Early mail: Close up look at Saturday’s big Doomben Cup meeting

THE form is complete, the conditions analysed and our expert, Brad Davidson, is confident of finding plenty of winners at the Doomben Cup meeting on Saturday.

Photographer: Simon Bullard. Race 2 TAB.COM.AU NEVILLE SELLWOOD STAKES (3YO&UP) - 2000m. Winner ' Junoob' Ridden by Blake Shinn.

ALL the form has been done, the conditions have been analysed and our expert, Brad Davidson, is confident of finding you plenty of winners for Saturday’s huge card of racing at Doomben.

Here is the all important Doomben track information:

Weather: Fine

Track rating: Dead (4)

Rail: Out 2 Metres

Irrigation:Nil last 24 hours; 7mm last 7 days

Rainfall:1mm last 24 hours; 4mm last 7 days

Early scratchings:

Race 3: 10 I’M CHILLIN’

Race 4: 12 URGENT BELLS, 13 DARLIN’ JULES

Race 5: 19e COMACINA

Race 8: 13 EMBLEMS, MASTHEAD

RACE 5: 2.30pm FRED BEST CLASSIC (1350m)

Preview: Nice race but a number of the fancied runners have drawn awkwardly. A lot of the pace in the race is also drawn wide so you would think the tempo would be genuine. A lot of form lines to line up. HUCKLEBUCK is probably the best horse in the race but he is first-up at 1350m and has to deal with racing the opposite way for the first time. Can win but early money trail suggests he is vulnerable. DOTHRAKI was super when winning the Gold Coast Guineas and the firmer track will be to his liking. His work was a bit below par by his standards on Tuesday though and a lot will depend on how hard he has to work to get across. SAFEGUARD would have won the Gold Coast Guineas in another stride and commands respect, while SIR MOMENTS was very good when winning an earlier race on the same day at the Gold Coast. HAVANA will appreciate the extra trip as will ROUGH COPY if he gets a run. ENQUARE was backed as if unbeatable first-up in the Gold Coast Guineas and will strip fitter, while L’ENTRECOTE looks the one who is going to get the best run at big odds. PALMERA LAD is untapped and his sectionals late in the Gold Coast Guineas were superb. Will be running on but will be giving them a start.

Comment: Happy to look for value with L’ENTRECOTE ($41) and ROUGH COPY ($21) if the two emergencies get a start.

Betting: DOTHRAKI ($6.50 to $5.50), SIR MOMENTS ($10 to $9) and ENQUARE ($13 to $8) have all had early support.

Race map: Looks to be good enough speed with QUEEN OF THE LOCHS, DOTHRAKI and ENQUARE coming across from their wide gates and HOPFGARTEN kicking up on the inside. L’ENTRECOTE and HAVANA won’t be far away while SAFEGUARD, HUCKLEBUCK and SIR MOMENTS will look for cover midfield. ROUGH COPY and PALMERA LAD will get back but will be running on.

Leader bias: DOTHRAKI and ENQUARE will be thereabouts.

Run on bias: ROUGH COPY and PALMERA LAD will get their chance.

Best chances: 1-DOTHRAKI will only improve further on top of the ground and he beat a lot of these last start.

3- HUCKLEBUCK is a query first-up but probably is the best horse in the race and can still win.

18- L’ENTRECOTE might not be up to the grade but at 40-1 I’m happy to find out. He didn’t handle the wet track last time out and Glen Boss sticks. Will get the perfect run and can improve at big odds.

17- ROUGH COPY- Gets out to a suitable trip and there has been money for him.

4. SIR MOMENTS- Has come back in good order and he is up to these.

10- PALMERA LAD- Will be flashing home late.

SAFEGUARD and ENQUARE also have claims and the chances don’t stop there!

Knockout: 17-ROUGH COPY’S run was better than it looked last week and the 1350m suits.

Suggested bets: Happy to have small each-way bets on L’ENTRECOTE ($41) and ROUGH COPY ($21).

Arabian Gold is coming off two impressive Randwick wins.

RACE 6: 3.05pm DOOMBEN ROSES (2000m)

Preview: Looks a match race between ARABIAN GOLD and HERA. ARABIAN GOLD has won her past two at Group 3 level and any rain will help her chances. HERA was good when trapped wide over the unsuitable 1400m last start and the step up to 2000m will suit her. She is a very talented filly from across the Tasman and class will take her a long way. ASADAUSKAITE looks next best and she didn’t really seem to get around the Gold Coast last start while MISS HUFFLEPUFF has been specked at odds and ticks plenty of boxes. She is trained by Chris Waller, has drawn well and has Nash Rawiller aboard.

Comment: ARABIAN GOLD looks hard to beat.

Betting: ARABIAN GOLD ($3 to 2.30) and MISS HUFFLEPUFF ($21 to $14).

Race map: No speed here and TORNADO MISS should lead them up but I doubt they will go quick. HERA and ARABIAN GOLD won’t be far away, while CHOP CHOP and MISS HUFFLEPUFF shouldn’t be too far away. LITTLE BIT DITSY and ROCK DIVA will get back, while ASADAUSKAITE could go forward or back from that gate.

Leader bias: HERA and ARABIAN GOLD look the ones.

