Ten races will be run and won at Doomben this Saturday highlighted by the Listed Keith Noud Quality.
The black-type feature has seen broken track records in two of its recent editions and signals that the 2024/25 Queensland Summer Racing Carnival is only weeks away from starting!
We’ve dived deep into the form and provided our top selections for Saturday’s Doomben meeting below.
CANOODLING (6) gave a good account of herself when debuting over 1050m here two weeks ago. Wearing the Ladbrokes Racing Club’s colours, the Tony Gollan-trained filly sat outside the lead before going for home only to be run down late and finish a length second. She’ll strip fitter second-up and will have gained a lot of experience from her first outing. I like the booking of stronger jockey Angela Jones who should give her mount a great run on speed.
We see it time and time again when Chris Waller brings his gallopers to Brisbane from Sydney that they immediately fire. That was the case with CEREMONIUS (9) last start over 1830m at Eagle Farm who had been in solid form down south. The son of Pierro let down powerfully and proved too strong late when getting the better of subsequent winner New Joy to salute by a head. He’s drawn perfectly in barrier 1 and should enjoy an economical run.
METALART (2) looks primed to produce his best after two solid runs back this preparation. The Kelly Schweida-trained son of Better Than Ready caught the eye last start over 1200m here when storming home from the back in the quickest 600m of the race despite being wide to finish 1.1 lengths third. He’ll love the rise to 1350m and won his only previous start over the course and distance. The draw is a touch sticky but if he gets even luck, he could prove too strong in the run home.
ANDERSEN (19) has come back this preparation in fine fettle and is looking for his third win a row. The Matt Hoysted-trained colt looked in total control as he won his maiden by 1.5 lengths at the Gold Coast two starts ago. He came to town last start and let down beautifully after leading to win the 1400m contest at Eagle Farm by just under a length. Nikita Beriman retains the ride and will give him every chance by going forward.
FELIX THE SCAT (10) returns to the races for the first time since producing a career best effort to finish third in the G1 Queensland Derby. The Tony Gollan-trained gelding looks ready to produce a bold showing first-up following an impressive trial win at Deagon where he led before gapping his rivals while under a hold to win by 5.5 lengths. His only win came when resuming in his second preparation over 1350m here where he bolted in by 4.3 lengths. While he has settled back throughout his career, I think we may see him further forward from the low draw.
TROIKA (3) has been very good since joining Jack Bruce’s stable from Sydney. The son of Russian Revolution charged home in the quickest final 600m of the race two starts ago at the Gold Coast to finish a head second. That put the writing on the wall last start at Eagle Farm where he settled handy before burning his rivals off and winning by just under a length. He again looks well placed and maps to get a sweet run from the inside barrier.
BUBBA’S BAY (3) loves racing in Queensland with seven of her nine wins coming in the Sunshine State. The Kris Lees-trained mare continued her hot run two starts back over 1110m here where she proved too strong, powering to the line after being slightly held up for a length victory. Last start she led from barrier to box over 1200m at Eagle Farm for an easy 1.8 length win. She’s won three from three over the course and distance and gains a run that will give her a great chance to win four straight.
KRONENBOURG (1) was a touch slow out of the gates when resuming from a yearlong break over 1350m but worked home quite well before conditions gave way with the big weight late to finish 2.7 lengths fifth. The Tony Gollan-trained gelding took great benefit from that run when he led all the for a nose victory over 1600m at Eagle Farm. He’ll strip fitter third-up and loves this distance having won four of five starts including both at this track. Ryan Maloney will give his mount a similar run to last start from an inside barrier.
KING POTTER (8) returned to the races last start as a gelding and the procedure worked wonders. The Neasham & Archibald-trained son of Rothesay had trialed the house down before his first-up run and took that to the races, leading all the way for an easy 5.8 length over 1110m here. He’ll have gained confidence from the win and will strip fitter second-up. He was heavily backed when the market opened and looks to enjoy a great run on speed for Jag Guthmann-Chester.
HELL (7) has been low flying this preparation for astute Central Queensland trainer Nick Walsh. Following a head second at Rockhampton first-up, the Hellbent gelding then won by 5.5 lengths at Townsville before coming to town and winning by a nose at Doomben. Last start he ran them off their legs to win by 2.8 lengths over 1200m Eagle Farm. He has a terrific record over this distance and maps to give plenty of cheek in front.