WINNO'S WINNERS: DOOMBEN, JUNE 3
By Darren Winningham | Friday, June 2, 2017
Well this week the Queensland Oaks meeting has been transferred from Eagle Farm to Doomben. We have all read the emotional reports / comments / critiques and so called “expert” assessment of the Eagle Farm track.
I am not going to say any more about the circumstances last weekend. However, I would like to think that our Racing Minister would consider an enquiry into the whole affair around the surface of the Eagle Farm racecourse.
I am not blaming anyone here. I just think that with all the innuendo and the commentary that has taken place over the last 12 months it has exposed the Queensland Racing industry for critique and criticism.
It is not about apportioning blame. It is about an open and transparent enquiry into the events that have brought us to this point. It would be an invaluable lesson moving forward to identify issues and errors that could have been avoided if any other Club has to commission the redevelopment of a racing surface.
Lessons can and should be learnt from this event.
Enough about that issue, now let’s get onto this week and the races at hand.
Oh, but before I do – a brief recap on the big news of the week ….. NSW BLUES won Origin 1 at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night!
In other racing news – a big shout out to fellow column writer and tipster David Fowler (4TAB) for tipping the Quaddie and Treble last weekend at Eagle Farm. I think they paid around $8200 and $1300 respectively.
I had a good weekend as well with some long priced winners and yet again I gave Josh Fleming (Sky Channel) another whipping in our tipping competition!
He has agreed to back up again this week – so keep your eye open on Saturday on Facebook for our selections!
To be fair between us over the last month we have tipped most of the winners in each race on the program and we have had some consistent success.
So it could be well worth you all continuing to follow the tips here on horseracingonly.com.au each week as the tipping panel is in solid form at the moment!
There is an eight race program this week, so let’s hop into the form and see if we can find some Winno’s winners!
The Doomben track will be rated “GOOD” for the meeting and the rail will be out 5 metres the entire course. Sometimes with the rail out it can favour leaders or on pace runners – so take note of the trend of the first couple of races.
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
I thought this one was a good thing last week if it got a run in the Sires - so I may have to declare one here in the first race.
So here we go - Snitzepeg (4) trained by Darren Weir. Comes off a solid performance at Morphettville last start in the Sires Produce (Group 3) and is back to a listed race here and the good track at Doomben. This maybe one to load up on and get a good bank for the rest of the day! There has been good money early for the colt being backed from $4.20 to $3.50.
Stuart Kendrick trains Italia Bella (11) who is still a maiden but has been racing in Group and Listed company. I know the stable has a big opinion of this one and this week it has had a gear change with winkers going on the filly. This could be the change that gets her home here. She has been the medium of good support from $9 to $7.50 since markets have opened.
Pardoe (1) was a solid winner last start at Doomben on the heavy track. He settled off them and then powered home effortlessly. This week a jockey change with Hugh Bowman taking the ride.
Hugh has been in sensational form in recent weeks – but last weekend what an effort. Not only did he come out and win the Group 1 feature event at Eagle Farm, the Darley Kingsford Smith Cup, but he then flew to Hong Kong overnight and partnered with Werther in the Chater Cup (Group 1) at Sha Tin. I think he gets in well here – but I am not too sure whether the wet track flattered his last win. Only time will tell!
Selections: 4-11-1-10 rough chance
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Race 2
I am staying with Skate to Paris (6) who was defeated last start by Pardoe (engaged in Race 1). Prior to that start she had a gear change, blinkers on and had a trial in them and looked good winning that trial. I think this week back onto a firm “good” track and drawn handy in barrier 3 she is a good gamble.
There has been some serious support for one here – backed from $8 into $4.80. Trained by Kelly Schweida and to be ridden by Jimmy Orman, Cellargirl (4) is first up here. She was impressive first up lpreviously when she won and then ran into Houtzen in her next two starts.
I would think the barrier trial on 16 May topped her off nicely for this assignment – she did win that trial. Drawn in barrier 2, I think Orman may let the speedsters go here but not let them get too far out of his sights and then make his run around the 200m mark and challenge late.
