Doomben Review: Nathan Exelby talks with the winners and losers from Saturday’s Brisbane meeting

THE Courier Mail racing editor Nathan Exelby reviews Saturday’s Doomben meeting, with comments from the beaten division and the big winners.

THE Courier Mail racing editor Nathan Exelby reviews Saturday’s Doomben meeting, with comments from the beaten division and the big winners.

RACE 1

Richie Stephenson will bring Emphasis back to the 1600m of the Toowoomba Guineas after his 2020m win at Doomben on Saturday.

“I bought him broken in, but untried from Darley and paid only $10,000 for him. He’s only little, but he’s a trier,” Stephenson said.

FROM THE STEWARDS

Chief Stipe Allan Reardon said the protest by Luke Dittman on I’m Belucci came “very close” to a frivolous objection, but later had a change of heart and pinged the apprentice $200.

Stewards took all of 10 seconds to dismiss the objection.

“I can’t see where the interference is. No way it was going past me,” winning jockey Robbie Fradd said.

Initially Dittman told connections I’m Belucci “didn’t want to put his head down and go past them” and recommended a set of blinkers for the heavily backed favourite.

RACE 2

Jockey Jeff Lloyd returns aboard Aldini after winning the Makers Mark Open Handicap. Picture: Claudia Baxter

Every jockey knew the no pace scenario, but Jeff Lloyd was the only one who took up the invitation to lead and Aldini caused a boilover as a result.

There was no pace on paper so Lloyd and trainer David Kelly decided to roll forward and Aldini was able to walk through the first half of the race and then zip home in a slick 33.04sec, giving nothing behind him a chance.

“He had led when he won a Class 1 at the Gold Coast so we decided to have a go,” Kelly said.

Steve O’Dea said the run of Sir Moments, who finished fourth, was satisfactory under the circumstances.

“It was always going to pan out that way,” he said.

Sir Moments will have one more run over 1350m, before going to the Tails Handicap at Caloundra ahead of another tilt on the Hollindale Stakes, in which he finished second last year.

Trainer Chris Munce gives jockey Jim Byrne a friendly whack after he piloted Nicconi Leggera to victory in the Cascade QTIS Two-Years-Old Handicap. Picture: Claudia Baxter

RACE 3

A beaming Chris Munce labelled Nicconi Leggera a potential stakes filly after she narrowly held on for a smart debut win here.

“There’s a hell of a lot of improvement in her. She’s got a lot of natural ability,” Munce said.

THE BEATEN BRIGADE

“If it’s 1200m she wins. I was just hoping (Wrapped In Blue) would take on the winner a touch more and take me into the race. If she did that, we probably win anyway,” Happy Event’s jockey Luke Dittman said.

Trainer Kelly Schweida was thrilled with the return of Bagus, which he said “will improve sharply” off the fresh run.

RACE 4

Steve O’Dea is thinking Listed grade for Tan Tat Diamond, but not before picking off another Class 6 Plate in a couple of weeks.

“He’s been up a long time, so I don’t want to get too carried away talking about carnival races, but there’s a Class mile in a couple of weeks which will be perfect for him. I think he wants the mile now and that’s why he’s done such a good job to win again today,” O’Dea said.

THE PLONK

Wild ‘N’ Famous was backed as if unbeatable, but Robbie Fradd found himself three deep for the entire trip.

“They just jammed up and I was stuck out there so I had to let him slide forward,” Fradd said.

RACE 5

Off The Rails and Trakstar are poised for a return bout in next month’s Toowoomba Cup after running 1-2 in the staying test at Doomben today.

Off The Rails looked anything but a good thing appearing under siege turning for home.

“That was hard work,” jockey Jeff Lloyd said. “He waits for them. Went Punta Norte went past him, he came again.”

Tony Gollan confirmed Trakstar would be set for a re-match with the winner at Toowoomba.

“We can be more positive early on next time,” Gollan said.

Jeff Lloyd urges Off the Rails to the line at Doomben. Picture: Claudia Baxter

RACE 6

Reckless Abandon is set to clash with Tan Tat Diamond over a mile in a fortnight after finishing strongly to gun down the brave Ruling Force.

“He’s an improving horse. I tried him in some of the good races as a three-year-old and he just wasn’t quite there,” trainer Liam Birchley said. “He’s really strengthened up this time and he will go further now.”

Birchley said Reckless Abandon’s best run came into the Rough Habit Plate last year and has no doubts he will get 2000m in time.

THE RUNNER-UP

“He just had to do a bit of work in the run and that was the difference,” trainer Kelly Schweida said.

RACE 7

Peter Robl landed his first Brisbane winner when Glenbawn Dame controlled proceedings for jockey James Orman in the F&M.

“I was hoping I might end up in the one-one but she has such good natural pace. I didn’t want to lead, but I didn’t want that other one to cross me either, so I was happy to be just off it and she was able to shoot away at the 300m and the best horse won,” Orman said.

THE EYE CATCHER

“That was her first good test today and she passed with flying colours,” Robbie Fradd said of Oradonna. “She will get over more ground too. I think she will run a mile in time.”

RACE 8

Glen Colless tipped Another Whiskey to see out 1200m after he showed versatility in coming from off the speed to win the final race at Doomben today.

“I’ve always said to Steele (Ryan) that I thought he would run 1200m and on what he did there, he will for sure,” Colless said. “He’s just been plagued by bad barriers. Today with a better draw I decided to take a sit and he finished off strongly.”

#

THE FAVOURITE

“He just half gave it away at the start. He half anticipated it,” James Orman said of I Am Boss, who settled further back than expected before running on strongly for fifth.

Originally published as Doomben Review: Nathan Exelby talks with the winners and losers from Saturday’s Brisbane meeting