One of the premier racedays in Queensland rolls around on Saturday-Doomben Cup Day. The main race is the $500,000 Group One Kirks Doomben Cup (2000m). The warm favourite is Manighar at $2.50. He has been the best WFA horse in Australia this year and he looks very well placed. His main dangers in the betting are the mares, Shez Sinsational and Lights Of Heaven, at $5 and $5.50 respectively.
The support card is outstanding, with six Group races. The first of those is the $175,000 Group Two Champagne Classic (1200m). Sizzling at $1.65 looks a gift given how impressive he was at the Gold Coast. His main threat, if any, will be Dances On Stars because he will get the run of the race from barrier two.
The $115,000 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1600m) is shaping up to be an intriguing race. Solzhenitsyn, a very impressive winner last Saturday, steps up against the big boys and he is the $3.30 favourite. Firebolt at $6.50 looks good value, as does the $14 on offer for the kiwi visitor St Germaine.
$300 FREE BET – LUXBET
Race One: Channel Seven Handicap (90) 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: This is such a terrible race. Going for Falino purely because of the class factor. He hasn’t done much this time in, but he gets in so well at the weights and if he brought his A-game, he just about wins. But there isn’t much confidence.
Don’t Back Me: Fleet ‘N’ Fast is racing well, but if he can’t win at Rockhampton, how can he win a race on Doomben Cup Day?
Big Danger: Prost flies fresh and meets a very weak field. She has trialled well leading up to this and although drawn terribly, she should get the pace on to be in the finish.
Roughie: Captain Clayton ran an even race when resuming in the Victory Stakes behind Buffering, although he was beaten 14 lengths. Expect improvement with a big drop in grade.
$250 Falino Free Bet
Race Two: Bollinger Champagne Classic 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: Sizzling appears to be a special. Brilliant first up display at the Gold Coast where he was sluggish to begin with, but as the race went on, he showed his class and ability and recorded a dominant win. Looks home here.
Don’t Back Me: Academus is a lovely gelding who is sure to win his share of races. However, I think he’ll be suited over further.
Big Danger: Dances On Stars chased home Sizzling in the race mentioned above after sitting deep throughout. He’ll be put to sleep from the inside barrier and should place.
Roughie: Discreet sat three deep with no cover in a $150,000 race at Ipswich and just got beat. Fitter now and he scored a slick win second up last preparation.
$250 Sizzling Free Bet
Race Three: Carlton Mid Lord Mayor’s Cup 1600m Form Guide
Back Me: Backed Firebolt last week in Sydney and I’ll back up on him here. He pulled hard last week and that cost him in the end. Dropping back in distance isn’t a concern and I anticipate with Nash booked to ride, he’ll be sitting much closer to the pace. Won this race last year and he is a strong chance of doing it again.
Don’t Back Me: Miss Keepsake was ridden upside down in the Emancipation, but she was still a bit disappointing in the end. $4.50 is far too short.
Big Danger: Divorces is a dual acceptor (accepted for Scone). If she runs here, she’ll be hard to hold out. She travelled big time last start and looked set for victory, but she just couldn’t quite get there. She’ll be cherry ripe now and looks a major player.
Roughie: St Germaine ran an eye-catching first up run behind Risk Aversion three weeks ago. She goes very well second up and has drawn the paint. Look out for her.
$250 Firebolt Free Bet
Race Four: Glenlogan Park Stakes 1350m Form Guide
Back Me: Big test for Risk Aversion but I feel she is up to it. Sat a long way back in the Juanmo Stakes before showing her brilliant finishing burst and getting there in the nick of time. Great overall record and looks hard to beat.
Don’t Back Me: Parables is the class mare engaged here, but the wide barrier just about seals her fate. McEvoy will need to produce a 12/10 ride to get her home.
Big Danger: Wealth Princess arguably should have won the Wangoom during the Warnambool Carnival. She didn’t have much room in the straight and only got warm late. Won this race last year and looks well placed to repeat.
Roughie: Alltherightmoves ran terribly as a heavily backed favourite in the Silk Stocking. Before that, she was noted as a swimmer, but getting back on top of the ground here may help her.
$250 Risk Aversion Free Bet
Race Five: Hidden Dragon The Roses 2000m Form Guide
Back Me: Going for some value in Urban Rocker. She was cruising in the Gold Coast Bracelet and looked as if she was going to be right in the finish, but the wet track and perhaps a lack of fitness beat her late. Fourth up now, Olly takes over, drawn well and will have no issue with the 2000m.
Don’t Back Me: Dowager Queen has promised for a while to step up to the big league and win a big one, but she is becoming another Strike The Stars. Classy, but a non-winner.
Big Danger: Miss Artistic is one of the better kiwi fillies in training. She took forever to wind up at the Gold Coast but when she did, it was very good. That run will top off her beautifully for this.
Roughie: Forgive and forget Pretty Pins went around in the Bracelet. She was found to be lame, which hurt punters given she was a well supported favourite. She is talented and if she is right, she can certainly surprise.
$250 Urban Rocker Free Bet
Race Six: Ascend Sales Fred Best Classic 1350m Form Guide
Back Me: Mental looks the winner here. He was a heavily backed top pick at Hawkesbury and justified the punters faith with a dominant win. He won second up last campaign, excels on firm ground and is drawn perfectly.
Don’t Back Me: Amah Rock was given the perfect ride by young Noonan to win at Caulfield last start. In this race, he has drawn barrier 12 and will have to do it the hard way to win.
Big Danger: Boys On Tour is one of the most improved horses in Queensland. Sat four and five wide with no cover at the Gold Coast before sprinting clear at the top of the straight to record a superb victory. He’ll get the gun run from the inside barrier and should place. $3.06 for the place looks generous.
Roughie: Extraceed resumed with a solid sixth, two lengths of the Florentina. He’ll go back from the wide barrier and if the pace is on upfront, he’ll be right in the mix.
$250 Mental Free Bet
Race Seven: Kirks Doomben Cup 2000m Form Guide
Back Me: I’m a bit surprised that the grand campaigner Scenic Shot is $14 to take this out. Super first up run in the Tatt’s Mile before settling a long way back in the Hollindale and making up good ground late for fifth. The big plus with him is that he has fresh legs, while some of the more fancy runners have been up for a long time.
Don’t Back Me: Shez Sinsational was tough and determined in winning the Hollindale. There is no pace here so in order to win again, she’ll need to be ridden upside down…again.
Big Danger: Manighar has been up since February and has been fantastic for connections. Class horse and at WFA, he looks so well placed.
Roughie: Foreteller was the best backed runner in the Hollindale, but he pulled very hard and was forced near the carpark from about the 800m onwards. With a softer trip and better matters, this bloke could be a knockout contender.
$250 Scenic Shot Free Bet
Race Eight:Darley BRC Sprint 1350m Form Guide
Back Me: It was hard not to be impressed by Free Wheeling and his demolition job in the Hawkesbury Guineas. His other career win was at Doomben in a hot two-year-old race last year. Should get a similar run to what he got at Hawkesbury and prove hard to hold out.
Don’t Back Me: Tiger Tees is the most consistent galloper in Australia, but given Neeson ran so poorly last week, I question how the stable is going in the Susnhine State.
Big Danger: Carry Me Bluey has had two tough runs this preparation so this is D-Day for him. No excuses from me if he doesn’t go close to winning.
Roughie: Gundy Son looks the big overs at $21. He should get the soft trip on the fence behind the speed and he has an excellent record at the track.
$250 Free Wheeling Free Bet