Dream Kisses (1) is third up here for trainer Steven O’Dea. I think she is ready to improve and her best form is on firm tracks – she gets conditions to suit this week.
Peter & Paul Snowden have an interesting one engaged here. Pretty Fast (15) had some solid trials prior to her debut at Wyong a fortnight ago. She ran well beaten around 0.8 lengths and looked like she had plenty of improvement in her. She has been well supported as well since the markets opened firming from $6 to $4.80 and again globetrotting Hugh Bowman has been assigned the ride.
Selections: 6-4-1-15 rough chance 5
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Race 3
A set weight Listed race – all signs point to High Midnight (1) for me. A goode second up record with four starts, 3 wins and 1 second – let me on people $3 is a great price here!
James Cummings, recently appointed to train the large Godolphin team, still trains this five year old gelding and the run was great first up at Doomben a fortnight ago when second in the BRC Sprint behind Jungle Edge on a heavy track.
Maryore (7) has been racing consistently on heavy and soft tracks. I am thinking that this week with better track condition we should watch out for an improved performance. She has a good strike rate with 6 wins from 19 starts. She has been up a while but I think we should be putting her in the exotic bets.
Berry Delicious (4) is up in grade the weekend. Jason Coyle trains this one at Warwick Farm and Kathy O’Hara has been booked for the ride. I know that her best form has been on rain affected tracks in the past but I give her a genuine each way chance.
Payroll (13) is one that will be running home late. Her first up run behind Maternal was enormous – settling way too far back in the field and sprinting home to finish fifth beaten around 4 lengths.
Ben Currie may well be the silent trainer of the Carnival in 2017 – he has had a winner each week since we commenced the Carnival at Toowoomba a few weeks ago - has Gully Command (11) nominated for this race. Last start Jeff Lloyd dominated on the stallion leading all the way and dictating terms in front and then forged away in the final 100 metres.
This week a jockey change with Blake Shinn to take the ride. For those who missed it Blake was granted a licence to ride in USA and will be based at Arlington Park, Chicago with Group 1 winning trainer Wesley Ward. I am sure everyone will join with me and wish Blake all the best in his lifelong ambition to ride in the USA.
Selections: 1-7-4-13 rough chance 11
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Race 4 – 2017 P J O’Shea Stakes (Group 2)
A bit of a shame this race has only six runners for a Group 2 event.
I was taken with the run of Preferment (1) in the Hollindale at the Gold Coast nearly a month ago.
He does not win out of turn, however, second up has 2 wins from 6 starts. The Waller/Bowman team are on show here and he looks hard to beat.
Darren Weir has High Church (3) in the race and it appears the logical danger to the topweight. He did win his home town Cup on 4 May when he won the Warrnambool Cup. He then went on to run a gallant second in the Port Adelaide Cup. Jockey Damian Lane has a good riding record on this one as well with 5 rides – 1 win and 4 placings – so I assume this record will continue in some fashion this weekend.
As for the rest – take your pick!
Single Gaze (5) is and honest mare stepping up to the 2200 metres this week. She looks well placed here on a Good track this weekend. If there are any chinks in the armour of my two previous horses, this is the one to test them.
Selections: 1-3-5-2
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Race 5 – 2017 Lightning Handicap (Listed Race
This is an even bunch to open the Quaddie.
Snitty Kitty (14) gets in well here and has drawn handy. She normally just races off the speed and with some good speed on this race I think she can just sit behind them before launching to win the race.
Jockey Tim Clark had a fall earlier in the week at Warwick Farm but it appears he escaped serious injury and hopefully will take the ride here. This filly is stepping up in class here, goes down in the weights and looks like she maybe one to follow in coming weeks.
Henry Dwyer trains her at Caulfield and she had a pit stop at Scone on her way to Brisbane where she ran a good second in the Denises Joy (Listed Race) when beaten by Miss Debutante who raced well last weekend at Group level.
I am forgiving the run of Toby Edmonds trained Prompt Return (5) last start when he raced poorly on a heavy track. I think back on a good surface this weekend we will see a sharp improvement. The stable must have the same opinion with some serious support from $9 to $6 since the markets have opened.
