TAB On The Punt: Nathan Exelby previews the meeting at Doomben

Queensland racing expert Nathan Exelby is confident Glitter Strip can salute at the same track and distance of her last win. BEST BETS, QUADDIE

Glitter Strip won at the track and distance in May. Picture: Trackside Photography

Sky Racing and Brisbane Racing Club’s turf expert Nathan Exelby runs his eye over Saturday’s meeting at Doomben.

Track: Soft 5. Rail: +0.5m.

BEST BETS

Kirkeby, Race 2, No.4, $4.60

Stepped to 2000m for the first time and put a similar class field to the sword on a heavy surface last time. Likely gets similar conditions and will be gifted a perfect run from this draw.

Palladas, R5 No.10 – $7 & Mass Destruction, R5 No.3 – $10

Garoppolo is entitled to be favourite, but thinking the inside draw could cause him some problems. This pair will be able to make their runs down the outside unimpeded.

Glitter Strip, R9 No.14 – $6

Made nice ground first-up in a strong race and 1350m looks her pet trip, having beaten a handy field over this course back in May. Think she can round these up.

MONEY TALKS

Race 2: Becandleni $26-$8.50

Race 5: Palladas $11-$7

Race 6: Coolangatta $1.30-$1.33

Race 7: Ballistic Boy $8-$9, The Harrovian $6-$4.40

Race 8: Zoustyle $2.90-$2.80, Hard Empire $26-$16, Baller $11-$9.50

Race 9: Roman Aurues $15-$9

THE QUADDIE

R6: B.J. MCLACHLAN STAKES (1200m)

Market giving nothing away with Coolangatta ($1.33), who is Australia’s highest rated two-year-old following her dominant performance to win the Gimcrack. Gave the impression in that win she will be just as effective up to 1200m after sitting just off them and powering away. Recent trial in Sydney was similar. Still a good race away from her and Swiss Exile ($9) goes in as second pick after monster debut performance. Has since trialled at the Gold Coast and did everything right. He does need to find a little luck from a tricky gate though. Palazzo Spirit ($14) is drawn to give a good sight on speed. Bright Blue Sky ($6.50) hard to line up, but adds to the intrigue.

Selections: 9 Coolangatta, 6 Swiss Exile, 1 Palazzo Spirit

R7: BERNBOROUGH PLATE (1600m)

Wheelhouse ($5) is also accepted in Sydney, but if he comes here and strikes a wet track, he’s going to give a big sight. He’s one-paced, but on the heavy that won’t detract from his chances. Not far off in two Sydney Group 1 races last season and has come back well enough, just missing at Hawkesbury two starts back, then forced to do it tough under 60kg last time. The Harrovian ($4.40) will be fitter for the first-up run, where the market wanted nothing to do with him. Niccanova ($3.90) had his chance last start, but the weight conditions of this race suit better and he has a hope again. Would be keen to back Kubrick ($12) at the odds, but forecast for wet track doesn’t excite.

Selections: 8 Wheelhouse, 4 The Harrovian, 1 Niccanova

Zoustyle is chasing his third win of the campaign. Picture: Trackside Photography

R8: FALVELON QUALITY HANDICAP (1200m)

How wet can Zoustyle ($2.80) cope with it? That is the unknown should we get to the heavy range here, as he’s never seen anything worse than a Soft 7. He was beaten that day, but thought there was huge merit in the run. He will be fitter again here and is going to look the winner for a long way. Beau Rossa ($4.80) was Group 1 placed at WFA during the Melbourne spring. He has no issue with really wet ground and is also good fresh. He’s the one to watch out for at the end. Baller ($9.50) is going terrific, but doubt him on genuine wet. Hard Empire ($13) was huge first-up against the pattern and shapes as the knockout.

Selections: 2 Zoustyle, 1 Beau Rossa

R9: CLASS 6 HANDICAP (1350m)

As stated in the best bets, think this is a lovely race for Glitter Strip ($6), who will sit off them and finish off hard. Looking for dangers, stablemate Starosa ($11) has a great record at the Doomben 1350m and she’s much better than what we saw fresh. This class of race suits better. Wonderful Riri ($4.40) will be one that’s very much suited if the predicted rain comes. She was OK last time and is well graded here. Roman Aureus ($9), Enterprise Prince ($6) and Ruuca ($10) are all very consistent, but they haven’t been troubling the scorer for wins in recent times. They can race well again, but just fancy one or two of those mares will be too good again.

Selections: 14 Glitter Strip, 11 Starosa, 6 Wonderful Riri

AWAY FROM HOME

Stockman (Randwick, Race 7, $3.80) is having a terrific prep and now out to his more preferred trip, he can break through in the Summer Cup. Niffler (Randwick, Race 5, $3.50) put the writing on the wall winning first up at Wyong and went on with it stepping up to 1600m next time out to make it three from three. Now gets to 1800m for the first time and being a daughter of Tavistock, she’s likely to relish the extra trip.