We are set for an outstanding day’s racing at Doomben on Saturday as horses, trainers and connections gear up for the Magic Millions in early January.
Five of the nine races set to run at Doomben on Lough Neagh Stakes Day will be contested at black type level, but we have analysed the form of every horse in each race, in order to help you find a few winners.
Race 1 – Makers Mark Class 3 Plate (1350m) – 12:27pm
A capacity field has been taken for Race 1 and there is a case to be made for several runners.
The Steve O’Dea-trained Doubt Defying returned to the races for a smart win in the Ascot Green Plate (1200m) at Doomben a fortnight ago and should only improve second-up into this race. The Not A Single Doubt gelding will relish another good surface and could receive the run of the race from barrier 3.
Sydney raider Love’s A Fantasy has been racing without luck this time and in what is undoubtedly a step back in class, is a live chance of saluting at double-figure odds here. The Street Sense mare will have to overcome something of an awkward draw, but will be ridden by in-form hoop Tim Clark and is rock-hard fit ahead of this assignment.
Tip: No. 7 Love’s A Fantasy – Each Way ($16/$4.80)
Race 2 – Canadian Club BM85 Handicap (1615m) – 1:02pm
A lot of recognisable Brisbane Saturday-grade horses will step out in the second and there’s plenty of value to be taken across the board.
The Chris Waller-trained High Mist will make his Brisbane debut in the race and appears to have a class edge over many of his rivals here. The son of High Chapparal ran third in a 1400m race at Randwick on October 28th, but was the victim of slow starts at his two most recent appearances. A step up to 1600m is ideal and he should have plenty of time to run down his rivals, even if he gives them a start.
Consistent local Aqua Vite has also accepted and is a live threat. Aqua Vite was a dominant winner over 1400m on the Gold Coast on October 21st and has continued to impress through his three subsequent starts, including a close second behind Mishani Phoenix in the Become A BRC Member Handicap (1600m) here a fortnight ago. There is no knocking the four-year-old’s form and condition and he is in with a good showing again on Saturday.
Tip: No. 11 High Mist ($4.50)
Race 3 – Listed Phelan Ready Stakes (1110m) – 1:37pm
Only five two-year-olds will contest this year’s Phelan Ready Stakes and two of those horses, Commissioner and Doss will make their competitive debuts. Commissioner is saddled by Peter & Paul Snowden and if his trials are anything to go by, he will be extremely difficult to beat here. Doss has yet to trial and appears tested in this company on debit.
Spirit Of Boom gelding Ef Troop showed above-average ability when he debuted for a smart win in the Padua Old Boys Handicap (1050m) on November 4th and after trialling well last week, should go close once more.
Tony McEvoy has been spoiled for choice with his quality two-year-olds in recent seasons and he will saddle another exciting juvenile, in the form of Crockett in this race. Crockett won a Morphettville 1000m sprint on debut in October and will be strong to the line on ‘Good’ going, boosted further by in-form hoop Jamie Kah in the saddle.
The final runner is Toowoomba local Rains Aplenty, who has been competitive through three career starts to date; finishing third in each.
Tip: No. 4 Commissioner ($3.40)
Race 4 – Listed Calaway Gal Stakes (1110m) – 2:12pm
A capacity field of two-year-old fillies will contest this year’s Calaway Gal Stakes and it is another open race from a betting perspective.
Nine fillies have exposed form leading into this race, but there is several live chances within the list of horses that are yet to race, including Sizzling Ace. Sizzling Ace was an impressive winner of a Gold Coast trail and is primed for a strong debut here. The Toby Edmonds/Jeff Lloyd combination is statistically the most potent in Australian racing and that could count for plenty in this race for two-year-olds.
Of the horses that have raced previously, Singular Sensation is seeking a third-consecutive win from as many starts and is set to jump as a clear and justifiable race favourite. The daughter of Not A Single Doubt has won her two starts by a combined eight lengths, but may need to expel some petrol early from a wide draw.
Sydney raider Granny Red Shoes has posted two strong performances to date and is ready to peak third-up. This is a step up in class, but the filly worked home well to finish second to Gongs last time out and is a live chance at genuine each-way odds.
