The first Group 1 of the Brisbane Winter Carnival will be run and won this Saturday with a small field stepping out in the Doomben 10,000.
A share in $1.5 million goes on the line in the sprint feature, this year’s field headlined by Peter Moody’s TJ Smith Stakes winner and short-priced favourite, I Wish I Win.
Six of the nine races are of black-type, and we’ve run the rule over the entire meeting in our Doomben 10,000 Day Preview.
Race 1 – 11:48AM U&U RECRUITMENT Class 6 Handicap (1600 METRES)
Competitive race to start the program with a capacity field engaged over the mile.
The Chris Munce-trained Brookhaven was sharp to the line over slightly shorter 10 days ago off a four-week freshen-up, finishing strongly between a pair of runners for third in similar conditions.
By Group 1 runner-up Spieth, this Kiwi-bred galloper has done some of his best racing over the mile, including an eye-catching effort fourth in the Group 3 Gunsyd Classic last winter beaten just over 2.5 lengths by eventual Epsom Handicap winner, Rediener.
Tim Clark has a job ahead of him from a tricky gate, but with luck in running, this boy should be a likely improver.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Brookhaven
Race 2 – 12:23PM THE STAR BENCHMARK 78 Handicap (1350 METRES)
Tony Gollan’s talented four-year-old Warby should take plenty of improvement away from his first-up effort at Eagle Farm a fortnight ago.
The wide gate makes this a complicated assignment for the son of Hellbent, but it’s hard to find fault with the way he charged the line down the inside over 1200m, run down by his stablemate right before the line.
Some late interference offered an excuse fresh, but if he gets back off the speed early under Ryan Maloney and saves something in the tank for the finish, he should prove difficult to hold out.
Suggested Bet: No. 7 Warby
Race 3 – 12:58PM MORETON HIRE 3YO PLATE (QTIS BONUSES APPLICABLE) (1350 METRES)
Matthew Dunn lines up Golden Decade in this three-year-old affair at set weights, the smart son of Sooboog in search of his hat-trick now following a comfortable win at Eagle Farm.
Ryan Maloney had this boy in a lovely spot rounding the bend, bursting clear over the final furlong where he seemed to have a bit left to give through the line.
The form out of his previous win at Randwick has stood up nicely and there’s no knock on his chances of improving further with Blake Shinn engaged.
Maps to land midfield and there’s no reason why he can’t go on with it.
Suggested Bet: No. 6 Golden Decade
Race 4 – 1:33PM JRA CHAIRMAN’S HANDICAP (2000 METRES)
Rock-hard fit for three runs back and likely to appreciate the drop back to 2000m, Deny Knowledge looks one of the main chances in this Group 3 between the stayers.
Michael Kent’s Irish mare was third in a bunched finish two back at Caulfield in her second run back, then seen tiring late in the Mornington Cup where she was fast into stride and only worn down late.
This is tougher again, but likely to appreciate some juice in the track and proven under Jamie Kah, she should prove hard to catch again with a strong tempo expected.
Suggested Bet: No. 6 Deny Knowledge
Race 5 – 2:08PM SKY RACING MEMBERS’ HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
Gringotts goes around in search of his hat-trick for Ciaron Maher hoping to build on a last-start win in the Tamworth Cup three weeks ago.
The four-year-old by Per Incanto bolted in down the centre of the straight to gap his rivals by close to a length, a solid effort similar to his first-up win over the same 1400m trip at Rosehill.
Back in good order and likely to relish the rise to the mile now, he just needs to be saved for late under Jamie Kah, which looks likely with the pair drawn a wide gate.
Suggested Bet: No. 11 Gringotts
Race 6 – 2:43PM SPIRIT OF BOOM CLASSIC (1200 METRES)
Cracking race between the two-year-olds where I’m leaning the way of the Corstens-trained Bittercreek at a price in Spirit Of Boom Classic betting.
The Snitzel colt has cashed a cheque in both runs since debuting in February, last seen charging home down the outside in a Stakes race at The Valley where he went close to knocking off subsequent Group 3 winner Growing Empire.
The form from that is tough to fault and he should be just as strong in the finish kept fresh with a decent jump out between starts.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Bittercreek
Race 7 – 3:22PM MAGIC MILLIONS BRIGHT SHADOW (1110 METRES)
Chinny Boom rates a decent value play in one of the more open races on the day.
Clinton Taylor’s mare has had her runs spaced since the start of the year, racing over further in recent starts where she’s simply lacked the dash in the closing stages to find the winner’s stall.
The daughter of Spirit Of Boom proved that she’s beter suited over these shorter sprint trips on the Gold Coast back in March, and does have room for improvement after holding on late for third at Doomben last time out off a five-week break.
Down in the weights, drawn a low gate and back over shorter, she should find this a winnable assignment.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Chinny Boom
Race 8 – 4:02PM LADBROKES DOOMBEN 10,000 (1200 METRES)
A somewhat weak edition of the Doomben 10,000 that should see I Wish I Win very hard to beat.
Peter Moody’s gelding hasn’t been seen since early April when third in the TJ Smith Stakes, a run that should prove to be a nice springboard into the Brisbane Carnival with a six-week gap between runs.
The son of Savabeel was just as honest in previous attempts, notably finishing runner-up in The Everest in just his second run since winning the previous edition of the TJ over Giga Kick.
On class, he looks to have a clear edge over most of his rivals with a tidy fresh record to match.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 I Wish I Win
Race 9 – 4:38PM SEVEN ROUGH HABIT PLATE (2000 METRES)
Sticking with Kintyre on top as he gets back to 2000m in search of his hat-trick in the Rough Habit Plate.
Gary Portelli had this boy primed for a win over this same trip at Randwick last month where he was awarded the win in a protest after being interfered with over the final 100m.
Getting back to the mile proved successful a fortnight ago at Eagle Farm, sticking to the inside lane under Cejay Graham and finding the front to go clear and win.
Another wet track suits, and with a similar ride likely from barrier 1, this looks the perfect setup.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Kintyre