Doomben Racing Preview & Tips – Saturday February 17

Eight two-year-olds will step out in the first at Doomben tomorrow and of those, half will be having their first run.

She’s Choosie ($7.50) is racing to win her fourth-consecutive start, but faces a clear step up in class here, while Pinch Memory ($2.80) is also seeking to keep alive an unbeaten career start and appears likely to jump race favourite.

There is simply too much that can happen in these debutant-rich two-year-old races and I am happy to stay out from a betting perspective.

An open field of thirteen has been taken for the second and there is several winning chances in the group.

Now You See ($4.80) has not been seen at the races since October, but she was outstanding last time in and recorded four wins from her six starts. The daughter of Magic Albert will look to take up the running from the rails draw and she will give them something to chase.

Yarrapower ($5) worked to the line fairly to finish fourth over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast last time and faces a similar field here. The four-year-old has been racing in reasonably consistent form this time and has a fitness edge on several of his main rivals here. An inside draw should also let him settle a bit closer.

Secret Mo ($3.70) will also resume in this race and has been gelded since his last appearance. The Uncle Mo gelding has trialled well leading into this race and has trialled well leading into this.

Nine horses remain in contention for the third following the early scratching of both Wonder Boom and Rebel Saga.

Skate To Paris ($5) showed plenty of ability through her two-year-old season and will make a long-awaited return to the track here. The daughter of Bradbury’s Luck finished her preparation with consecutive seconds in the Listed Oxlade Stakes (1200m) and Listed Bill Carter Stakes (1200m), but she was found to be harbouring a minor ailment and missed spring and summer. She’s trialled fairly leading into this race and clearly has the ability, but she may require the run after the long layoff.

Alleviator ($4.40) debuted for a smart win over 900m on January 24^th and can go on with the job here. The son of Siderus can take up the running from the rails draw and will be difficult to run down late.

Sista Act ($4) is seeking a third-consecutive win, but gives weight to all of her rivals here and will need to improve.

I really like Skate To Paris, but I would prefer to watch her run before investing.

Torgersen has been racing in terrific form since arriving in Brisbane and Race 4 at Doomben on Saturday appears to be his to lose. The Pins gelding finished second in both the Listed Tails Stakes (1350m) and Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) in November and December and after a couple of luckless runs, returned to winning form in dominant fashion at Ipswich last week. He should sit behind the pace in this small field and run on.

Torgersen probably just wins this race, but he is already odds-on and there isn’t a lot of value around the horse.

The field for Race 5 is probably the most open of the day and there is plenty of value to be found from a betting perspective.

Rancho Montoya ($7) failed to fire first-up, but he should have taken plenty of value from the run and is drawn ideally in barrier 4 here. The High Chaparral colt failed to miss a place throughout his debut prep and will relish a step up in trip and a likely return to firmer going here.

Rhyming ($5) has been racing well without a lot of luck this time, but will need plenty of it here from a wide draw. Rhyming went close to returning to winning form when second behind Maybe Even You a fortnight ago and this race is no harder.

Mustarrid ($5) is another horse that will enjoy stepping out to a mile and he is rock-hard fit for this race. He has the notable advantage of Jeff Lloyd in the saddle in this race and the leading hoop will have plenty of options from the rails draw.

Six horses have been scratched from the field for the sixth and there is several live chances remaining in contention.

I’ve Gotta Nel ($8) will take up the running from the rails draw and should prove difficult to run down, particularly with a race-low 54kgs in tow. The Sequalo gelding was just pipped when second on the Sunshine Coast last time out and he is another horse that will have the Jeff Lloyd factor in his favour on Saturday.

Publishing Power ($2.50) has won three from four this time in and will be difficult to beat again. His most-recent win was against far-less company at Toowoomba and given that his run at Doomben the start prior was pretty flat, he’ll need to improve to make it two wins on the trot again.

Criquette ($5) is drawn ideally and can take a positive position from the inside barrier. The I Am Invincible mare was a comfortable winner on the Gold Coast last time out and will be right in the mix again.

This is another wide-open betting race and there is a case to be made for more than ten runners.

The Chris Waller-trained Kirini ($3.80) missed the start at Doomben last time out, but he is the race favourite at the time of publish. The Medaglia D’Oro gelding will be able to find a positive position from his inside draw and will be hard to beat.

Toowoomba-trained mare Maybe Even You ($9) has won two on the trot and appears up to the class of this race. There is something of a question mark over his ability at the distance, but if the track does dry out a little, then he can be right in the finish.

I will be backing Kirini in this race, but not with a whole lot of confidence given the size and ability of this field.

Some of the best sprinters in Queensland will be on show in the eighth, but New South Wales raider Supreme Effort ($4.40) is looming as the horse to beat here. The Shaft gelding resumed in late December for fourth in the Listed Christmas Classic (1200m) before hitting the line well for second in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) on January 11^th. While he failed to fire in the Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m) last time out, he has a clear class edge over this field and this is terrific placement from trainer Kim Waugh.

Boomwaa ($5.50) will take up the running and will give them something to chase, while Stella Ombra ($9.50) has been racing competitively and can work into the money again here.

There’s plenty of value on offer in the last, but finding the winner looks to be a tricky task.

Given the number of winning chances in the fourteen-horse field, I’m leaning towards a horse with genuine each-way appeal in Oink ($8.50). The Sebring gelding has improved for second in each of his two-most recent races and while most of his runs have been on good going, he’s raced well under softer conditions previously.