| What | Doomben Races |
| Where | Doomben Racecourse – 75 Hampden Street, Ascot QLD/td> |
| When | Saturday, January 1, 2022 |
| Feature Race | Race 7 | Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) |
| First Race | 12:03pm AEST |
| Watch Live | |
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Streaming Live at Sportsbet |
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The first race meeting of the New Year is upon us, with nine quality races set to be run and won at Doomben. HorseBetting’s Queensland racing analyst has previewed the meeting, and brings you his race-by-race preview, as well as his best bets, value bet and quaddie numbers, in a bid to get your 2022 off to a flying start. The Magic Millions race day on the Gold Coast is only a fortnight away, so there are some seriously good thoroughbreds in action, including the return of Krone and Isotope in the final race of the day. The track is rated a Soft 5, and the rail is out 3.5m for the entire course. The first of nine is set to jump at 12:03pm AEST.
Race 1: Class 3 Plate (1000m)
It is a very competitive Class 3 Plate to kick things off on Saturday, with a number of last-start winners looking to keep their streaks alive, while a few are trying to get back in the winner’s stall. Kevin Kemp rarely takes his horses to town unless he is confident that can perform well, so we are siding with his underrated four-year-old. I’mtwentyfourseven is a three-time winner from 15 starts, and we are of the belief that he has what it takes to make it four wins on Saturday. The son of Shooting To Win has had two runs this campaign for a fifth and a third at Toowoomba over 1000m, so he should be ready to peak third-up now. The gelding has had two runs at Doomben in the past where he was no match for Safework or Batangas Entry over a touch further, so he should run much better at the 1050m on Saturday. He will surprise a few.
Selections: 2-3-1-7
Race 2: Benchmark 72 Handicap (2000m)
Unlike race one, we aren’t too sure that the term “classy” would have been thrown around in conjunction with some of these horses. In saying that, the classiest of the lot would have to be Natalie McCall’s Elegant Drover, who is now looking to make three wins from eight starts. The lightly-raced four-year-old has only been out of the money once in his seven starts to date, and comes into this off a good win at Ipswich over 1700m, where he defeated subsequent winner, In Agreement. This son of Love Conquers All will appreciate getting out further again, while the sting out of the ground will only aid his chances. Ben Thompson stays on which is a plus, considering they will need to overcome barrier 10, however, there is a high chance he will have the speed to cross and lead them. The $7 seems generous really.
Selections: 5-4-2-7
Race 3: 2YO Handicap (1200m)
One of the more fancied runners for this year’s Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic goes around here, with Soaring Ambition looking to remain undefeated. The Annabel Neasham-trained filly won the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic in very impressive style on debut, looping the big field to win by a third of a length, even after copping a fair old bump on the turn. Tommy Berry sticks with this Not a Single Doubt filly in her Queensland debut, so that’s a big positive, while she has drawn well in barrier four to be able to settle closer in the run. We will also be keeping a close eye on last-start Toowoomba winner, Northern Express, as he looks to have plenty of speed. Good race this.
Selections: 4-6-11-14
Race 4: Ratings Band 0-90 Handicap (1200m)
Provided Ryan Maloney lets a fast horse be fast, they won’t catch Ef Troop in this. The Tony Gollan-trained six-year-old loves it at Doomben with three wins and three runner-up efforts from seven starts at the track, while he also flies fresh. The son of Spirit Of Boom is being set for the Magic Millions QTIS race – the same race he finished third in in 2020, so we are confident that the stable will have him right. Drawn out in barrier 10, Maloney can keep this speedy gelding out of trouble, allow him to slide and attempt to run his rivals into the ground. It has been over two years since his last win, but there is a sense of timing about this horse now.
Selections: 3-11-2-1
Race 5: Benchmark 78 (1350m)
The half-way point of the afternoon sees a competitive field of 16 line up in this Benchmark 78 over the famous 1350m course at Doomben. The market hasn’t really sorted this field out yet, however, we think we have. Doomben can often be a bit of a horses-for-courses track, so we are siding with an absolute track specialist in Beachbreak. Toby & Trent Edmonds train this five-year-old mare at the Gold Coast, but she grows another leg when she steps out at Doomben, winning four from eight here, and running third on another two occasions. The Sebring mare resumed with a good fourth at the Gold Coast in a quality Open Handicap over 1200m, so she should take great improvement out of that, while the rise to 1350m is going to suit. Drawn barrier four under Jaden Lloyd, Beachbreak will get all of the favours behind the leaders, before she can sprint quickly under her light weight of 52.5kg. This looks perfect for her.
