WINNO'S WINNERS: DOOMBEN, MARCH 3

By Darren Winningham | Thursday, March 1, 2018

DOOMBEN - TRACK AND WEATHER

The track is rated “SOFT” at the time of writing and the rail will be out 7.0 metres the entire course this weekend.

There is some light rain forecast again on Friday – but then clearing and a warm Saturday. I am thinking we will be racing on a SOFT track come Saturday. I suppose horses with some wet track form should gain an advantage.

Last weekend there was no racing – so we have 11 races this weekend at Doomben.

WINNO NEWS

A big HRO congratulations to Ryan “Wiggo” Wiggins and Kate Collingwood for last Sunday. They got married and, looking at the photos in social media, Kate looked stunning!

The “King of the Gold Coast” has been back riding track work this week. Dan Griffin has recovered from a long injury and he has battled his way back to get back in the saddle. I think it may be a big day when he returns to riding at the Gold Coast in the coming weeks – maybe WINNO will make a special trip down to watch the big day!

It would be remiss of me to mention – only one more week until 2018 NRL is back!

Rugby League is going to be awesome this year.

I am tipping a Storm V Bulldogs Grand Final and if you want to go wide maybe a Storm V Cowboys.

As for the Bronchokers …. they will finish 6th and be goooone after the first week of the Semi-Finals (just for all you Bronco nerds. I think that includes you Josh Fleming).

Oh yes … and State of Origin. NSW win in Game 1 in Sydney by 8 points – a NSW win a the MCG by 4 points in Game 2 and then we will let you win the last one at Suncorp Stadium – where you will win by 7 points!

So, a NSW Origin victory in 2018! Go the Blues!!

NB: As this form assessment was made a couple of days prior to raceday, please check final fields and track conditions for any changes on the day.

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Race 1

A distance race to start the day – lucky it is lunch time – I will be eating my salad!

I like a Chris Munce runner to bounce back here this weekend – First Crush (6). He does like wet surfaces.

The Chris Waller stables on the Gold Coast have two runners engaged here.

Estikhraaj (3) to be ridden by Jim Byrne has a placing on a heavy track.

Michael Cahill is aboard the Waller runner – Exoteric (4) who, despite the no wet form data, ran a super race here a fortnight ago on a “heavy” track. That run got my attention – I think that this gelding is well placed this weekend.

Selections: 6-4-3-8

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Race 2

Well the Doomben course tractor and the barrier attendants won’t have to work too hard here. This race is another race over 2040 metres – and this time it is Class 3 with a massive field.

Limited wet weather form as well – so it is a no bet race for me.

I will be enjoying my fruit whilst watching them go around.

The Robert Heathcote trained Pinch Passion (13) is down in class and attempting the 2040 metres for the first time. Despite this and the lack of wet track form he could be a genuine chance at nice odds.

I have gone for the Tony Sears Quiero (9) who seems to be quite progressive working through his grades and he does have a dominant win on a heavy track. Skye Bogenhuber comes to town to retain her association with this gelding – she has ridden him for both of his career wins. He should lead this field and maybe could be difficult to run down.

Toby Edmonds trains Star Echo (10) who is back to the distances he enjoys the most. Forget the last start run at Sunshine Coast where he didn’t get the best of luck. He likes wet tracks and if he starts here will be competitive at $31.

Selections: 9-10-13-15 rough chance 6

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Race 3

Another massive field with many chances.

Setoga (19) from the Steven O’Dea stables was super on the heavy track when resuming from a spell a fortnight ago.

I think that the Aquis Farm owned Your Song gelding gets in well here this week.

Prue’s Angel (10) from Gollan Racing finished off solidly last start over the slightly shorter 1050 metres on the heavy track. Jim Byrne stays aboard and the mare has drawn nicely this week in barrier 7.

There are a couple of emergencies that will be a chance if they get into the field. The first one is Snow Fields (18) who won at Ipswich on a heavy track last start. Chris Munce trains this mare. I just wonder whether she can step up to city weekend grade.

Ben Currie has Preferito (21) coming off a Class 1 win at Toowoomba a month ago. He is drawn well in barrier 4 and he normally likes to lead or just sit off the speed. Since being in the Currie stables he has a 100% record with 2 starts for 2 wins – at $21 there is some good value here.

