in-form apprentice Brooke Richardson, he looks very well weighted and deserves a crack at this sort of race.
Roughie: Former Victorian Karoo has had three starts in Queensland and has looked good in each run. He probably prefers the wet surface, but Brian Smith is an astute trainer and he has fresh legs.
$250 Ausworld Free Bet
Race Two: Westfield Chermside Handicap (C6) 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: Looking for value and have found Symbiotic. Forget he went around last start at Eagle Farm where he was caught very wide and didn’t appear to handle the conditions. Drawn much better here, was scratched from an easier race at the Gold Coast on Thursday for this so there must be some confidence in the stable.
Don’t Back Me: Altai Warrior is in fine form of late, but barrier 11 makes it rather tough for this gelding. Could be risky.
Big Danger: Excellantes and Demanding Miss both ran cracking races first up in their respective races, the Bribie Handicap and a strong Benchmark 90 race last Saturday. Both have class and should both be respected.
Roughie: Coup Rayvan is rising significantly in grade, but Jimmy Cassidy takes the ride and he’ll have this horse on the pace and if he can get a cheap furlong or two, he can certainly win.
$250 Symbiotic Free Bet
Race Three: Oaks Hotel Hampden Stakes 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: I expect Better Than Ready to win given he just oozed class on debut, but I anticipate he’ll be very short.
Don’t Back Me: Saturn Rock is a nice Kiwi filly, but this race appears to be a bit too rich because there are several high class gallopers here.
Big Danger: Hoss Amor created a big impression when winning the Magic Millions at Wyong on debut before running a gallant seventh in the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast. He has had two trials to prepare for this and no words can describe how good the rider James McDonald is. Choice Bro is the proven performer in this field. He might be looking for 1400m and beyond, but class will carry him a long way.
Roughie: Dansal is another one that is looking for further, but his run last week at the Gold Coast was very good because he was held up for most of the straight. Knockout chance.
$250 Better Than Ready Free Bet
Race Four: Sirromet Wines Doomben Dash 1010m Form Guide
Back Me: Nuptse is on top for me. Speed galore in this race, which will suit this horse given he will sit just off this and storm home late. Unbeaten at this track/distance and goes very well first up.
Don’t Back Me: Seek And Find is the class factor, but he could be disadvantaged from the inside barrier and the weight. Also, his record when produced fresh isn’t great.
Big Danger: Miss Barwang is an underrated mare who looks very well placed here. She should get the perfect run from the inside barrier and one thing she does do is attack the line. She’ll be able to that and thensome here.
Roughie: Big query is Shafeeq. Formerly with Mick Tremble but now with Desleigh Forster. He is versatile in the sense that he can sit forward or take a sit. Sneaky exotic prospect.
$250 Nuptse Free Bet
Race Five: Boq Albany Creek Chairman’s Handicap 2000m Form Guide
Back Me: Apart from a few horses, this is such a disgraceful race. Just look for class and you’ll come up with Six O’Clock News. His run in the Auckland Cup was superb and the form has been franked with Shez Sinsational winning two races from as many starts since her win in that event. He probably is looking for further, but there isn’t much here.
Don’t Back Me: Ironstein has done very little in three runs this time, including a lacklustre effort last week in the Hollindale. He needs to improve big time if he is to feature.
Big Danger: Streets Away was a blackbooker last Saturday thanks to his eye-catching performance behind Shamardashing. I like the fact he is on the quick back-up. Looks to be a big danger.
Roughie: Count Encosta made up some ground in the Tatt’s Mile behind Ginga Dude when second up three weeks ago. He’ll lap up the 2000m here and an in-form hoop is on board. And the stable is ticking along nicely too.
$250 Six O’Clock News Free Bet
Race Six: Mittys Rough Habit Plate 2000m Form Guide
Back Me: The best of the locals in this race is Trump and I’ve been following him for a while. He was outstanding when coming from well back to win the Gunsynd Classic. 2000m, yes. Firm track, yes and the trainer/jockey combination, yes.
Don’t Back Me: Nashville is probably the weakest of the Kiwi horses engaged here. Untried beyond 1600m and the form isn’t strong. However, the plus in his favour is the rider Kelly Myers. She is in a purple patch of form.
Big Danger: Isopach hasn’t had a great deal of luck this campaign. He sat last in the Frank Packer where the pace was very slow and he did remarkably well to finish as close as he did. Malandrino was brilliant in winning at Awapuni seven weeks ago. He races well fresh and looks the up-and-comer out of this lot.
Roughie: Poste Restante is the lone filly engaged here. However, she should not be underestimated. She ran an excellent fourth in the NZ Oaks behind Miss Artistic before finishing second to Malandrino in that Awapuni race. She has the weight pull and should get the run of the race.
$250 Trump Free Bet
Race Seven: Bunderberg Distilling BTC Cup 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: Varenna Miss at $14? I think the bookies obviously didn’t see her run in the T J Smith because if that race was another 50m long, she just about wins. She has a super record in Brisbane, gun barrier, Jim Byrne is unbeaten on her and the sting out of the ground is perfect. She should be single figures.
Don’t Back Me: Sea Siren is a lovely filly, but $7 is a bit short for a three-year-old filly against a crack field.
Big Danger: Buffering deserves a Group One win and he won’t get a better chance than here. However, barrier 14 is a concern. But Nash should take care of that.
Roughie: Scenic Blast doesn’t deserve to be $41. He has class and was solid enough behind Buffering last start. Beaded should always be respected, even though her recent form isn’t great. Woorim worked brilliantly this week and we know how good he is when right. And I wouldn’t rule out Facile Tigre.
$250 Varenna Miss Free Bet
Race Eight:Easy Pools Plate (C6) 1350m Form Guide
Back Me: Got it down to three runners: Solzhenitsyn, Oak Street and Mossriver. Leaning towards Mossriver given she ran a super race in the Silk Stocking last Saturday behind Mascareri. Plus a return to a dry track helps her big time.
Don’t Back Me: Moneysaver finished third behind Buffering and Scenic Blast in the Victory Stakes. However, she does race best on wet tracks so I tend to think she may struggle.
Big Danger: Solzhenitsyn and Oak Street look the two main dangers. Solzhentisyn might be looking for further but the pace should be on for him while Oak Street has finally drawn a decent barrier.
Roughie: Gunner Knox is somewhat of a bookies horse, but he should again get the run of the race. Can he win? Don’t think so with the weight, but a definite place/first four contender.
$250 Mossriver Free Bet
