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

Soxagon will provide stiffer competition for Apache Chase this time around after a great return last week, says Queensland racing expert Nathan Exelby.

Soxagon winning The Buffering back in January. 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: +3.5m.

BEST BETS

Soaring Ambition, R3 No.4 – $1.85

Outstanding win at Wyong. Shuffled back in the field from a wide draw, then came wide on turn and pushed even wider by another runner, yet still kept coming. Regardless of opposition, she showed enormous resilience to do that.

Simply Fly, R4 No.2 – $5.50

Has been finding the line in better races than this and now comes back to lesser opposition this time. Rain won’t harm his chances and with speed drawn out, he should get the tempo he needs.

Humbolt Current, R6 No.5 – $4.20

Put the writing on the wall last time when closing nicely in a slowly run race at Eagle Farm. Reaches peak fitness this time and set to enjoy a soft run to the turn.

Simply Fly drops in class on Saturday. Picture: Trackside Photography

MONEY TALKS

Race 1: Kingston’s Here $4.60-$3.30

Race 3: Soaring Ambition $2.30-$1.80

Race 4: Simply Fly $8-$5

Race 5: Fleet Dove $15-$8.50

Race 7: Jackson On Time $51-$18

Race 8: Kementari $15-$13, Tambo’s Mate $8-$7, Soxagon $26-$9.50, Blondeau $51-$34, Garibaldi $26-$14

Race 9: Isotope $3.60-$2.60, East Asia $34-$10

THE QUADDIE

R6: SHOOT OUT (2000m)

Humbolt Current ($4.20) gets the perfect run and can keep the ones he raced against last time at bay again in this field. No dramas with a little rain around. Smart Meteor ($6) is flying this prep. Just gave away too much ground last week, but he kept coming all the way up the running. With a big drop in weight here and a draw to be much closer, he’s in the mix. Phaistos ($8) was okay over this trip two back, then dropped back to the mile last week. He should be right at his top now and a little weight relief can be of benefit. Wapiti ($6) is always a hope but thinking this weight will anchor him.

Selections: 5 Humbolt Current, 7 Smart Meteor, 3 Phaistos

R7: GROUP 3 VO ROGUE PLATE (1350m)

This isn’t the strongest Vo Rogue Plate we’ve seen. Shihonka ($2) took on older mares in Sydney last time and fell in to win at this trip. Speed figures were only average. Should have other company up front here with Dovetail Diva ($16) and Release The Beans ($10) and that can leave her vulnerable. Tiger Heart ($8.50) will get the sweetest trail behind the speed and gets his chance to stand up here. Clearly not at his best at Eagle Farm, but back to Doomben with some cut in the ground, he is quite capable of measuring up here. Release The Beans was huge fresh and will be fitter here. Starman ($4.80) disappointed last time, but suspect he’s better than that.

Selections: 2 Tiger Heart, 3 Starman, 1 Release The Beans, 8 Shihonka

Tiger Heart can bounce back at Doomben. Picture: Trackside Photography

R8: THE BUFFERING (1350m)

Apache Chase ($2.30) leaves his beloved Eagle Farm for different pastures here. Tougher race than The Gateway coming up, but he will cruise across and give himself every chance. He seems short enough in the market though. Soxagon ($11) was terrific last week and get a 3.5kg swing on Apache Chase for the Weetwood. If he backs up, he’s hard to beat. Kementari ($13) will give away a start, but well placed here on the first up Gilgai win in the spring. The others I’m considering are the Waller pair Kiku ($8) and Blondeau ($34). Kiku ran well in the G1 last start, while Blondeau is off a let-up and does have a couple of ratings that give him a hope in this.

Selections: 5 Soxagon, 1 Kementari, 3 Apache Chase, 12 Blondeau, 9 Kiku

R9: NUDGEE STAKES (1200m)

Isotope ($2.60) resumes after 259 days. Bumped into Wild Ruler last start and stiff not to beat him. He’s since gone on to be a G1 WFA winner, so there’s huge merit around her formline. Trialled comfortably on December 7 and she’s drawn to get a soft run. Stablemate Miami Fleiss ($8.50) can cruise across from her wide gate to a good spot, but this is a tougher test this time. Katalin ($10) is a bit “in-and-out” but her best gives her a hope. Jamaea ($5) is MM Guineas favourite and can measure up against these older mares. Tycoon Evie ($34) is a knockout. Nudge ($15) might find this a touch short, but will be steaming home.

Selections: 4 Isotope, 13 Katalin, 5 Jamaea

AWAY FROM HOME

Lighthouse (Flemington, Race 8, $2.40) has been terrific in all three Australian runs. Wet or dry, it makes no difference. Has run stakes class figures a couple of times and now gets chance to run up to it against a field that have all reached their marks. North to Sydney and Secret Revolution (Kensington, Race 1, $3.10) has been scratched at Doomben to run here. Obvious issues when a debut flop, but has trialled well again and can atone.