| What | Doomben Races |
| Where | Doomben Racecourse – 75 Hampden St, Ascot QLD 4007 |
| When | Saturday, April 23, 2022 |
| Feature Race | Race 7: Listed Mick Dittman Plate (1110m) |
| First Race | 11:28am AEST |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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Feature racing heads to Doomben in Brisbane this Saturday for a competitive nine-race card which features three Listed events – the Princess Stakes (1640m), Mick Dittman Plate (1110m) and Tails Stakes (1640m). HorseBetting’s Queensland racing analyst presents his best bet in the three features, as well as his top selections and quaddie numbers throughout the rest of the meeting.
As of Thursday morning, the track was rated a Soft 5, but clear weather is forecast into the weekend, so we can expect the track to dry out a little. The rail is out 5.5m for the entire course, which could see a little advantage to those in the first half of the field. Racing will get underway at 11:28am AEST with the running of a Class 3 Plate over 1640m.
Princess Stakes Best Bet – Mokulua
We tipped Mokulua in the Vinery Stud Stakes at Group 1 level, so we almost have to be with her in Brisbane at Listed level. The Clarry Conners-trained filly has pedigree that is built to stay, so the Queensland Oaks (2200m) will almost definitely be her target race, but the Princess Stakes looks a nice starting point. The filly by Redoute’s Choice didn’t appear to handle the wet track at Newcastle in the Group 1, so she dropped out to run 12th, but the start before that she really let down strongly over 1600m at Flemington in a Group 3 behind Barb Raider and Argentia which looks the right form for this, especially given the track is drying. Larry Cassidy is riding well of late in Brisbane, so we are confident that he can get her home on Saturday.
Princess Stakes Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#1 Mokulua (11)
3yo Filly | T: Clarry Conners | J: Larry Cassidy (56.5kg)
$3.90 with Ladbrokes
Mick Dittman Plate Best Bet – Shaquero
Shaquero has a very nice record up in Queensland, having won the 2021 Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m), so we are hoping to see that type of form shine through on Saturday. This is one of the more competitive Mick Dittman Plates compared to recent years, so he will have his work cut out against some high-quality three-year-olds, but with the Waller polish on, there’s no reason why he can’t. The son of Shalaa hasn’t won since his two-year-old season, but at three he had form behind Wild Ruler, Home Affairs and Nature Strip at Group 1 level, so now back to Listed grade, he should be competitive. Luke Dittman is hoping to win this race named after his father, so we can rest assured that he will be riding to win from barrier three, with a strong tempo likely to suit this colt. Provided he isn’t too far away in the run, Shaquero can get the job done at big odds.
Mick Dittman Plate Best Bet
Race 7 – 
#1 Shaquero (3)
3yo Colt | T: Chris Waller | J: Luke Dittman (57kg)
$23 with Bet365
Tails Stakes Best Bet – Quantum Mechanic
While Private Eye is clearly the one to beat on form, the outside alley and 61kg concerns us greatly, so we are siding with one horse who has drawn beautifully and well weighted. That is the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained Quantum Mechanic, who is coming off a midfield showing in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) behind Nimalee. That was on a Heavy 10 surface which she didn’t appear to really handle, so getting back onto a drier deck should suit. Drawn barrier four under Jim Byrne, the daughter of Deep Field is going to get a lovely run midfield with cover, before the runs will come in the straight. With just 55kg on her back and with plenty of fitness under her belt, this quality five-year-old mare can get the job done on Saturday for the Victorians.
Tails Stakes Best Bet
Race 8 – 
#6 Quantum Mechanic (4)
5yo Mare | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | J: Jim Byrne (55kg)
$7.50 with PlayUp
Best Bet at Doomben – Mass Destruction
While the southerners look to have a stronghold on the three feature races, we are confident that the locals can get on the board throughout the rest of the card, through Tony Gollan’s Mass Destruction in the fifth race. The four-year-old son of Spirit Of Boom has turned a bit of a corner in his racing career, winning two runs from his four starts over the summer months. Gollan hyped the horse up as a Brisbane Winter Carnival horse after his most recent win on January 29, with a race like the Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) his likely target on Ipswich Cup Day, so we expect the horse to be competitive first-up over 1110m on the back of a very nice trial. James Orman will do the riding from barrier 12 which is a very nice booking, while the horse gets in well with just 56.5kg on his back. He can pick up where he left off.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#7 Mass Destruction (12)
4yo Gelding | T: Tony Gollan | J: James Orman (56.5kg)
$4.40 with Neds
Next Best at Doomben – Isabella’s Spring
Barry Lockwood’s mare Isabella’s Spring is racing very consistently this preparation, winning back-to-back races in her previous two starts. Both of those wins came at Doomben over 2000m, so she now has to take it to 2200m, but with only a 0.5kg weight rise to 52.5kg, there’s no reason why she can’t do it. Samantha Collett remains in the saddle which is a nice push, while barrier eight will suit this five-year-old’s get back, run on pattern. She does meet Youngblood 2kg worse at the weights, but this daughter of Fruehling was running away from the Gollan-trained stayer at the end of 2000m, so we believe she would need to drop off considerably to not retain that margin. She can win again in a weak Benchmark 90.
Next Best
Race 2 – 
#8 Isabella’s Spring (8)
5yo Mare | T: Barry Lockwood | J: Samantha Collett (52.5kg)
$5.50 with Palmerbet
Best Value at Doomben – Balmaurice
Balmaurice might not be any good, but we don’t believe that is the case. Although the three-year-old has only won one race, he has been competitive in hard races on multiple occasions, a fourth and a second behind Gypsy Goddess last preparation. The Rex Lipp & Nicholas Hahn-trained son of Maurice is on the seven-day back-up after contesting a Benchmark 72 at Eagle Farm last weekend when making up some nice ground late after bundling the start. Depsite not winning the Group 3 Grand Prix (2200m), it was easily his best run and that was when he rolled along on speed, so we are hoping that from barrier two, that is what Jim Byrne will do on Saturday, especially with extra fitness in his legs.
Best Value
Race 1 – 
#13 Balmaurice (2)
3yo Gelding | T: Rex Lipp & Nicholas Hahn | J: Jim Byrne (55kg)
$15 with Unibet
Saturday quaddie tips for Doomben
Doomben quadrella selections
Saturday, April 23, 2022
- 3-7-8-10-15
- 1-2-3-4-6-7
- 1-4-5-6
- 1-2-8-12
Investment: $480 for 100%
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