Selections: 19-10-18-21

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Race 4

The two-year old’s step out here over 1200 metres.

Plumaro (2) was a raging hot favourite last start and went down – again this weekend the Kevin Kemp trained filly is short – I would not be entertaining the short odds on any rain affected track!

I think Chris Munce has two genuine chances here. Boomsara (2) and Spirit of Cherokee (6) both have chances in the field.

I like Spirit of Cherokee (6) who was very solid on debut when he bucked at the start and then put it together and flashed home behind Pinch Memory (1). Since that run he has had a barrier trial on a soft track and ran enormous. Ronnie Stewart aboard this weekend and, despite being drawn in barrier 11, I think he is close to a special!

The stable mate is Boomsara (2) who on debut when heavily backed at the Gold Coast. Again, a nice type out of the boom sire this season Spirit of Boom – I think it could be a Munce Racing quinella here!

The Heathcote trained Pinch Memory (1) won on resuming when I tipped him – he looked like he needed the run and will be improved by that run. Damian Browne retains the ride and he will again be competitive here despite the large weight.

Selections: 6-2-4-1

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Race 5

Jadentom (7) looks well placed here from the Lindsay Hatch yards. Last start at Doomben she was beaten narrowly in a blanket finish by Fortensky. That run puts the mare in good stead for this class and race.

Clockwork Orange (2) from Edmonds Racing on the Gold Coast has been knocking on the door and finished third in the same race last start that Jadentom (7) contested. This weekend the boom overseas apprentice from Sydney Jean Van Overmiere comes to Doomben for the first time – his two-kilogram claim and his vigorous riding will suit this mare.

Steven O’Dea has Dream Kisses (10) in the field. This three-year-old filly I think is a nice type and down in the weights and drawn handy could be one to knock over these more fancied runners at the massive odds of $15.

Selections: 7-2-10-4 rough chance 5 & 6

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Race 6

Capetown Hussey (4) second up – on a wet track ticks some boxes for me. She also loves the mile and Brad Stewart won 3 times on her last preparation.

Brazen Moss (2) was dynamic winning last start over the mile here on a soft track. He should get the same conditions this weekend and again be tough to beat again.

Ben Currie trains the top weight – Honey Toast (1) who always runs well second up and does have a solid history on wet tracks.

Selections: 4-2-1-3

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Race 7

Dream Master (16) from the Toby Edmonds stables at the Gold Coast looks well in here. I think Toby must have upset the barrier drawer computer as he seems to be drawing the outside barriers or wide barriers for the past few months! This weekend is no exception with this runner drawing barrier 18. He will need some luck from out there, however, if he can get away cleanly and lead this lot he could be difficult to run down.

Tversky (5) loves wet tracks and I think you should overlook the last run where I think the 1000 metres was too short for him and he seemed to get started late. This weekend the 1200 metres will be right up his alley.

Ben Currie has another solid chance in Break Time (4) who is looking for 6 consecutive wins – a hat trick this preparation. Jim Byrne is in the saddle and he has drawn well.

If you want a rough chance here – Chris Munce has Martinelli (8) engaged and multi skilled apprentice Quayde Krogh is in the saddle claiming three kilograms. Quayde is a great jockey, however, they tell me he is a great pilot as well. Maybe WINNO will have to hit him up for a flight when he is not busy and take the recorder up into the plane for a 60 Seconds with Winno!

Selections: 16-5-4-6 rough chance 8

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Race 8

The race has been decimated by early scratchings.

Mr Marbellouz (9) is trained by Kevin Kemp and was sensational winning here three weeks ago over 1050 metres in Class 3 grade by 7 lengths. He is rightly the short-priced favourite for the race – again drawn nicely in barrier 1 and with Jag Guthmann-Chester aboard taking three kilograms off him he deserves the short price of $1.80.

I think he is going to be difficult to run down here, however, he is up against some seasoned runners this weekend. I am going to tip my old mate Oink (10) to beat the favourite here. Last start he couldn’t get in and was caught wide – the run in the last 100 metres was tremendous and in a blanket finish was beaten 0.2 lengths. This weekend with the cut out of the track I expect that he will get the bacon! I wonder whether part owner Grant Bell will be trackside this weekend. Last time I got in trouble as he had to get permission from his wife Keiley to come and watch his charge run – maybe she has given him a 48-hour leave pass this weekend to come to the track and see Oink win!

