WINNO'S WINNERS: DOOMBEN CUP DAY

By Darren Winningham | Wednesday, May 20, 2026

DOOMBEN CUP DAY – nine races cared with the track (at the time of writing) posted as ‘Heavy.' The rail is out two metres the entire track. The sponsors of the race XXXX have declared that if Pride of Jenni wins the race they will shout the bar!

NB: As these selections were made prior to race-day, please check for any changes to track conditions and for any scratchings on the day.

Race 1

A BM78 race over 1600 metres to start us off.

Selections:

11 – Sevens
10 – Larrikin Rogue
13 – Sosino
20 – Contildas Love
Rough chance – (4) Cavalry Man & (19) All Kinds Of Folk

Race 2

A Class 6 race over 1200 metres.

Selections:

14 – Balance The Books
3 – Now Is The Hour
6 – Mercurial Lady
12 – Arabian Rose
Rough chance – (8) Surprise Honey

Race 3 BILL CARTER STAKES – LISTED

A two-year-old race over 1350 metres at Listed level.

Selections:

1 – I Am Dirty
4 – Auric Star
5 – Katoto
8 – Shintono
Rough chance – (11) La Barrita

Race 4 SEVEN DARBY MCCARTHY OAM QTIS 3YO

A three-year-old race over 1110 metres.

Selections:

5 – Stardom
9 – Sylph
1 – Earn To Burn
4 – Camelight
Rough chance – (10) Angel Ladder

Race 5 XXXX CHIEF DE BEERS – LISTED

An Open class race over 1110 metres at Listed level.

Selections:

6 – Pereille
7 – Barber
8 – Flying Destiny
3 – Zealously
Rough chance – (13) Tectonic Plate & (12) About To Explode

Race 6 MAGIC MILLIONS FILLIES AND MARES PLATE – GROUP 3

First leg of the Quaddie. A Group 3 race over 1600 metres.

Selections:

5 – Pippies Beach
15 – Tomato Toastie
3 – Blindedbythelight
2 – Pinito
Rough chance – (6) Our Queen & (10) Margots Deel

Race 7 ANZ BLOODSTOCK – THE ROSES – GROUP 2

A Group 2 race over 2000 metres. First leg of the Treble.

Selections:

2 – Paltrow Miss
1 – Single Red
7 – Zuleika
6 – Fireball Miss
Rough chance – (3) Soverato & (11) Chrispa

Race 8 XXXX DOOMBEN CUP – GROUP 1

The feature race over 2000 metres at Group 1 level. The smallest field in recent years and all runners have solid chances. I think I will be the party pooper – no free XXXX for the patrons at Doomben after this race!

Pride Of Jenni (6) will lead – will go hard – but I think this weekend on the heavy surface she may get found out in the final 100 metres.
Birdman (4) for mine will turn the tables on her this weekend. He ran a solid second in the Hollindale Stakes when beaten by Pride Of Jenni (6) last time out. Chris Waller had three Carnival winners last Saturday. James McDonald was on fire – they combine here to win the feature race.

Half Yours (1) ran a great third in the Hollindale. The advantage he has here on the weekend may be the wet track. The heavier it gets – the better his chances. A solid performer on wet, bog tracks. Keep an eye on the weather and the track – if the rain comes throughout the day do not underestimate the 2025 Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner. Jamie Melham will ride for Tony and Calvin McEvoy.

Selections:

4 – Birdman
1 – Half Yours
6 – Pride Of Jenni
7 – She’s A Hustler

Race 9 LADBROKES BRC SPRINT – GROUP 3

A Group 3 race over 1350 metres. A World Pool race was well – lots of money will be invested here!

Tough way to end the day.

If you stay away from the favourites and they do not perform well – you will be taking home a motza!

Kelly Schwieda’s Metalart (12) loves wet tracks and even better LOVES the Doomben circuit – 7 starts here fpr 4 wins and 3 placings! Michael Rodd will ride – solid stats second up and drawn well. He was desperately unlucky at the Gold Coast last time out in the Listed ATC Trophy won by Cifrado (3). He was stuck behind a wall of horses late and went to the line hard held. His is around the $31 mark – something each way!

Sweynesday (4), trained by Roger James & Robert Wellwood, was unlucky at Gosford last time out in the Takeover Target Stakes. He was caught wide throughout in the running and still held on late to finish a close fifth. That was his first run in Australia (he is trained in NZ). I think he will be better for the run – loves a wet track and Jason Collett will ride. This runner is solid odds as well - $15.

Oak Hill (9) is trained by Lindsay Park – the Hayes team! He was unlucky throughout in the Gosford Takeover Target as well. The Hayes boys have won this race the past two years – Here To Shock (2024) and last year with War Machine who went on to win the Stradbroke. I think this runner is on a similar pathway and looks ideally placed. Daniel Stackhouse will ride.

Bjorn Baker made an impact last weekend with a winning double – and one of them was Midnight Dynamite (19) who is on the quick back up after leading and winning well in Class 6 grade – he dropped 7 kilograms on that run. He does go up in grade, but will be in front a long way out – masterful leading jockey Tim Clark has the ride.

She’s Got Pizzazz (18) won the Silk Stocking two weeks ago over 1400 metres. Jamie Melham remains in the saddle – she is drawn wide here – but with the speed in the race she should get in and get a perfect run. She is at silly odds here this week at $15.

Selections:

12 – Metalart
4 – Sweynesday
9 – Oak Hill
18 - She’s Got Pizzazz
Rough chance – (19) Midnight Dynamite & (14) Tuned & (3) Cifrado
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Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)

3,6,12,14 / 1,4,5 / 1,5,9 / 3,6,7,8 - cost is $144 to $1.

Value Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)

3,14 / 1,4 / 5,9 / 6,7,8 - cost is $24 to $1

Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

2,3,5,15 / 1,2,6,7 / 1,4,6 / 4,9,12,18,19 - cost is $240 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

3,5,15 / 1,2,7 / 1,4 / 4,9,12 - cost is $54 to $1

Treble (races 7 to 9)

1,2,6,7 / 1,4,6 / 4,9,12,18,19 - cost is $60 to $1.

BIG 6 (race 4 to 9)

5,9 / 6,7,8 / 3,5,15 / 1,2 / 1,4 / 4,9,12 - cost is $216 to $1

Jockey Challenge

It is the week of the “J’s” – James McDonald, Jason Collett and Jamie Melham. Jason Collett wins – probably at some solid odds as well.

WEEKEND UPDATE

I will post some late mail this weekend – see if I can find some winners. Be sure to check the up to date and amended tips each Saturday morning on Facebook after any track changes and scratchings!

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