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

Gem Of Scotland looks well placed to notch her first win in more than a year since returning from injury, says Queensland expert Nathan Exelby. BEST BETS, QUADDIE

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

BEST BETS

Express Princess, R5 No.7 – $3.50

She bolted in last time she raced in these parts and has since returned home and put in another two solid efforts, the latest on wet ground over 1550m, indicating this mile on a soft track is going to suit her down to the ground.

Deal Of Power, R6 No.11 – $9.50

Think he looks a progressive horse suited by the step up in distance after putting his maiden to bed in comfortable fashion last time out.

Gem Of Scotland R9 No.5 – $7.50

Wonderful Riri, R9 No.12 – $5.50

Bracket selection here with the odds available to do so. Both look very well set up to race well here on a surface both should relish.

MONEY TALKS

Doomben

Race 2: Morendi $16-$12

Race 3: Foreign Territory $7-$5.50

Race 4: Fender $6-$4.20

Race 5: Express Princess $4-$3.50

Race 6: Deal Of Power $12-$9.50

Race 9: Wonderful Riri $8.50-$5.50

Randwick

Race 6: Anamoe $2.40-$2.20, Four Moves Ahead $6-$5

Race 7: Lion’s Roar $10-$9

Race 8: Bivouac $6-$4.80, September Run $15-$12

Race 9: Mugatoo $4.50-$4.20, Cascadian $21-$16

THE QUADDIE

Race 6: QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1615m)

Very interested in Deal Of Power stepping straight to town here. Trials were OK, then did enough on debut before stepping out to 1400m last time and toying with his rivals at the Gold Coast on heavy ground. The step to 1600m is a logical progression and think he’s a horse with genuine upside striking a pretty average looking race. Stablemate Abracadazzle has been super consistent and is a hope again, although not as cosily drawn this time. Criminal Defence is a horse connections have earmarked to get over further and this is a nice step, although barrier no help. Tumbler Ridge was okay in the same race last time and has a fringe hope. Better Get Set beat that pair there, but query whether she wants a mile on soft ground?

Selections: 11 Deal Of Power, 2 Abracadazzle, 8 Criminal Defence

Bleu Zebra looks a good chance if she can handle the wet ground. Picture: Trackside Photography

Race 7: 3YO Quality Handicap (1050m)

This race is looking very different to what it did when acceptors came out on Wednesday with Lord Olympus and Pinnacle Prince coming out. Rex Lipp was also noncommittal on a start for Simply Fly. Bleu Zebra is unknown on wet ground, but she came of age a bit at the end of last prep and she’s drawn to give plenty of cheek resuming over the short course here. Ballistic Lover looked the lesser hope of the NSW visitors but she has a handy enough record and is drawn to get every favour. Wary of Miss Canada. Initially looked too badly drawn, but with numbers dwindling that becomes less of an issue and the Dame Giselle formline takes you a long way here.

Selections: 8 Bleu Zebra, 6 Ballistic Lover, 7 Miss Canada

Race 8: Open Handicap (1200m)

Think this can be a two horse race. Racecourse Road showed another couple of dimensions winning at the Gold Coast, in that he sat off speed and handled the wet ground. Both attributes can come in handy here, as he may have pressure from those drawn outside him here. Either way, he’s going to be one-off at worse and getting every chance for Ronny Stewart. Jadentom will tuck in behind the good speed and offer her usual big effort in the straight. Just leaning Racecourse with the 3.5kg pull, but both look to get every possible chance. Had egg on the face potting Epic Girl last time, but this does look to have more depth and she’s drawn out on wet ground.

Selections: 2 Racecourse Road, 1 Jadentom

Gem Of Scotland is well placed to notch her first win in more than a year. Picture: AAP

Race 9: Class 6 Plate (1350m)

Nice depth to finish the day here, but I’m in the corner of the mares Gem Of Scotland and Wonderful Riri. The Gem was very good first-up off the 11 month absence, then had nothing go right at the Gold Coast in a much stronger race. She’s very well placed back to a Class 6 Plate here and should be reaching peak fitness now. Wonderful Riri has turned in two ripper efforts since arriving in Queensland and the extra trip looks right up her alley in this, on what will be her preferred soft footing. Guntantes is a query, as he showed a genuine return to form first up, rated a touch stiff not to win. We know his old form is comfortably good enough. Scratchings may be the key to his chances – lessening the harshness of that 17 marble.

Selections: 5 Gem Of Scotland, 12 Wonderful Riri, 4 Guntantes

AWAY FROM HOME

Hard to pass up the chance to bet in the Doncaster, even though it is generally one of the toughest races of the year. Giving Godolphin a great hope with Avilius ($13) and Cascadian ($16).

Both were excellent in the Ryder, making it two rippers from as many runs for Avilius this prep. He’s not badly placed with 56kg given the way he’s going.

Cascadian is a heartbreaker, but he’s been close up in a couple of Group 1s in Australia and arrives here off what is possibly his best ever lead-up run.

In the Derby, giving Lion’s Roar ($9) the chance to do a Shoot Out and bounce back off a Rosehill Guineas defeat.