| What | Doomben Races |
| Where | Doomben Racecourse – 75 Hampden St, Ascot QLD 4007 |
| When | Saturday, December 24, 2022 |
| First Race | 12:03pm AEST |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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Racing will return to Doomben this Saturday for a bumper nine-race program highlighted by the Group 3 Magic Millions BJ McLachlan Stakes for the two-year-old colts and fillies. The track is currently rated a Soft 5, but with good weather on the forecast we should be on Good track come raceday. The rail will be in the +0.5m for the entire circuit, which should give every runner a fair chance. The first race of the day will kick off at 12:03pm AEST.
Group 3 Magic Millions BJ McLachlan Stakes: Chrysaor
In the feature event of the day, the Group 3 $250,000 BJ McLachlan Stakes, we will be siding with the Chris Waller-trained Chrysaor, who broke his maiden last start at the Sunshine Coast over 1200m on November 19. This two-year-old colt was very impressive over the final 300m last start, where he chased down a runaway leader in the home straight to record a one-length victory. This son of Better Than Ready has had just over a month off the track since that last win, but he has been given a nice tick-over trial at the Sunshine Coast over 850m on December 13, which he won. James Orman will continue his connection with this guy after riding him at his two race starts and his most recent trial. From barrier three Orman should be able to sit a couple of pairs off these speedy fillies, who will most likely lead, saving him up for the last crack at them late.
BJ McLachlan Stakes
Race 5 – 
#1 Kovalica (3)
2yo Colt | T: Chris Waller | J: James Orman (57kg)
$11 with Ladbrokes
Listed Bernborough Plate: London Banker
The first of the two Listed races at Doomben will be the Bernborough Plate over 1600m, where the Kelly Schweida-trained London Banker will be looking for back-to-back wins after taking out the Listed Brisbane Handicap on December 9. This seven-year-old gelding was very good beating Linthorpe Lad and Dzsenifer, who he will meet again on Saturday, where he raced handy behind the leaders before coming off their heels in the straight and held on in a close finish. After a confidence boosting win second-up this son of Tavistock will be primed and ready to produce another big run third-up, now that he is at peak fitness. James Orman will once again take the reigns on Saturday and with his record of five wins from nine rides on this guy, he looks very hard to beat once again jumping from barrier five.
Bernborough Plate
Race 7 – 
#1 London Banker (5)
7yo Gelding | T: Kelly Schweida | J: James Orman (58kg)
$8.50 with Betfair
Listed Magic Millions Falvelon: Shooting For Gold
The second of our Listed races will be the Magic Millions Falvelon, featuring Shooting For Gold from the Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted yard, and he will be looking to go one better than his first-up run where he finished second behind Sneaky Five in the Listed Bribie Handicap at Eagle Farm on December 10. First-up this five-year-old gelding was very unlucky after he settled a length behind the eventual leader in the running, before chasing him down in the final 200m and missed by a nose on the winning post. This son of Shooting To Win has won three of his five second-up starts throughout his career and he is also unbeaten at the Doomben 1200m, recording three wins from the three starts. Hitting this race when second-up looks to be perfect for this gelding and considering he ran so well first-up, he should only be fitter and better for his second run this preparation.
Magic Millions Falvelon
Race 8 – 
#7 Shooting For Gold (9)
5yo Gelding | T: Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted | J: Brody Loy (57.5kg)
$5 with Bet365
Best Bet at Eagle Farm: Soothsayer
Our best bet of the day will come up in the third race where Soothsayer from the Lee Freedman yard will be looking to complete a hat-trick of wins for this preparation after winning his last two starts at the Sunshine Coast and Eagle Farm. This son of Divine Prophet dropped back to 1400m from 1600m last start and beat four of the nine rivals that he will meet on Saturday. This three-year-old gelding is in very good form and now that he rises in distance to 1600m, he will be better suited than many of his rivals who are suspect at the mile. Boris Thornton will ride this guy again on Saturday, after taking the reins at his last three starts, where he hasn’t finished worse than second. From barrier three Thornton should find the lead uncontested and look to kick clear on the home bend to record another win.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#1 Soothsayer (4)
3yo Gelding | T: Lee Freedman | J: Boris Thornton (57kg)
$2.30 with Palmerbet
Next Best at Eagle Farm: Joviality
The first leg of the quaddie will see a rematch between Palladas and Joviality, who both fought out the finish at Eagle Farm over 1200m on December 10; however, we think that the result will be reversed on Saturday as Joviality steps up to a more suitable 1350m and has a 2kg weight swing on Palladas. This five-year-old mare will be second-up on Saturday and will have derived a lot of benefit from her first-up run, after returning from a four-month spell. On Saturday, James Orman will take the ride once again as he looks for his second win on her from his fourth ride. Jumping from barrier five, we should see this daughter of I Am Invincible sit on the back of Palladas two pairs back from the leaders and be too strong at the end of the 1350m.
Next Best
Race 6 – #5 Joviality (5)
5yo Mare | T: Chris Waller | J: James Orman (58kg)
$4.40 with Neds
Doomben quaddie numbers for Saturday, December 24
Doomben quadrella selections
Saturday, December 24, 2022
- 2-3-5
- 1-3-8
- 2-3-4-6-17
- 1-3-9-10-11
Investment: $225 for 100%
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