WINNO'S WINNERS, DOOMBEN, APRIL 15
By Darren Winningham | Friday, April 14, 2017
We are back at Doomben this week. The track will be rated good, so we should be able to bet with some confidence. The rail is out 6 metres this week which may be advantageous to leaders.
Well there is so much news around this week!
I would like to offer my condolences to the family and friends of veteran NSW country jockey Darren Jones who succumbed to injuries sustained in a race fall last weekend at Warialda. I had the opportunity to meet and chat with Darren on several occasions. He was a lovely man and much respected in the jockey ranks. He will be missed in the northern NSW race tracks.
Then there was the track incident at Toowoomba that has resulted in some serious injuries to track work riders and former jockeys Wayne Clasohm and Ben Saunders after an incident prior to the Weetwood last weekend. There are some fundraising activities underway for these jockeys online and if you can offer any support I am certain their families would be appreciative.
These accidents that occur in the racing industry are always tragic for all concerned but it should make us all reflect on the effort that race jockeys, track riders, strappers, trainers and all those involved in horse racing put in each day of the week so we can enjoy the marvel of the sport of kings.
Whether you are punting, socialising or just watching or listening to the races we should never forget the danger these people put themselves each time they leave home for our enjoyment. I will always have much respect for all of them.
As a wiser man than me once pointed out to me ... name any other job that you perform where an ambulance follows you around all day.
In other news this week I see that the Toby Edmonds stable has brought up their 50th metropolitan winner for the season. This is an amazing feat for the team that is based on the Gold Coast and who consistently have success at all tracks across South East Queensland and even into the Northern Rivers of NSW when they take their charges south.
Stable jockey Jeff Lloyd also brought up another milestone on Wednesday a Sunshine Coast when She Goes Pop won – this brought up 50 overall winners for the lethal team of Jeff Lloyd and Toby Edmonds, the first time this has been completed by a trainer/jockey combination in Queensland.
I note that the newly formed training combination of Kelso Wood and Patricia Gesler has their first official runner at the Gold Coast this weekend in Race 3 – Charcuterie. The “King of the Gold Coast” Dan Griffin has been booked to ride the four year old gelding. I wish the whole team the best of luck in their first runner this weekend!
In other breaking news I am really excited to hear Edward O’Rourke will be getting boxes to train at Randwick. There's no coincidence about Michael Freedman’s success in Sydney with Edward as his assistant trainer. Edward was in charge of the Waterhouse over the Brisbane Winter Carnival in 2015 – I think he could be one to watch as his team develops in Sydney!
Winno has had a short spell again but this weekend will be back firing on all cylinders.
I just would like to take the opportunity in wishing all my readers and loyal supporters a safe Easter and good punting!
Next week I will be attending the TAB Saturday meeting at Kilcoy Race Club for their Annual Anzac Day meeting. If you are looking for a great day out make sure you get along to the course and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of country racing! I will be providing a preview of this meeting as well next week.
NB: As this form assessment was made prior to race-day, please check final fields and track conditions for any changes on the day.
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Race 1
The distance race of the program and it looks an even bunch. Some of this form may have been affected by the rain affected tracks recently so it may be necessary to exercise some caution here.
Speed Gonzales (3) I think should improve again here this week and will be hard to beat. Toni May (2) is the early favourite and has been working up to this distance and is only lightly raced. The four year old mare is trained by Paul Jenkins and has been racing consistently without much luck.
I think there are two roughies here that should improve with the track being good this weekend. The first one Spirit of Kiowa (8), trained by Rex Lipp, is currently good value each way at $14. The other is Scarlet Poet (9) around the $10 mark. I think it loves the Doomben track and does go well on a dry track. Tiffani Brooker has had some great success on this mare.
An open race – you may have to play wide here for a good result.