Selections: 13-12-14-2
Race 6: Shoot Out Quality (2000m)
We can pretty much copy and past this preview from the last five weeks when these same horses seem to race each other. While there are a number of horses who come out of the same race, we are siding with one horse who is on the six-day turnaround, Smart Meteor. The Chris Munce-trained five-year-old has done a lot of racing, with 35 starts already under his belt, however he seems to get better with each run in his campaign that he has. Two starts ago, the son of Smart Missile was backed as if unbeatable, and the punters were bang on, as he cruised to a one-length win at Eagle Farm. Just six days ago on Boxing Day, Smart Meteor charged into third in a Benchmark 78 over 1600m again, so he should appreciate getting out to 2000m now. He drops 5.5kg to 54kg, while he will almost be able to box-seat from barrier one. Wapiti is as tough as they come, while it Humbolt Current certainly isn’t out of it.
Selections: 7-1-5-2
Race 7: Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1350m)
A field of 11 three-year-old geldings and fillies contest the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate on Saturday, and gee does it ooze class. New South Wales visitors, Shihonka ($1.95) and Starman ($4.80), dominate the market, however, we are siding with a local galloper. At the top of the page is Release The Beans, a consistent son of Spill The Beans, who went absolutely super first-up in the Listed Gold Edition Plate when third. The Rob Heathcote-trained gelding won three-straight races over the winter, including a 3YO Handicap at this track and distance, before toughing it out at Eagle Farm over 1400m in August. Release The Beans had two trials before his first-up run, so we know he will be fit enough to be competitive. Luke Dittman retains the ride which is a big plus, while barrier eight should see the pair settle in the first four or five in the run. We are pretty keen on him in this.
Selections: 1-2-8-4
Race 8: The Buffering (1350m)
The Vo Rogue Plate might be the feature race due to its Group 3 rating, but this field is Stradbroke Handicap quality. Apache Chase has been a terrific horse for his connections, winning eight races and almost $1.4 million in prizemoney, but we aren’t convinced he is a Doomben horse, with two starts here for one third one fifth. One horse who loves it here though is Tambo’s Mate, who is looking to make it four wins from his past five starts. The Tony Gollan-trained gelding was a tough winner of the Listed Recognition Stakes at this track and distance on December 4, defeating Tumbler Ridge, so there is no reason to hop off. He has been back to the trials since his last run where he won that under a hold, so he will be fully wound up and ready to win again. The rain-affected surface is going to suit him, while he will get every conceivable chance from barrier three under Ryan Maloney. The bookies have missed him, he should be the favourite.
Selections: 4-5-10-3
Race 9: Listed Nudgee Stakes (1200m)
To finish off the day, we are graced by the return of Queensland’s Queen, Isotope. The Tony Gollan-trained mare is having her first start as a four-year-old since suffering a colic attack earlier in the year, so her comeback has been closely monitored in the media, but we think it is fair to say she has returned in brilliant order. The track conditions could be a slight query if it gets really wet, but this daughter of Deep Field is undefeated on soft ground. Isotope came within a whisker of Group 2 success at Randwick back in April over the 1200m trip, but that form has stood right up with the winner of that race, Wild Ruler, going on to win a Group 1 during the Melbourne Spring Carnival. This mare flies fresh, she loves Doomben and the 1200m is arguably her best trip. With Ryan Maloney in the saddle from gate three, she is going to get a terrific run and take a power of beating. She’s a star.
Selections: 4-2-8-5
Saturday quaddie tips for Doomben
| Doomben quadrella selections | |
|---|---|
| Leg 1: | 1-2-5-7-8 |
| Leg 2: | 1-2-8 |
| Leg 3: | 1-2-3-4-5-10 |
| Leg 4: | 2-4-5 |
| Investment: | $270 for 100% |
BEST BET – RACE 7 #1 RELEASE THE BEANS $11
NEXT BEST – RACE #4 ISOTOPE $2.30
BEST VALUE – RACE 5 #13 BEACHBREAK $11