The Queensland Summer Racing Carnival continues to ramp up at Doomben on 2023 Recognition Stakes Day.
Ten races will be run and won, and if you’re yet to do the form – don’t worry! I’ve done all the heavy lifting for you below and provided my 2023 Recognition Stakes Day Tips.
Tattersall’s Membership BM78 Handicap (2200m) – 1:03pm AEDT
Kureder takes winning form into this contest and looks well placed to make it two in a row.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding has been racing in strong and consistent form for more than a month now, and also managed to strike here at Doomben back in September, prior to his easily win in BM65 company last time.
In peak order, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Kureder
Select Fire 2YO Plate (1110m) – 1:38pm AEDT
Just six horses have accepted into this field and several debutants are prominent in betting.
I can’t find anything that I am particularly confident in, and I am happy to stay out of it from a betting perspective, with a view towards something later in the season.
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Tattersall’s Functions BM68 Handicap (1350m) – 2:13pm AEDT
Thankful Heart has been racing in good and consistent form and strikes another winnable race on Recognition Stakes Day.
The Annabel Neasham-trained entire has won three of seven starts since debuting, placing a further two times and finding form around some credible opposition.
He dominated a BM70 field over this route at his latest start, and a repeat of that performance would put him right into the finish again.
Suggested Bet: No. 6 Thankful Heart
QTIS 3YO Handicap (1350m) – 2:52pm AEDT
Golden Decade takes winning form into this contest, and as long as he can handle the 60kg topweight, I think he’ll be winning again.
The Matt Dunn-trained gelding stripped fitter with a couple of decent efforts in Saturday metro company first and second-up this time, and he was rewarded for his improving condition over 1200m here last time.
I thought that the 1350m looked ideal at this point of his preparation looked ideal, while Ryan Maloney retains the ride and will steer from a good draw.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Golden Decade
Weddings @ Tattersall’s Fillies & Mares BM78 Handicap (1350m) – 3:32pm AEDT
Midnight In Tokyo was a very impressive winner in a similar race here last time out, and unsurprisingly, she has opened a popular favourite in betting again.
The Kobayashi mare finished third, beaten just over a length at her first run back this time, but turned in arguably the best performance of her career a fortnight ago.
Fitter third-up, she is my best bet on the program.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Midnight In Tokyo
The Conservatory At Tattersall’s Class 3 Plate (1615m) – 4:12pm AEDT
Porky does face another rise in class at Doomben on Saturday, but he has been racing in strong form this time, and he is more than deserving of a crack at better metro company.
The Better Than Ready gelding has won two of his last three starts, culminating in a tough all-the-way effort here at Doomben last time out.
He’s hard fit and Ryan Maloney can take him forward again this weekend from Barrier 6, and we can have an each way play at current odds ($9.50 at publish).
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Porky
Listed Tattersall’s Classic (1200m) – 4:48pm AEDT
The first black type feature on Recognition Stakes Day has drawn a quality field of mares, including Comrade Rosa.
Comrade Rosa has always hinted at above-average talent, but she really started to realise it during this year’s Brisbane Winter Carnival, and recorded consecutive wins in the Helen Coughlan Stakes and the Dane Ripper Stakes most notably, while she was less than two lengths behind the winner in the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara.
Her fresh run for fourth in the Listed Keith Noud Classic was full of merit, and this looks a great opportunity for her to return to the winner’s stall.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Comrade Rosa
Listed Recognition Stakes (1350m) – 5:28pm AEDT
This is a typically strong edition of the Recognition Stakes, but I am big fan of the resuming Scallopini, and I think that he can return a winner on Saturday.
Scallopini has been an outstanding horse for the O’Dea and Hoysted team for a few seasons now, and he recorded consecutive black type wins over 1400m at Flemington back in the autumn.
He made just two appearances during the winter, but he has had the benefit of a nice trial leading upo to this return, and he boasts a very impressive fresh record.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Scallopini
Tattersall’s Events BM85 Handicap (1615m) – 6:12pm AEDT
Princess Rhaynys takes improvement into her second campaign start at Doomben on Saturday, and I think she’ll be returning to winning form.
The Iffraaj mare mixed her form during her four-start winter preparation, but she was ultimately unlucky not to win at least one race, and she was only just denied in the Pam O’Neill Stakes ans the Tattersall’s Gold Crown.
She clearly needed her first run back this time to tune up, but she is a horse that tends to improvement noticeably with a run under her belt, and she has drawn into this race ideally.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Princess Rhaenys
Tattersall’s Life Members BM80 Handicap (1110m) – 6:42pm AEDT
Emperor is a dual acceptor at Eagle Farm on Saturday, but if he does indeed go to the other race, I think that Liquor is going to take a power of beating here.
Liquor’s recent form has been nothing short of outstanding, and has included two wins and a close-up second placing from her last three appearances.
She’s hard fit and something like this certainly doesn’t look beyond her, she’ll just need a little luck from a wide draw!
Suggested Bet: No. 17 Liquor