Tips: No. 1 Singular Sensation ($4.40)
No. 13 Sizzling Ace – Each Way ($10/$3.30)
Race 5 – Cascade Open Quality Handicap (2020m) – 2:52pm
Several smart gallopers will step out in the fifth, but the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Long Time Ago should prove extremely difficult to beat. The Redoute’s Choice mare won the Group 3 Summoned Stakes (1500m) first-up on November 18th, before running third in a Sandown 1800m race on December 2nd. This is a step back in class and the mare will enjoy both a step up in distance and return to ‘Good’ going.
Consistent local Rudy ($8) and the Kelly Schweida-trained Outraged ($7) loom as the biggest threats, but Long Time Ago will take plenty of beating and is subsequently out best bet of the day.
Tip: No. 2 Long Time Ago ($1.90)
Race 6 – Listed Bribie Handicap (1050m) – 3:32pm
We’re back into black type racing in Rac3e 6 and this year’s Bribie Handicap will be contested by a strong field of sprinters.
All Over Bosanova was a standout performer through this year’s Brisbane Winter Carnival and will resume in this race. The Court Command mare is yet to lose a race first-up and has racked up and impressive record of five wins and minor through only 8 starts, highlighted by a smart win in the Listed Daybreak Lover Stakes (1200m) in June. Luke Rolls will have no work to do from barrier 2 and the mare should be right in the finish, particularly with only 54kgs in tow.
Stella Ombra will also resume and found career-best form last time in, highlighted by a strong win over classy company at Randwick and three-consecutive wins to end the preparation. The five-year-old will roll forward from barrier 13 and will give them something to chase late.
Tip: No. 7 All Over Bosanova ($4)
Race 7 – Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m) – 4:12pm
Twelve three-year-olds seeking a berth in the Magic Millions 3YO race in January will step out in this year’s Gold Edition Plate; a race convincingly won by Winning Rupert last year.
Pierata returned to the races for a classy win in the Winning Rupert Plate (1200m) a fortnight ago and should only improve into this race. While it’s a clear step up in class, the Pierro colt is proven amongst black type company and has won two from three starts at 1200m. He should be right in the finish once more from barrier 4.
Two runners that demand attention at generous odds are Shogun Sun and Cellargirl; both saddled by Kelly Schweida. Shogun Sun performed extremely well in Brisbane sprints last time in, before a trip to Sydney heralded a credible fifth in the Group 2 The Run To The Rose (1200m) and berth in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m), albeit a lacklustre performance. Cellargirl was also sent to Sydney in spring and returned third-place finishes in both the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m). Both have trialled well and both have the ability to win this race first-up.
Tip: No. 4 Shogun Sun – Each Way ($13/$3.60)
Race 8 – Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) – 4:47pm
The feature race has drawn another open field to Doomben on Saturday and it is shaping as a particularly lucrative race from a betting perspective.
Monsieur Gustave demands respect in all of his races and he is primed for another big performance in the Lough Neagh Stakes. Monsieur Gustave has won each of his last four starts, all at black type level and since resuming has taken out both the Listed Keith Noud Quality (1200m) and Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m). The Al Maher gelding is currently available at each-way odds of $5/$2 and is more than worth consideration.
Big Money ($17) has a good record in Brisbane and is still more than capable of big performances and results. Siegfried ($11) and Torgersen ($11) have both been racing well this time in and are capable once more.
Tips: No. 2 Monsieur Gustave – Each Way ($5/$2)
No. 8 Torgersen – Each Way ($11/$3.40)
Race 9 – Congratulations Jim Roberts On 30 Years Class 6 Plate (1200m) – 5:25pm
The final race on Lough Neagh Stakes Day has drawn an open and capacity field and looms as a great opportunity for punters to take advantage of some late value.
Care To Think has been backed into outright favouritism at the time of publish and if his form last time in is anything to go by, he should prove extremely tough to beat. The son of So You Think won two and finished second three times through six starts last time in and has won a pair of trials leading into this. With current odds of $5/$2, Care To Think appears to be a ‘free throw at the stumps’ and is worth consideration here, particularly with Jeff Lloyd aboard.
Tip: No. 12 Care To Think – Each Way ($5/$2)