The Brisbane track has been dishing up some highly competitive meetings lately, and this week should be no exception. The surface is rated a Soft 5, with the rail out 8.5 metres.
The day kicks off with a few quality maiden contests, including Race 3, which features our best bet — a sharp local sprinter from Tony Gollan’s in-form stable.
For full insights, tips, and best bets across the program, dive into our race-by-race Doomben Preview below.
SEQUEL (9) makes the trip north again for Chris Waller and connections.
A five-start maiden, this lightly raced filly returned in good order at Newcastle a fortnight ago over the same trip, finishing midfield but hitting the line nicely late after settling around five lengths off the pace.
She’s drawn a handy inside gate and gets Damien Thornton aboard, with a bit of wet-track form to her name. Having competed at Group 3 level as a two-year-old earlier this year, she brings a touch of class that should take her a long way.
| 9. Sequel (1) J: Damien Thornton 55.5kg 6x3x5T: Chris Waller |
SWAG (12) resumes for Michael Freedman, looking to build on a promising maiden prep in Sydney.
The three-year-old son of Bivouac returns as a gelding, with his standout performance coming on debut at Newcastle, where he finished runner-up to the talented Beadman — who franked that form with a second placing in the G2 Roman Consul at Rosehill last Saturday.
Back racing in his home state and armed with two trials under his belt, Rory Hutchings should have him settled just off the speed from barrier five.
| 12. Swag (5) J: Rory Hutchings 55.5kg x238xT: Michael Freedman |
CARDONETTE (7) showed plenty on debut and looks ready to go one better for Tony Gollan.
The Exceedance filly unleashed a powerful finish down the centre of the track at Eagle Farm, lunging late to just miss Making News over 200m shorter in a thrilling photo.
Her trial form suggested she’d run well fresh, and that debut effort only reinforced the impression she’ll relish the 1200m this time. With Ben Thompson aboard, she’ll just need a touch of luck early from a slightly trickier gate to be right in the finish.
WOWZINO (5) steps out for his fourth start under David Vandyke, coming off a strong one-length win at the Sunshine Coast three weeks ago.
Ryan Maloney took control early that day, dictating from the front and never headed as the pair powered clear over 1800m. It followed a run at Doomben where the Tarzino gelding overraced over the mile, having previously impressed on debut over 1400m, finding the line strongly late.
In what shapes as a competitive affair, with several rivals searching for a return to form, WOWZINO’s recent momentum and proven staying credentials make him one to beat.
| 5. Wowzino (4) J: Ryan Maloney 59kg 3×191T: David Vandyke |
BIG TICKET BOY (3) looks set to take improvement second-up and should be hard to hold out.
Still lightly raced for a seven-year-old, the son of Adelaide returned with a strong performance over 1400m at Eagle Farm last month, charging home out wide to finish just over a length away.
He was doing his best work through the line, which ties in nicely with his solid second-up record and proven form over the mile. While the extra weight is a slight query, he maps to get a much softer run in transit this time from the inside draw.
| 3. Big Ticket Boy (4) J: Tiffani Brooker 61kg 411×5T: Lindsay Gough |
ANARITA (13) looks well-placed third-up and ready to strike.
The Archibald-trained mare has been knocking on the door this prep, finishing in the money in both runs back — at Ipswich and then the Sunshine Coast, where she warmed up late to grab second behind Shelstein.
She made up strong ground from the rail, closing to within 1.5 lengths and sustaining that run all the way through the line. With a bit of give in the track likely to suit and 1kg off her back, she shapes as a genuine winning chance with fitness peaking at the right time.
| 13. Anarita (8) Scratched: | |||
CASROCK (12) is worth another look after a complete forgive run over this track and trip last start.
Things didn’t go to plan for Kelly Schweida’s mare, who got back early and was badly held up along the rail around the 300m mark before working home late to finish 2.6 lengths off the winner.
Now third-up and drawn to settle closer in the run, she should get her chance to bounce back. With the claim in play and a soft track to her liking, expect a much-improved effort this time around.
| 12. Casrock (4) J: Cejay Graham 52.5kg 48×75T: Kelly Schweida |
PUFF ‘N’ HARRY (7) resumes.
We last saw the son of Harry Angel getting up in the final stride to break his maiden over this track and trip when resuming in August. The stable elected to pull up stumps soon after, giving him a six-week freshen before bringing him back to the trials.
He’s had two tune-ups between runs, the latest seeing him finish strongly along the inside for second, hitting the line as the strongest through the post. Expect him to be ready to fire fresh again.
LIVALITTLE (6) also deserves each-way consideration. He was solid first-up at Eagle Farm, carrying 60kg and finishing just over a length away over 1200m after finding the line nicely. The wide draw makes things trickier, but his late sectionals last start suggest he’s right around the mark again.
| 7. Puff ‘N’ Harry (8) J: Martin Harley 60kg 53×1T: Barry Lockwood & Emma-Jane Vincent |