Doomben Tips & Preview | Saturday 12 September 

Tricky race to start with SLIPSAIN (11) presenting the most likable case. 

The son to Zousain has gone close on a number of occasions without winning, returning a place in each of his last five assignments. 

He’s been up for a while but continues to race well and gets in nicely here at the weights with the 2kg claim. Maps to get back around midfield and save something for the finish. 

LIVALITTLE (3) gets out to his preferred trip now coming off a handy win over the mile at Eagle Farm two weeks ago. 

The gelding to The Autumn Sun left it until late to work through the gears, arriving in the nick of time to go half a length clear ahead of North Pole. 

He’s rock-hard fit with four runs under his belt and made a mess of his rivals over a similar distance here at Doomben in late January, winning by over six lengths. Providing he finds cover early from the wide gate, he’ll be very hard to hold out. 

BARBRAY (11) gets in nicely at the weights given he’s dropping back slightly in grade. 

Chris Waller’s gelding will carry 56.5kg on Saturday, which is handy for a gelding that has been ultra consistent right through this prep.  

The son to Zoustar won back to back starts on the bounce before a wide run cost him at Eagle Farm last time out over the mile. If he jumps cleanly this time and gets right back off the speed, he’ll be strong in the finish. 

NAILS MURPHY (7) is up sharply in trip coming off a run over 1350m here at Doomben a few weeks ago. 

He was gifted a nice sit off the speed and really gave nice chase in the run home, suggesting he’s looking for longer in the process. 

Ciaron Maher’s gelding has recorded three dominant victories over this trip previously and is also suited by the added chance of a wet track on Saturday.

GRAM (5) is tackling 1100m for just the third time in his career, but there’s no reason to doubt him coming off five straight wins on the trot. 

The son to Exceed and Excel has gone to another level recently for Tony Gollan, demolishing his rivals two back at Eagle Farm, before leading all the way two weeks ago to hold on narrowly ahead of Bonfire Spark. 

He’s well-weighted here thanks to the 3kg claim and maps to test his luck on the speed again with a wet track also suiting. 

DOMINANT DARCY (3) was the beaten favourite here over 100m further in late March when she failed to run on despite having nothing but daylight in front of her. 

The daughter to Zousain won three straight races prior, and was also a comfortable three-length winner first-up under Emily Lang. 

The pair reunite here from a nice soft gate and look one of the main chances with two nice trials leading in. 

MELDUBIOUS (6) finds a nice race to make amends. 

The Archibald five-year-old lost no admirers over the track/trip just over a month ago, overcoming a three-wide sit in transit to finish within a length of the winner Lockyer. 

Before that, he won by a similar margin at Eagle Farm ahead of Gambino, who franked the form by going on to win his next start.  

A true wet track might test him, but Michael Rodd has experience in the saddle and plenty of options from barrier 7.  

TORNADO EXPRESS (12) has earned another chance with close to a month between runs. 

She failed to produce her usual late speed over 1200m here at Doomben last time out, settling for fourth in the end after doing plenty of work out wide in the early stages. 

Her previous efforts saw her go close without winning over this track/trip, but a wet track on Saturday could really prove the key to her chances with some good soft form to her name. 

COMPEL (6) is an intriguing runner coming off a brilliant win on debut here last month. 

The Spirit Of Boom filly left nothing to chance, rolling straight to the front to lead all the way and dash clear by 1.5 lengths. 

She really put her foot down when it mattered down the straight, which came as no surprise based on her trials leading in.  

From the inside alley with only 54kg on her back, she looks ready to take the next step off a bit of a break between runs. 

POLYGLOT (6) looks well-suited by the chance of a wet track. 

The son to Lonhro can be hit and miss at times, but we’ve seen him win two solid BM78 contests down in Sydney this prep, before venturing up to Eagle Farm in late August where he tried hard late to grab third. 

Another inside gate with Taylor Marshall taking over in the saddle helps, and there’s no question he’ll see out 1100m with a stack of fitness on his side.