Friday’s major Brisbane meet at Ipswich has already been called off as a result of inclement weather and there is a discernible chance that Saturday’s Doomben card will soon follow suit. With that in mind, we have only previewed our Best Bets of the day at Doomben on Saturday, rather than a full rundown of all nine races.
At the time of publish, the Doomben track is rated a Heavy 8, but there’s plenty more rain forecast and it is likely to only continue being downgraded.
Slow Pace has only been fair in his two starts since resuming in December but faces a big drop in class here and most importantly, has previous form on heavy going. The Distorted Humour gelding was last seen finishing eighth in the Listed Gosford Cup (2100m) on January 18th, but is better when his races are spaced and can threaten at Doomben. Trainer Kris Lees has a terrific record when he travels horses to Brisbane and Slow Pace is worth consideration at genuine each-way odds.
The former Peter & Paul Snowden-rained Mediterranean will have his first start for Matt Dunn in Saturday’s Class 3 Plate at Doomben and it would not surprise to see him producing a winning performance. The Smart Missile gelding only made one appearance in 2017 and failed to fire, but he has trialled leading into this race and was a strong and consistent performer amongst black type company for much of his tenure in Sydney. Most importantly again, he has performed well in heavy going previously.
Toowoomba-trained mare Rosie Posie has been racing well without a lot of luck this time and appears to be a great chance again at Doomben on Saturday. The daughter of Top Echelon was caught three-wide without cover at Doomben last time out, but still managed to finish the race off well for third and with even luck, can go a lot closer here. There is a query over her ability in the wet, but her form has been competitive enough to warrant consideration at good odds.
Fortensky has won three of four starts this time in and does appear to have a class edge over the field for the Blokes Day Out Raceday Handicap. The son of Love Conquers All gelding missed the start in the Treasury Brisbane’s Art Class 6 Plate (1350m) at Doomben last weekend, but still managed to hit the line well and win the race on soft going. His overall racing record is outstanding having registered six wins and eight placings through only eighteen career starts and while he has never raced on a heavy track, he has performed competitively on soft several times.