Selections: 3-9-2-8
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Race 2
Look I don’t think many people missed the unlucky run last start of Capital Gain (2) here a month ago. The gelding had no luck in the straight and the rider lodged a protest without any success – if he runs up to that performance I think he is a certainty here!
Snitz (3) should improve off his last start and my spies from the Murwillumbah area say he will improve on a firm track. I see Tony Gollan has engaged Jim Byrne to ride the first starter Red Phantom (6) who won a recent barrier trial at Deagon and looks forward for this race first up here. Our Mantra (5) is trained in Sydney by Joe Pride and is looking to break his maiden here.
I think you can bet safely here this weekend on Capital Gain with a close watch on the Gollan first starter who is good each way value at $10 at the moment.
Selections: 2-3-6-5 rough chance 4
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Race 3
There are some good fillies in this race – the second division of two year olds this weekend.
The John Zielke trained Make My Own Luck (1) is the best performed here and deserves to be favourite on her career runs to date. I just think with the weight, the wide barrier and the large field she may need some luck here. I am going to tip Ponytales (12) a first starter from Gollan Racing this weekend. She has drawn the rail in barrier 1 and with the speed that should be on, I think that Jim Byrne will just sit off the speed before riding for luck or coming around their heels and beating them in the shadows of the post.
Skate to Paris (3) was a super run last weekend first up at Toowoomba and must have done well this week for Chris Munce to back her up here. He normally spaces his two year old races apart so expect another good performance this weekend. Rob Heathcote has a nice type engaged here as well – Meikas (6) who won her only career start impressively at the Sunshine Coast. She led easy that day and was unchallenged in the straight – this is a step up here but I think she will go well.
Clarry Conners has sent a filly north here as well – Pricing Power (8) who has the added services of the inform Jeff Lloyd. Although she is drawn wide I think she should be respected in this field.
Selections: 12-1-3-6 rough chance 8
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Race 4
There is some good quality sprinters engaged here.
I am going with one that always runs well fresh and can finish late and hard in the final 150metres – I am tipping Sony Legend (3) at the great each way odds of $10.
Tumbler (12) trained by Barry Lockwood is an exciting sprinting prospect and is down on the minimum this weekend and looks well placed. She has had a recent barrier trial and has been set for a killing first up. She has firmed dramatically in the early markets from $4.20 to $3.20.
Lady Jetsetter (7) always performs well here at Doomben and could be some nice value for those playing exotic bets this weekend. Straturbo (2) has been freshened and has won a recent barrier trial. I am not a big fan here as he normally races well when down in the weights but his class will hold him in this for a long way.
Selections: 3-12-7-2
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Race 5
This is an open race.
There has been some solid support for the two favoured runners in the markets since betting has opened. The Steve O’Dea trained Candika (9) has been confidently supported firming from $4 to $3. The early favourite, Our Beebee (10), still holds its place as favourite and has firmed from $2.50 to $2.15 before getting out to $2.40 again with the support for Candika.
This is my second declaration for the day – I think Our Beebee is a great bet here and probably will have spell after this run before coming back in the Winter to chase some higher grade races. The Rex Lipp trained filly is undefeated in this preparation and is going great! I think these two should fight out the race and quinella and exacta the race.
Deep Image (6) will improve with the good track on offer here this weekend, so look for an improved performance on top of the ground. The Rob Heathcote trained Kubis (4) is third up here and I think should be ready to improve – note the key booking of Jeff Lloyd for the gelding.
Selections: 10-9-6-4
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Race 6
People are going to say I have lost my marbles here – I am tipping Kooroc at $51 each way. The five year old gelding trained by Tony Gollan has the addition of blinkers this week and I think you can forget the last start on a heavy track at Ballina – he just doesn’t handle wet tracks. I think back on a dry track, third up, and with Luke Dittman engaged you should be having something each way on this one.
