The festivities continue in Brisbane this Saturday with nine races scheduled to be run and won at Doomben.
Rain has left the course rated a Heavy 10 at time of publish, but the rail remains in the true position with conditions likely to improve come race day.
We’ve run the rule over the entire meeting and offer our thoughts on this year’s Mekka Race Day card below.
Defiant Boom steps out on a wet track for the first time after shedding the maiden tag on return late last month.
Stuart Kendrick’s three-year-old took to the front and made every post a winner over the same trip, finding well in the run home to prevail by a length over Autumngirl.
He defeated Mr Bubbaluski at the trials on the Sunshine Coast leading into his prep, form that reads well with that horse coming out and winning his first start not long after.
Providing he handles the conditions, he’s the one to beat with improvement still to come.
Moulin Miss is flying right now for Tony Gollan as she steps out in search of her hat-trick on Saturday.
The Spirit Of Boom filly kicked off her prep with a strong win over a short trip at Ipswich to break maiden, before taking big improvement into her next start up to Saturday grade where she prevailed over her final few strides after being held up.
She’s drawn another soft gate with no rider booked at time of writing, but is likely to appreciate some sting out of the track after handling a Soft 5 first-up.
Based on what we’ve seen so far, she should be winning again in what is a fairly thin race.
Shy Guy ran on strongly down the outside over 200m shorter here a few weeks ago, simply finding his stablemate Counter a touch better when settling for second.
Jake Bayliss made up enormous ground from an awkward gate that day, and the pair rate another live chance dropping 2kg from a much better draw this time around.
He’s still only lightly-raced for a four-year-old, while his wet-track form has been mixed, but if there’s still petrol left in the tank off that last run, he should be thereabouts.
There’s no reason to hop off I See You Coming in a race like this.
Tony Gollan’s six-year-old by Tycoon Ruler has been racing in a rich vein of form this prep, bolting in late to score by nearly a length third-up a few weeks ago coming off two solid placings.
He looked to have a bit left to give through the line that day and is potentially suited by a wet track rated in the Soft range on Saturday.
Gets in well with the claim, has won over this trip before, and is likely to get back off the speed and save something for the run home.
Bit of a ‘prove it’ race for Nanagui third-up and back against her own sex.
The Sering mare was a touch flat in the run home a couple of weeks ago over 1100m, finishing midfield where she failed to give much of a chase in behind Brereton.
Her first-up effort at Eagle Farm was lacking, but she was held up slightly in the run home that day.
There’s no excuses this time from the inside gate though, and she does get some relief at the weights with the 3kg claim in effect.
Her best is good enough to make a mess of this field, she just needs the right run off the speed to make that happen.
Addriel is an intriguing runner racing third-up for Annabel and Robert Neasham.
This four-year-old by Harry Angel won on heavy going two back quite handily at Ipswich to kick off his prep, before plugging away only fairly here at Doomben a few weeks ago over the same distance.
He’s drawn a little closer time dropping a couple of kg’s under Kyle Wilson-Taylor, and does have some nice form around the likes of Golden Decades and Sistine Explorer to his name.
Hatchet has been tricky to follow this prep, but his best is certainly good enough to threaten back up to BM85 level.
Rob Heathcote had this boy revved up on the Sunshine Coast last Saturday off a three-week break, the son of Worthy Cause going on to run a very narrow third off a wide run in transit.
He handled the wet conditions quite well that day and boasts a superior record compared to some of his rivals here at Doomben.
The step up from 1000m is worth considering, but after saving his best for the finish last week, there’s no doubt he’s better suited over further.
Bedford Square is a talented miler that typically runs well in the wet.
The daughter of Tavistock has been around the mark in both runs back since resuming, missing out narrowly on a place on a trying track on the Sunshine Coast first-up.
She improved sharply after spotting the leaders a start two weeks ago here at Doomben, rattling home late on a dry track to finish half a length off Saturday’s rival, Buillt.
The wide gate is a slight concern, but down 3kg and capable of running a nice race third-up, she’ll do me an open race.
My Snow Queen is a nice value play in the last with conditions to suit.
This daughter of Star Turn was back in the winner’s circle a fortnight ago in a similar race, leading them into the straight where she gave a good kick to go on and win from a wide barrier.
She was competing off a four-week gap between starts that day, so there’s natural improvement to come now on less of a turnaround.
Draws to get the perfect run in behind the speed, and with solid wet track numbers and the claim put to good use, she should be going close again.