Brisbane: Comprehensive preview of every race at Doomben

A COMPREHENSIVE preview of every race for Saturday’s meet at Doomben with Greg Spletter.

Hi Son. Picture: Peter Wallis

A COMPREHENSIVE preview of every race for Saturday’s meet at Doomben with Greg

Spletter.

RACE 1

A very moderate field of juveniles to open proceedings here and ROYAL TITHE will find it much easier than recent assignments. Made some ground in the Lancaster Stakes at Eagle Farm two runs ago then struggle to run on in the Wintergarden on a day where there wasn’t a whole lot of swooping happening. Gets a soft run from the draw and although she hasn’t been missed at $2.20 she should just about win. BOLD HEART’s first two runs on top of the ground were very good and she was only narrowly defeated at both, but didn’t perform so well on soft ground and stepping up to stakes company. Better suited here and has the advantage of the inside gate. SNOW FIELDS will also find this easier than her last two, and she wasn’t far behind the well-backed Miss Kindilan last time in town. A little short at $7.00 from the bad draw but has claims.

RACE 2

One of the weaker open sprint you will see up here, they usually have more depth than this and a horse like DIVINE SERVICE is more than capable of winning. Finished close-up behind Punta Norte two runs back then drew a shocker at Rocky and stuck on well to beat all but Lauterbrunnen. Superbly drawn this time and drops down to 51kg for his return to city racing. Right on the money at the $3.00 mark. UPSTART PRIDE won like a champion here two runs back, straightening up in front and widening the gap to four lengths on the line. Went with the early speed at Ipswich last time and was bound to fall in a heap. Gets a more moderate tempo here and is the main danger to the top pick, though no vale at $2.60. FINAL CRESCENDO ran home okay without threatening first-up on the wet track but should go much better on top of the ground tomorrow. He hasn’t shown his best form for some time but he does improve sharply second-up and has a strong record at this trip.

RACE 3

I’m very surprised they’re offering $13 about MR LEBROCK here back onto a dry track and at those big odds he will give a great sight. Didn’t do much at his last two but despite his reasonable record on soft ground he is a completely different horse on a firm track. Put together a couple of very encouraging runs third and fourth-up this prep running on stoutly from the tail and last time he faced a Bm75 field over this distance he smashed them at the Gold Coast. SNAPPER ROCKS grew another leg in the wet last time to win by nearly six lengths against a decent class three field at the Gold Coast but has a tamer record on dry tracks. Outclasses in the Grand Prix two runs ago but has been racing well and the $3.70 is about right. NAUTILUS beat a weaker Bm75 field here last start but has the same weight tomorrow and is likely to get the trip without a worry. Not bad value at $21.

RACE 4

SIMPLY MING was held up here last start but her previous two runs were excellent and from the great barrier the $14 is very appealing. Resumed with a nice third to Saluter in open grade over this trip back in May and followed it up with a fast finishing second to Limerick Moon at the Gold Coast. Way over the odds. DAME DESTINY appreciated the solid tempo at Ipswich last start but couldn’t hold out Londehero who had been in need of a solid speed himself. Scored a comfortable win at Ipswich the run prior and she has drawn to get every chance. RED DIAMONDS has drawn hopelessly but has shown up in this grade in recent starts and with some luck early on can figure. Placed at her last two prior to a spell in this grade here and does go well fresh. Include at the juicy odds of $15.

RACE 5

You can get $34 about LITTLE CAPRI and at those massive odds he is going to run one hell of a race. Showed ability down south including a couple of placings in good company at Moonee Valley and Sandown where he tried to lead all the way and boxed on well. Covered extra ground first-up for Brad Herne but made up plenty of ground at the Gold Coast last start under 59kg, running on well at the end of 900m despite striking trouble at the top of the straight. Drawn the inside gate here and over this longer trip is likely to jump and run and will take some running down. CODE NOIR hasn’t been sighted for over a year but showed an enormous amount of ability at his first, short prep. Won his first-two including a last-to-first run here over 1100m before going amiss. Trialled a couple of times leading into this and although it will be a miraculous training feat to get him up off such a long break, Matthew Dunn has the right horse to try it with. Fair quote at the $4.20 but any strong betting moves on the day should be heeded. PASSIONFLOWER ran a huge race first-up at Canterbury behind He’s A Given but couldn’t follow up last time when she took on a tougher race at Randwick. Drawn okay and has a great record on a dry surface. Include in multiples.

RACE 6

The $5.00 about LORDAG looks great value here and surely this must be the day for him to break through. Worked home nicely in the AM Giles at Listed level last time over 1800m but has a good record at the mile and with only 55kg will be hard to beat. LAUTREBRUNNEN finally broke the drought with a good length win at Rockhampton last start beating Divine Service. He’s been thereabouts at every start over the mile for the last year or so and is one of the main chances again. I thought HI SON would be a much better quote and at the 4.80 he is well under the mark, but I can’t deny him some hope of breaking his own drought. Led them up on an unsuitable surface last start in the AM Giles and stuck on okay. Bound to go better on the good-4 here and will give them something to run down.

RACE 7

BRETTAN tried hard to catch Flamboyer at Eagle Farm last start and it was a great effort to beat the rest of the good class six field comfortably. Covered too much ground in the Listed race the run prior but three runs ago scored a solid win over a super strong Bm85 field here and with only 56.5kg should be shorter than $4.20. BECKHAM has battled on gamely at his last two in stakes company, the most recent a length fourth to Tales Of Grimm under 54kg. Rises 5kg tomorrow which will sort him out but has been in great touch and he does have a strong record at the trip. ANGEL DANCER was a strong last start winner at Toowoomba over 1200m when making her debut for the Michael Nolan yard. Better suited up to this trip and she has plenty going for her considering her $21 quote.

RACE 8

More value in the offing in the last race of the day with MISERY who has won two of three to date and from the perfect draw will give a great sight. Led all the way at his first two starts at the provincials to score very easy victories, then didn’t handle the soft-5 here last start when a battling sixth behind Irish Constabulary in an R70. This is a reasonable field of three-year-olds but Misery hasn’t shown us his best yet and at $31 I’m happy to be on him here on an each way basis. SECRET TRAIL put the writing on the wall two starts ago at Canterbury finishing less than a length from Top Score, then came north and converted with a strong threequarter length win here over a solid bunch of three-year-olds. Drawn awkwardly tomorrow but she is talented and comes off a recent trial win in Sydney. OBERLAND walked in first-up here 10 days ago beating a very average field, and his previous two runs in strong 3yo company were very ordinary. Hot and cold type who has drawn perfectly but I certainly wouldn’t be rushing to take $2.35 back on a dry track here.

Originally published as Brisbane: Comprehensive preview of every race at Doomben