Marabel (16) won a race at Ipswich two months ago and has been freshened – it has had the benefit of a recent barrier trial where the run was average, however, there has been some solid support for this one since markets have opened. Ironborn (10) ran a good race last start when beaten by Dreams Aplenty, which came out and won the Toowoomba Guineas last weekend. That is solid form for this race and looks well in – again Jeff Lloyd is a key engagement for this four year old gelding trained by Jennifer Fraser.
This is an open race – so you may have to play wide in your exotics – but there is some good value here in my top two selections.
Selections: 5-10-16-12 rough chance 8
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Race 7
Toby Edmonds has two engaged – Siegfried (5) and Fiery Heights (14). Siegfried is backing up from a great run in the Weetwood last weekend where he ran a credible third when only narrowly beaten. Fiery Heights (14) was defeated in Toowoomba last weekend over 1100 metres. I think that both will benefit from the step up to 1350 metres this weekend and they should be both hard to beat. Fiery Heights is around the $10 mark so it is a great each way bet, whilst Siegfried has been well backed from $5.50 to $4.20.
Beatniks (6) has been in career best form and Jim Byrne retains the ride on the mare – she will be thereabouts at the finish as she is a very honest mare. A good roughie for your trifecta could be Divine Service (10) who I think did not appreciate the heavy track last start – so put a line through that run and go on the run prior when he was run down late by Siegfried. Its good to see Michael “Muppy” Hellyer back in town riding this one as well – he will give it every possible chance!
Selections: 5-14-10-6 rough chance 4
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Race 8
This is a hard race to finish off the day – I think that Dance of Heroes (3) has been knocking on the door to break through for his first win in Brisbane. I think this weekend with the dry track – he has a race made to suit and should be hard to beat.
Slydini (10) ran well last start here when narrowly beaten – the Bryan and Daniel Guy trained gelding has the services of Paul Hammersley who has ridden him three times for a win and a second – so he knows him well.
There is a roughie here I have found as well that may blow them all out – Old Smokey (12). He is third up from a spell this weekend and he does have a great record third up with a win and placing from three starts. The wet tracks have not to his liking also and this weekend he gets conditions to suit. I would suggest he is great value each way at around the $16 mark. Michael Hellyer has been booked for the ride and he will ride this Brian Smith trained five year old gelding for luck in the straight.
Ruling Force (2) was good last weekend winning at Toowoomba and must have pulled up well for trainer Kelly Schweida to back him up again here this weekend. The top weight Guest of Honour (1) is way down in class but has been penalised with a hefty weight this weekend – I see that Matthew Dunn has elected to engage the inform apprentice Rebecca Williams to ride the gelding this weekend – her three kilogram allowance certainly keeps him on the radar as well for this race.
Selections: 3-10-12-2 rough chance 1
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Early Quaddie (races 1 to 4 NSW TAB only)
2,3,9 / 2,3,5 / 1,3,12 / 3,12 - cost is $54 for $1
Quadrella (races 5 to 8)
9,10 / 5,10,12,16 / 5,10,14 / 1,2,3,10,12 - cost is $120 to $1
Small Quaddie (races 5 to 8)
9,10 / 5,10 / 5,10,14 / 3,10,12 - cost is $36 to $1
Mad Quaddie (races 5 to 8)
10/ 5,10 / 5,14 / 3,10,12 - cost is $12 to $1
This week I am tipping the Silly Quaddie
10/10/10/10 - cost is $1 to $1
Treble (races 6 to 8)
5,10,12,16 / 5,10,14 / 1,2,3,10,12 - cost is $60 to $1
My best bets:
Race 2 – Capital Gain (2)
Race 5 – Our Beebee (10)
Race 7 – Siegfried (5)
Best roughies (all each way)
Race 4 – Sony Legend (3) – around $10
Race 6 – Kooroc – around $51
Race 8 – Old Smokey – around $16
Jockey Challenge
This week the field looks like anyone could win – Jeff Lloyd has some serious chances as usual – but I do think Jim Byrne and Rebecca Williams may be some value.
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