The Doomben part of the Winter Carnival wraps up on Saturday with Carlton Mid Doomben 10,000 Raceday. The $650,000 feature race has attracted a star studded field, with the BTC Cup winner Sea Siren and the tough-as-nails Buffering slogging it out for favourtism with boom colt Pampelonne, a most impressive winner of the Inglis Guineas at Scone last Saturday, the next best in betting.

The support card is strong without being spectaculor. Oaks and Derby aspirants will have their final tune up run in the $150,000 Group Three Mullins Lawyers Grand Prix Stakes (2200m). Brambles appears to be the one to beat.

Horses heading towards the Brisbane Cup will continue their preparation towards that race when they contest the $125,000 Group Three Channel Seven Premier’s Cup (2200m). That promises to be one of the highlights of the afternoon.

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Race One: Oztronics Handicap (C6) 1630m Form Guide
Back Me: Another terrible race to kick off the day. The one that has upside in this race is the second emergency Angusroy. He has had his six runs this preparation spaced, which indicates that he doesn’t quite handle hard racing. It has been 24 days since he toyed with his rivals at Eagle Farm when scoring a five length all-the-way victory. Stepping up in grade, but he isn’t up against much.
Don’t Back Me: They Won’t Last caught the eye when resuming at the Gold Coast but his second up record isn’t flash and the inside barrier could be a disadvantage given his racing pattern is to sit back.
Big Danger: Lovingthelimelight is a kiwi raider who is in winning form after sitting wide throughout and fighting on well to win over 1600m at Te Rapa. Wide barrier here but we know she can handle a tough run and come out on top.
Roughie: Absent Friends got home well from well back Solzhenitsyn a fortnight ago. That form has held up with that horse winning the Lord Mayor’s Cup last Saturday against a hot field. 1600m is a little risk for Absent Friends but there was enough evidence last start to suggest he’ll handle it.

$250 Angusroy Free Bet

Race Two: Ambassador Travel Handicap 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: Longshoreman appears to be a good horse with a bright future. Unbeaten in three career starts, he came from well back last start at Ipswich to win with authority. Deserves a crack at this grade and he appears more than capable of handling it.
Don’t Back Me: Viking Heart has the class factor, but he usually tends to need the run under his belt when produced fresh. Not for me here.
Big Danger: Stradon was last start forced back from a wide gate, which is against his racing style yet he got home better than anything when beaten just over two lengths by Saraji. Tricky barrier here will force him back again but the 1200m looks perfect.
Roughie: Retsina was very disappointing at the Sunshine Coast when she was a $1.10 favourite. But, she was held up and the 1000m was too short for her. Knockout hope.

$250 Longshoreman Free Bet

Race Three: Sita Australia The Phoenix 1350m Form Guide
Back Me: Hoss Amor looks the good thing of the afternoon. Was heavily backed when resuming and after getting a rather comfortable lead she couldn’t hold off the finishing burst of Noogoora Burr. She is better ridden with cover, so she will get the run of the race here and just win I think.
Don’t Back Me: Regular won the $150,000 two-year-old race at Ipswich last start in impressive fashion, but the wide barrier seals his fate against a couple of above average types.
Big Danger: Choice Bro had little luck behind Noogoora Burr. He sat behind Hoss Amor and couldn’t get any clear running and therefore no momentum, which is vital at Doomben. From gate four, he should be off the fence and show his class.
Roughie: Saturn Rock settled well back in the same race mentioned above before rattling late for third. The extra distance looks perfect and Munce sticks with her. These three should run the trifecta.

$250 Hoss Amor Free Bet

Race Four: Ticketek Plate (C6) 1350m Form Guide
Back Me: Going for Emvoss. He probably wasn’t given the best ride when resuming at the Gold Coast where he was crunched from $4 into $2.30 in betting. He got a long way and was forced near the carpark on the home turn before charging home for fifth. One of the worlds best in James McDonald takes over, unbeaten second up, and races well at this distance. Hard to beat for me.
Don’t Back Me: Gunner Knox ran a much improved race last start when finishing second to Solzhenitsyn. However, he did have the gun run there. He has barrier 15 here.
Big Danger: Captain Clayton has had two hard runs this prep now, so he should be cherry ripe for this. Caught wide last week and stuck on well for fifth behind Audacious Spirit.
Roughie: Bootooloo’s three runs this time in have been solid without winning. He has the inside barrier for this and could surprise.

