Doomben Tips & Preview – Saturday, October 26

Acres Away looks the rightful favourite here third-up with improvement still to come.

Mark Currie’s four-year-old has been the model of consistency this prep, winning fresh on the Sunshine Coast ahead of Groomed and Deferential, the latter going on to win at Eagle Farm last Friday.

The daughter of Top Echelon ran another impressive race to finish runner-up to Stakes winner Appin Girl at Eagle Farm, a huge effort given she was always wide the trip.

Fitter and drawn a middle gate, this boy should take beating with the 3kg claim.

A good chunk of this field is facing the starter for the first time, so this looks another winnable race for the talented Betterlucknexttime second-up.

The juvenile by Zousain really caught the eye winning on debut over the track and distance earlier in the month, speeding out to settle just off the speed, and then shifting to the outside to lengthen and win by just over a length.

We’ve already seen that form franked with Luva Flutta going on to win his next start, and now that the blinkers come off, it’s unlikely that he finds this race much tougher carrying only 1.5kg extra.

Rashford ticks a few important boxes third-up over the mile.

The Munce-trained four-year-old by Japanese galloper Tosen Stardom has been kept on ice following a win at Ipswich a few weeks ago, one that was much better than the form guide suggests considering he was held up badly on a couple of occasions.

It’s worth noting he’s winless in four attempts over the mile, but he did run a nice race of this trip on the Sunshine Coast and here at Doomben earlier in the year.

This is tougher again up in class, but with some relief at the weights and the low gate in his favour, he might surprise in the run home.

She’s drawn slightly awkwardly, but it’s tough to fault what Navyonthehighway has produced in four starts so far.

Chris Munce’s mare returned to the winner’s stall firest-up over shorter a few weeks ago, punching clear approaching the 200m mark for a comfortable 1.5 length win under Tahlia Fenlon.

The pair combine again with the 2kg claim put to good use, and although this is a decent rise in trip, we already know this daughter of Merchant Navy handles racing over further.

Two from two at Doomben and just needing a little luck from out wide in the early stages, it’s hard to see her not featuring in the finish.

Trusting Chris Waller will have Aldeenaary ready for the rise in trip second-up.

The old boy was never much of a threat on return at Eagle Farm a couple of weeks ago, finishing second-last in a Class 3 over 1500m after being squeezed late between a pair.

He should improve sharply for that run however, and looking over his form, it’s fair to say he was always wanting further.

A win over a touch longer at Ipswich back in May suggests a bounce back performance could be on the cards, especially with the gate playing into the hands of Ryan Maloney.

Boomtown Boss is an intriguing runner on return for Tony Gollan.

The lightly-raced three-year-old has gone up a big price as one of the locals, making his way back to the races after shedding the maiden tag in fine style at Toowoomba way back in April.

His two starts have both come over 1200m, so this shorter trip first-up should be right in his wheelhouse if apprentice Emily Lang can make full use of the inside gate.

I thought there was a bit to like about his soft trial at Doomben last month, and with the form out of his win at Toowoomba holding up, he’ll be right in the mix.

Flashing Steel looks to have come back a treat for Annabel Neasham and company.

The five-year-old son of Not A Single Doubt flashed home late for third at Eagle Farm over the mile following a let-up last month, before taking improvement into his most recent win at Grafton on a bottomless track.

He’ll handle firmer footing here with Ron Stewart sticking in the irons, and also meets his stablemate slightly better off at the weights.

Look for him to settle forward early and take catching.

Bews is a horse I’ve always had a bit of time for.

Stuart Kendrick’s son of I Am Invincible took on tougher races than this down south throughout the winter, notably running third at Morphettville, and then wrapping up his prep at Flemington where he was far from disgraced beaten just over four lengths by Shaime.

He’s always been a good fresh runner with a couple of wins on the board, while his recent Sunny Coast trial win was a strong piece of work.

Keep an eye on the acceptances as he’s down to race earlier in the day, but drawn a perfect gate here, this looks his likely landing spot.

Saltaire is capable of making a mess of this field first-up.

Tony Gollan’s mare wasn’t much chop in a recent trial at Deagon, but she’s easily got a class edge over most of these after placing at Stakes and Group 3 level as a three-year-old.

The Star Turn mare was enormous first-up in the Sunlight Classic at Flemington to begin her autumn prep, finishing a distant 2.5 lengths third to Estrella and Arkansaw Kid.

She’s typically been in need of the run throughout her short career, but this is still a much easier assignment, particularly with the claim.

Sha Of Gomer might be over the odds deep into his prep for Chris Waller.

The gelding by Shalaa hasn’t done much wrong over his last four starts, winning twice and battling home for third over a touch further at Eagle Farm a fortnight ago.

He’s an honest type that gets the services of the in-form Ryan Maloney in the saddle for the first time, not to mention the fact he’s won twice over the track and distance.

In a wide-open race, it’s safe to expect another classy finish if the pair can get back around midfield and save something for the finish.