G1 Stradbroke Handicap Day and although we are not at Eagle Fail Farm it is still a bumper meeting with three G1's, three G2's and three more Black Type races.
Rain is forecast late in the day but let's hope it holds off until after the last.
Rain is forecast late in the day but let's hope it holds off until after the last.
Who's Hot?
In the last 17 days trainer Bjorn Baker has been a busy man with 10 winners and 10 placegetters from 32 runners everywhere from Bathurst to Canterbury, Cessnock to Doomben, Gosford to Newcastle and Rosehill.
He has three in at Doomben tomorrow - Coolring (Race 3 No. 2), Bonny O'Reilly (Race 4 No. 9) and Egyptian Symbol (Race 8 No. 13) plus runners at Randwick and Kembla Grange.
DOOMBEN
*** At time of publication the track was rated a Good 4. The forecast was for a partly cloudy day with a chance of late showers. ***
The Stradbroke Handicap (Group 1, 1350m, handicap)
Current Sportsbet market
*** There are no early scratchings ***
Clearly Innocent has drawn horribly but he has jockey Hugh Bowman to off-set that and he's going to be in the second half of the field anyway given his racing pattern. He's won five from six at 1300m - 1400m with his only miss being the Melbourne way of going. He may have been flattered by the heavy track last start but he was just as dominant on a good track at Scone the start prior.
Mackintosh is two from two fresh, he's two from two at Doomben and two from three at the trip. He's drawn the fence, jockey McEvoy and trainer Waller are having a great year and only the 3-y-o's will carry less weight. First-up last prep he won the G2 Theo Marks Stakes and he'll appreciate a firm track.
Ulmann has been a model of consistency since transferring to the Weir stable with four wins and four placings from 10 starts. He charged home late over this track and distance last start in the G3 BRC Sprint and the midfield draw is ideal because it gives him options. I can see him parking behind the leaders and getting a good cart into the race and he'll sprint quickly with just 53.5kg on his back.
Burning Front has won seven of his last eight carrying 56.5kg - 60.5kg so he won't know himself here at just 2kg over the limit. He'll be on pace and will give a good sight for a long way and he's been absolutely crunched ($21 into $10) in early markets. It's probably short of his best distance but five starts back he did win at 1300m by four lengths lumping 60kg. You don't win 18 races unless you are genuine.
Now to take a peek at some of the longer priced conveyances.
Bonny O'Reiily (2EM) needs a scratching to get into the field. If she does she's a mare in form which she never be discounted but this looks a bit rich for here at this stage of her career. Good gate though. Derryn has drawn the car park but he is a get back-run on type so it's not the end of the world. Back from w-f-a to handicap conditions suits but just one 3-y-o has won this race in the last nine years. Egyptian Symbol is from an in-form stable as mentioned previously and is likely to lob into a good spot thanks to good gate speed and a lack of speed in the race. She's down in the weights for the first time in a long while. Impending gets a pull in the weights from Clearly Innocent (2.5kg) and Jungle Edge (1kg) from last start. The barrier draw hasn't done him any favours though.
Hooked just has to get a mention because he wasn't far off Burning Front last start in the G3 R.A. Lee Stakes and meets him slightly better off here. I can see him getting into a nice spot despite the wide draw because there's not much pace engaged. He's been nibbled at in early markets. Hopfgarten should also find himself in a nice position from the good draw and he is the track specialist with three wins from five tries at the Doomben 1350m. Trainer Rob Heathcote has said he will be ridden more positively this start. In Her Time was gallant last start after enduring a torrid run but the problem is from the wide barrier she's likely to find herself posted again.
Locky's Selections
BEST
8. Mackintosh
DANGER
10. Ulmann
3. Burning Front
9. Hopfgarten
4. Counterattack
1. Clearly Innocent
OTHER BETS
Rare Occurrence (Doomben Race 1 No. 13) has won her last three Doomben appearances and she was courageous last start making ground from back and wide in a race dominated by the on-pacers. With a light weight and a good draw and back onto a firm surface I think she can figure prominently here. She's racing in fine fettle and is definitely worth a peanut each-way.
Tangled (Doomben Race 6 No. 2) was forgivable last start because like quite a few others he just did not handle the conditions on that swamp that Racing Queensland is laughingly referring to as "a racetrack". If you look at his prior run in the G2 Champagne Classic at this track he was devastating and he looks like he'll eat up a mile. I can't believe he's got out to odss like this after one bad run.
Ruthven (Doomben Race 7 No. 2) has been freshened up for this following his narrow second (below) in the G1 SA Derby four weeks ago. He was only collared late by Volatile Mix in that 2500m race so the switch to Doomben and 2200m probably suits him. I like the fact that he is a new horse on the scene and has dodged that bog track that many of these slugged it out on two weeks ago.
Rudy (Doomben Race 9 No. 2) had his last two runs right here for a third in the G1 Doomben Cup and a second in the G2 O'Shea Stakes last Saturday. He may have even won the latter race with a clear passage but he was unfortunately inconvenienced by the stricken Cylinder Beach. He rarely runs a bad race here at Doomben (16:5-3-4) and if the rain comes late in the day as predicted I think he will perform even better.
Tangled (Doomben Race 6 No. 2) was forgivable last start because like quite a few others he just did not handle the conditions on that swamp that Racing Queensland is laughingly referring to as "a racetrack". If you look at his prior run in the G2 Champagne Classic at this track he was devastating and he looks like he'll eat up a mile. I can't believe he's got out to odss like this after one bad run.
Ruthven (Doomben Race 7 No. 2) has been freshened up for this following his narrow second (below) in the G1 SA Derby four weeks ago. He was only collared late by Volatile Mix in that 2500m race so the switch to Doomben and 2200m probably suits him. I like the fact that he is a new horse on the scene and has dodged that bog track that many of these slugged it out on two weeks ago.
Rudy (Doomben Race 9 No. 2) had his last two runs right here for a third in the G1 Doomben Cup and a second in the G2 O'Shea Stakes last Saturday. He may have even won the latter race with a clear passage but he was unfortunately inconvenienced by the stricken Cylinder Beach. He rarely runs a bad race here at Doomben (16:5-3-4) and if the rain comes late in the day as predicted I think he will perform even better.
Good punting!
No comments:
Post a Comment