$250 Emvoss Free Bet

Race Five: Mullins Lawyers Grand Prix Stakes 2200m Form Guide
Back Me: Very keen on Brambles. Peach of a ride from Brad Rawiller got him home in the Rough Habit after it looked like he would be the unlucky runner given he couldn’t quite get out until the 200m. But he burst through and showed a sharp turn of speed to win right on the line.
Don’t Back Me: Vatuvei is a nice stayer, but I question his win in the St Leger given he was rather lucky to win and the fact he has been in worth since February.
Big Danger: Isopach was heavily backed in the Rough Habit and in all honesty, he had every chance with the only exception being he didn’t get a clear run until the 300m. Jeff Lloyd takes over now, drawn wide again, but he is tough and looks the major threat.
Roughie: Plenty of chances here. Include Reigning, Soros, Durnford, Red Shift and Euryale.

$250 Brambles Free Bet

Race Six: Channel Seven Premier’s Cup 2200m Form Guide
Back Me: Ironstein seems to appreciate the Queensland weather. He had great success last year and his effort last start in the Chairman’s Handicap when caught deep early and fighting on remarkably well for second. He’ll be put to sleep from the rails draw and looks hard to beat.
Don’t Back Me: Very surprised Fruehling has opened $4.60. That is far too short for a horse that has only won a maiden and a weak 68 handicap. No thanks.
Big Danger: Wazn has had two runs this time, a fourth in the Rowley Mile and a second in the Lord Mayors Cup at Rosehill. Corey will ease him back and hopefully the pace will be on for him to unleash that brilliant finish he has got.
Roughie: Viking Hero was not comfortable at all in the heavy going at the Gold Coast last start. His form prior to that run was excellent and the $19 on offer looks superb value.

$250 Ironstein Free Bet

Race Seven: Carlton Mid Doomben 10,000 1350m Form Guide
Back Me: From all reports, Buffering has recovered and trained on nicely since his mishap leading upto the BTC Cup. If he has, then I think he is close to a good thing. Perfect barrier for him given he is drawn next to Adebisi, who will drag him across. Those two will be in front and Buffering should power clear and just about win a much deserved major.
Don’t Back Me: Pampelonne is a cracking type and is high class, but WFA doesn’t suit him here. Wait until the Stradbroke if he goes in that direction.
Big Danger: Sea Siren wasn’t 100% in condition was still much too good for her older rivals in the BTC Cup. She would have improved a length or two in terms of fitness and again she should get the right run. A deserved favourite.
Roughie: If you want some value, there is a number of horses to choose from. Phelan Ready, Woorim, Pinwheel, Spirit Of Boom, Thankgodyou’rehere, Mid Summer Music and Ladys Angel…in other words, go very wide in exotics.

$250 Buffering Free Bet

Race Eight:Cathay Pacific Chief De Beers 1110m Form Guide
Back Me: Jetset Lad at $13? That is just ridiculous overs. He finished less than a length behind Veyron in the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie in New Zealand. Veyron is probably in the top three horses in New Zealand, so that form is outstanding. He goes well fresh, and on dry tracks. He will sit back but he’ll be finishing off the race better than anything else.
Don’t Back Me: Seek And Find had the perfect run and duly saluted first up. This is a hot race though and barrier one could perhaps be a disadvantage.
Big Danger: Excellantes was given a beaut ride by Browne to win when dropping in grade last start. He led in that race but he is much better ridden off the speed, which should happen here given how much speed is engaged here.
Roughie: Rocker at $8.50 is good overs. We officially now know he cannot handle wet ground after a sluggish seventh as a $3 favourite last start at the Gold Coast. He should get the perfect sit from the inside barrier and be right in the finish.

$250 Jetset Lad Free Bet