Invincible Express (11) can be forgiven for the last start run. She drew wide and was forced to lead – not sure if that is the way to ride this mare. Queenslander Jim Byrne (how did you go Wednesday night mate!) takes the ride this weekend – although she is drawn wide again look for a more patient ride off the speed here.
Two of the other chances are drawn off the track. Hidden Pearl (4) and Londehero (6) both have been unlucky with the barrier draw this weekend. But again being back on a good track I expect them both to improve sharply.
Londehero, in particular, is one that will enjoy a super-fast speed – the faster they go the harder he will come home. Robbie Fradd gets back on him and he has won 3 times out for 5 rides on him. One to keep your eye on for sure!
Selections: 14-5-11-4 rough chances 6 & 7
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Race 6 – Ascot Green Moreton Cup (Group 2)
A great bunch of sprinters gathered here this weekend for this Group 2 race.
There are a few on trial here for the Stradbroke whilst others will bypass the Stradbroke for other races.
I am going for some value and a little wide here – maybe to my own peril, but here goes!
I am tipping Attention (11) who I thought was unlucky last start in the Gold Coast Guineas. He is down in weight, does love the Doomben track and has won a recent trial since his Guineas run at the Gold Coast. Drawn nicely this week in barrier 4 and to be ridden for the first time by Kathy O’Hara – good odds of $8. That will do me!
The other one I like is Deploy (10). A gallant second at Scone last start behind Quatronic, he has drawn a little wide in barrier 12, however, he can be ridden quiet and a little off the speed. The tempo and the speed of the race should really assist this one.
I see that the topweight Dothraki (1) has blinkers back on. He is an odd one. If he turns up here this weekend he could make a mess of this field but he has not had a win since 2015. Take on trust.
The Virginian (8) was a barnstorming run when resuming two weeks ago. This week he will be finishing late. He could win but whatever he does this weekend I expect him to improve on it next week when he goes around in the Stradbroke.
His stable mate Siegfried (7) has just been so honest this preparation and he loves the track. I am sure that he will be thereabouts when the whips are cracking and the judge draws a halt to this race.
If you are looking for a roughie – Handfast (12) is one that could improve. The gelding has a great second up record with a win and two seconds from four starts – down on the minimum as well – so it could find a place here.
Selections: 11-10-1-8 rough chances 7 & 12
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Race 7 – 2017 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks (Group 1)
The 2017 Oaks – what a great field!
No excuses here this week on a good track at Doomben – this should be a wonderful race.
There is some value here if some of these lighter raced horses actually step up to the grade. These would be Pygmy (9) and Mia Rosa (15) – one is $21 and the other one $41. These two are my roughies for the race if you want to play wide here.
The main form line comes out of the Schweppes Oaks that was held at Morphettville a month ago on a good track at Group 1 level – that would be the form that should stand up here.
The three that come out of that race are; Kenedna (1), Egg Tart (2) and Ana Royale (3). They all ran in the first three and look well placed here.
Let’s start with Kenedna (1) from the Darren Weir team. She has had a run in Brisbane at Doomben and she was impressive in the Roses on a heavy track. I think that she would have derived some benefit from that run and the win so she is going to be hard to toss here.
Egg Tart (2) is unbeaten this preparation with two wins from two starts and has had a recent trial at Rosehill where she was really not extended. She will be ready here. She ran super in the SA Oaks and swooped out wide and sustained an enormous run that day to win. Jockey Kerrin McEvoy is two rides for 2 wins on this filly. This has always been her grand final.
Ana Royale (4) hung around in South Australia after running third in the SA Oaks and won the SA Fillies Classic (Group 3) over 2500 metres - coming back in distance, I don’t think this will worry her and again this is another one that will settle off the speed and will be coming home late.
Then you have my selection – Dawn Hill (3). I tipped her as my Oaks selection weeks ago prior to her win in the Gold Coast Bracelet (Listed Race). She has drawn woeful in barrier 16 but I think Hugh Bowman will go forward here and try and get in as he turns out of the straight. If he gets in and gets a nice tempo from the speed that should lead here, I think that she will be winning the Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks for 2017.
