| What | Country Finals Raceday |
| Where | Doomben Racecourse – 75 Hampden St, Ascot QLD 4007 |
| When | Saturday, December 3, 2022 |
| First Race | 12:03pm AEST |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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Doomben Racecourse will host its Country Finals Raceday this Saturday, highlighted by the Country Cup Challenge Final, alongside the Group 3 George Moore Stakes and Listed Mode Stakes. The track is currently rated a Heavy 8 after consistent rain in Brisbane over the last 24 hours, and with more rain expected to fall on Thursday and Friday, we don’t expect to see the track get any better than a Soft 6 or 7 by Saturday. The rail will be 2m position for the entire circuit, and racing kicks off at 12:03pm AEST.
Country Final: Echo Point
In the feature event of the day, there will be a full field of 15 runners and five emergencies, featuring country runners that haven’t won a metropolitan race in their career. In the final we will be siding with the Raymond Williams-trained Echo Point, who has won seven of his 22 starts throughout his career. This son of Sebring won his first race for his new trained two starts back, winning first-up over 1400m at Yeppoon, before going to run a very close third over 1600m at Rockhampton last start. This five-year-old gelding will come to Doomben for the first time in his career third-up and with a run under his belt at the 1600m already. From barrier two, Les Tilley should be able to settle this gelding outside the leader or off the back of the leaders if they go too quick and look to run on strong.
Country Final
Race 5 – 
#2 Echo Point (2)
5yo Gelding | T: Raymond Williams | J: Les Tilley (60kg)
$4.80 with Bet365
George Moore Stakes: Goldsborough
In the Group 3 George Moore Stakes over 1200m for the sprinters we will be siding with the Gary Duncan-trained Goldsborough, who will be second-up for this preparation coming off a first-up fourth at the Sunshine Coast on November 19. This son of Headwater has won five of his 15 careers starts, with four of those wins coming on rain affected ground, and with those conditions expect on Saturday we see him as a good bet. This gelding has never missed the placings when second-up (4:1-1-2), the same goes when he runs on rain affected ground. There will be a lot of speed in this race, so Ben Thompson should be able to take his time crossing from barrier nine and sit in behind the speed. If they go too quick out in front, this guy will be ready to pounce on the turn and hopefully be too strong in the concluding stages.
George Moore Stakes
Race 8 – 
#9 Goldsborough (9)
5yo Gelding | T: Gary Duncan | J: Ben Thompson (54kg)
$6 with Bet365
Mode Stakes: Stroll
The Listed Mode Stakes will see the unbeaten boom filly in Queensland, Chinny Boom, step up to Listed grade and 1200m for the first time, and she will go around at odds-on. However, we will be siding with the Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoystead-trained Stroll, who won the Listed Bill Carter Stakes at her last start before she went out for a five-month spell. This three-year-old filly finished third when first-up over 1200m at Doomben on November 12 and now that she is second-up and ready to peak in this race on Saturday. The race favourite may just be too good for this field and come out and win, but if for some reason she finds trouble from barrier one, this daughter of Snitzel could be the one to spoil the party at good each-way odds with online bookmakers.
Mode Stakes
Race 9 – 
#2 (2)
3yo Filly | T: Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoystead | J: Boris Thornton (56.5kg)
$6.50 with Bet365
Best Bet at Doomben: Spiritualised
Our best bet of the day will be the Tony Gollan-trained Spiritualised in the colts and geldings’ plate over 1200m, where he will be first-up returning from a three-month spell. This son of Spirit Of Boom has been given a trial before his first-up run, where he won the trial over 1000m easily by over 2.5 lengths, eased down in the final 100m. This three-year-old colt has never missed the top two placings at his six career starts, while he won his last two starts before going out for a spell in August over 1200m at Eagle Farm and Doomben, winning by a combined margin of 4.75 lengths. James Orman will continue his association with this colt on Saturday, after riding him at his last three starts and in his most recent trial. From barrier eight this guy will have to show his customary early speed to find the front, and if he finds the front without doing a power of work, we expect to see him return with a win.
Best Bet
Race 6 – 
#1 Spiritualised (8)
3yo Colt | T: Tony Gollan | J: James Orman (56.5kg)
$2.60 with Neds
Best Value at Doomben: Stardome
In the staying race of the day over 2000m, we have found our value play in the form of the Chris Waller-trained Stardome, who will be dropping back slightly in distance from 2200m to 2000m fifth-up. This son of Savabeel will be enjoy getting back onto a rain affected track, as seven of his nine career wins have come on Soft or Heavy tracks throughout his career. On Saturday, James Orman will once again take the ride on this guy and from barrier nine he will drop back to the rear of the field and look to run home strong. He will give us a very good sight at the $10 being offered by online betting sites.
Best Value
Race 4 – 
#1 Stardome (9)
7yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: James Orman (59kg)
$11 with Ladbrokes
Saturday quaddie picks for Country Finals Raceday
Doomben quadrella selections
Saturday, December 3, 2022
- 1-3
- 2-5-8-12-14
- 1-2-8-9-10
- 2-3
Investment: $100 for 100%
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