Run on bias: ROCK DIVA, LITTLE BIT DITSY and CHOP CHOP will be running on.

Best chances: 1-ARABIAN GOLD looks tough to beat on her Sydney form.

3-HERA has a bit of an x-factor about her and her form in New Zealand was very good. She will keep kicking.

9-ASADAUSKAITE’S last run should be forgiven and she will be running on.

7-ROCK DIVA will be doing her best work late.

8-CHOP CHOP has blinkers on and she could be the big improver.

Knockout: 15-MISS HUFFLEPUFF has been backed early and will relish the extra trip.

Suggested bets: ARABIAN GOLD should win but there is no real value there. Not a race I’m too keen to bet on.

Angel Of Mercy could be the surprise packet in the Doomben Cup.

RACE 7: 3.40pm DOOMBEN CUP (2000m)

Preview: Interesting renewal this year and while it’s not a vintage edition it’s an intriguing race. JUNOOB looks a good bet in this providing the track is good or dead and he just didn’t appreciate the wet track at the Gold Coast last start. LEEBAZ is a horse on the way up but I think he is under the odds here. It’s a different kettle of fish at weight-for-age and he goes up 5kg and 400m in distance. ANGEL OF MERCY looks the best roughie in the race and her work on Tuesday morning was really good. But like STREAMA she has history against her and only one mare has won the race since 1950. Interesting to note seven of the past 10 winners have also jumped from barriers one to five, which also goes against Streama. AKZAR has the x-factor and he destroyed them at Warrnambool last start. Big step up here but he is flying. MORIARTY is the proven weight-for-age performer and might be the forgotten horse. SLOW PACE might also be underrated and he has a sense of timing about him fourth-up.

Comment: JUNOOB looks very backable here.

Betting: Been support for LEEBAZ most of the week but money is coming for JUNOOB and ANGEL OF MERCY at bigger odds. STREAMA has also had solid support.

Race map: FAT AL should lead them up with LEEBAZ taking up a forward position as well. JUNOOB should settle closer from the good draw while SLOW PACE and ANGEL OF MERCY will drift back. Hard to tell where STREAMA will end up and not sure whether they will head forward or back from the awkward draw.

Leader bias: LEEBAZ and JUNOOB should fight it out.

Run on bias: ANGEL OF MERCY and AKZAR get their chance.

Best chances: 5-JUNOOB looks the one to beat.

10-ANGEL OF MERCY has a sharp turn of foot and looks the best roughie.

7-LEEBAZ looks under the odds but must respect his recent wins and the weight of money for him.

8-STREAMA has class but history is against her. Too good to leave out though.

Knockout: 10-ANGEL OF MERCY’S work on Tuesday morning was nothing short of first class. She clocked 23.15 secs for her last 400m under a good hold. Will relish the firmer track.

Suggested bets: JUNOOB for the win and saver on ANGEL OF MERCY at big odds.

Someday is a Doomben specialist where he has won six of his 10 starts.

RACE 8: 4.20pm BRC SPRINT (1350m)

Preview: Nice race to finish the day. SOMEDAY should improve sharply second-up and his stats and this track and distance are very good. DANCES ON STARS won the Prime Minister’s Cup last start and the finish he produced to win was devastating. RIVER LAD is a serious horse and everyone seems to be jumping off him after the one below par run. His run in the Victory Stakes wasn’t that bad after he missed the start and got back in a slowly run race. EMBLEMS and MASTHEAD are both running at Scone, while LUCKY HUSSLER trialled well and did win the George Moore Classic first-up over 1200m last preparation. STEEL ZIP looks next best.　

Comment: SOMEDAY looks the sharp improver, while RIVER LAD is the class horse.

Betting: Some early support for both FILLYDELPHIA and SOMEDAY.

Race map: Doesn’t look to be a heap of speed here. BENNY’S BUTTONS will push forward, while RIVER LAD should get across from his wide gate. SOMEDAY will position up just off the speed as will TYPHOON RED. LUCKY HUSSLER should be midfield and DANCES ON STARS will get back but should run on.

Leader bias: RIVER LAD could prove hard to run down.

Run on bias: DANCES ON STARS should finish over the top again.

Best chances: 8-SOMEDAY gets his chance.

2-RIVER LAD is a classy horse who can bounce back.

4-DANCES ON STARS is flying in Queensland and will be running on.

11-LUCKY HUSSLER flies fresh and can run a cheeky race.

Knockout: 12-TYPHOON RED and 9-STARTSMEUP are both capable at good odds.

Suggested bets: Work around SOMEDAY and RIVER LAD.

OTHER PLAYS

Race 1: 5-KEMPELLY is flying this campaign and got to the front too soon last start. TIME TO PLUNDER looks the main danger but happy to be on KEMPELLY at $6.50.

EXOTICS

Quaddie (Races 5-8): Leg 1: 1-2-3-4-10-17-18. Leg 2: 1. Leg 3: 5-7-10. Leg 4: 2-4-7-8-12. Cost: $105 for 100 per cent.

Jackpot trifecta in race 8: 8 from 2-4-7-11-12 and 2-4-6-7-9-11-12. Cost: $35 for $100 per cent

Originally published as Early mail: Close up look at Saturday’s big Doomben Cup meeting