She didn’t run last weekend at Eagle Farm but had a nice hit out between races. She came off the track and looked spectacular. I don’t know what Bowman said to Waller, but I think the big smile on his face suggests she is ready – at $10 each way all day for mine!
The other Waller runner I like is Oklahoma Girl (6). She ran a great second to Kenedna (1) in the Roses a fortnight ago. Blake Shinn gets on her this weekend for the first time. Drawn well in barrier 7, he can be ridden handy and I think Shinn may be a Group 1 winner before leaving for the USA if he gets any luck in the running here.
Whatever your selection this race is going to be grand. There will be horses stretched across the track making their gallant runs for Group 1 victory around the 150 metres – only the fittest and best can win!
Selections: 3-1-6-2 rough chances 9 & 15
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Race 8
The last race of the program – anything can win this.
I tipped Bidii Babe (4) the other week. I like her again this week but I am a little concerned about barrier 14. She is fit and the way she sprinted last start she is going to be in the finish. Good value again this week at around $11.
The other one I like is Selita (13) trained by Mark Newnham and to be ridden by Tim Clark – it could be NSW v QLD in the last race!
Massive good each way odds here at $21 and, seriously, she ran a super race behind Bidii Babe (4) first up when beaten narrowly by 1 length. The second up record is impressive with a win and a placing from 3 starts!
Only WINNO can decide to bracket his top two selections and that is what I am going to do here in the last!
There is some serious value in my top two tips here!
Now for the rest of them – how can you not remember the super run of Nancy (2) and Elegant Composure (6) in the Gold Coast Silk Stocking a month ago. Both tried hard but just could not run down the leader on that occasion.
Nancy (2) has drawn wide here in barrier 16 but she is a classy five year old mare. Elegant Composure (6) ran on the heavy track last start when beaten by Bidii Babe (4). She does love Doomben and back on a good track this weekend – look for a sharp improvement.
Bonny O’Reilly (8) has come back from a spell and dominated with two consecutive wins for an overall, imposing record of 8 starts, 6 wins and 1 second. I suppose I will be criticised for not putting her on top.
Barrier 2, trained by Bjorn Baker, there is a lot to like here. Jason Collett comes to Brisbane to ride the mare. She is stepping up in grade and has been backed to suggest that she will be extremely competitive – currently crunched from $5 to $3.50.
Maternal (12) came out at Doomben and just smashed that field. This week things are a little more challenging. Up in grade and is drawn badly in 21, however Kerrin McEvoy has been booked for the Godolphin owned horse despite the wide barrier. There has been some support for this one being backed from $10 to $7.50.
This is a great race to finish off Oaks Day – if you are brave take field in your Quaddies and Trebles!
Selections: (4-13)-8-6 rough chances 2 & 12
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Early Quaddie (Races 1 to 4 NSW TAB only)
1,4,11 / 1,4,6,15 / 1,4,7 / 1,3 - cost is $72 for $1
Quadrella (races 5 to 8)
5,6,11,14 / 1,8,10,11 / 1,2,3,6,15 / 2,4,6,8,13 - cost is $400 to $1
Value Quaddie (races 5 to 8)
5,14 / 1,10,11 / 1,3,6,15 / 4,8,13 - cost is $72 to $1
Mad Quaddie (races 5 to 8)
5,14 / 10,11 / 1,3,6 / 4,8,13 - cost is $36 to $1
Treble (races 6 to 8)
1,8,10,11 / 1,2,3,6,15 / 2,4,6,8,13 - cost is $100 to $1
Jockey Challenge
This week I am tipping a Hugh Bowman victory. If you want to look for some value I would suggest John Allen and Tim Clark. I think Tim may be some good odds here!
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My Best Winners
Race 1 – Snitzepeg (4) around $3.50
Race 3 – High Midnight (1) around $3
Race 4 – Preferment (1) around $3.50
My Best Roughies
Race 5 – Snitty Kitty (14) around $6
Race 6 – Attention (11) around $8
Race 7 – Mia Rosa (15) around $41
Race 8 – Selita (13) around $21
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