Quick Ketch (11) won first up here and at a nice price, however, there was some long-priced support on that occasion. He was caught wide last time out in the race Oink (10) raced in. I think the barrier trial last week at Toowoomba will top him off nicely for this run. Emma Ljung takes the ride this weekend and she has been riding in solid form of late.

Final Zero (14) from the Mick Lakey stables runs well fresh and loves a wet track. She has had two solid barrier trials for this first up effort and won a trial ten days ago on a soft track. Brad Stewart rides here this weekend and he partnered the mare in that trial. Some good odds on offer as well at $11 if you like this one first up.

Selections: 10-9-14-11 rough chance 2

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Race 9

Tattersall’s Club Young Members Race.

A solid field here.

Well the run of Malvern Estate (6) last start was great when he looked beaten and then put his mind on the job and raced home to win the race in the last few bounds – it was a noteworthy run!

I am a big fan of Tyzone (10) and last start he got too far back and then at the top of the straight was knocked down and held up – but still managed to get balanced and storm home for a great run. He has a great third up record (2 wins and 1 second from three starts) and has a solid record on wet and heavy tracks. I think at $11 I will be having something on him again this weekend.

Now if you want one at massive odds you need to put in Sony Legend (7). This Brian Smith trained gelding always runs a race first up and in the barrier trial ten days ago I think he could have won the trial if the brakes were taken off. He ran a great second to Final Zero (Race 8 – number 14) – if Final Zero performs well it puts the spotlight on this runner here. Some silly odd of $18 are on offer.

Selections: 6-10-7-3 rough chance 1

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Race 10

Another large open field. There are a few dual acceptors in this race – so it could be destroyed by scratchings.

I like Karakabeel (18) first up. This Tony Gollan trained gelding always seems to run well first up and at around the $18 mark, first up, drawn in barrier 3 with Matthew McGillivray aboard, I can see this five year old gelding racing on the speed and dominating. His trial a month ago now suggested that he was ready for a bold first up effort.

Doubt Defying (11) hasn’t raced for 5 weeks now. Last start on the large Sunshine Coast track he stormed home with apprentice Boris Thornton in the saddle for a dominant performance. Since that run he had a lack lustre barrier trial but I think it was just to blow the cob webs out.

All Summer Long (5) is a NSW runner from the Kris Lees stables at Newcastle (did I say go the BLUES!). Last start he won at his home track with a massive weight with Jean Van Overmiere in the saddle. Whilst it is hard to line that form up with the runners here I think that, despite being a 7 year old, he will be competitive.

Bergerac (9) from the Steve Tregea stables is looking for a hat trick of wins this weekend. After two solid wins at the Sunshine Coast he comes to town looking to improve on his 5 wins from 9 career starts statistic. I know that he will be competitive but the form here at Doomben is dubious – I also cannot find any real evidence to suggest he will handle the wet conditions.

Selections: 18-11-9-5

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Race 11

You will want to hope you are in front by the time the last race comes around – else you are on your way home or heading to the Hamo for a beer! This has to be the toughest race of the day!

Setoga (2) is a dual acceptor – also nominated in Race 3 – I am not sure what race he will start in but he is sure to be competitive in either race. (See comments for this runner in Race 3).

John Zielke has Make My Own Luck (11) engaged. I see that he has packed up his stable from Toowoomba and moved to the Gold Coast in the last few weeks. This is his first city runner since the move. I see that he has reunited with his lethal partner – Luke Dittman - for this runner. These two have a great success rate when they combine. The filly has had 46 weeks off and whilst there have been no official barrier trials I think that she will be very competitive here. $16 on offer – this is the price that Zielke likes when they win!

Return on Equity (16), despite drawing wide, looks like she has some enormous ability and Steven O’Dea has given the gelding a solid hit out ten days ago at Doomben on a soft track. He ran nicely and won the trial suggesting that he may return to racing looking to consolidate his unblemished career to date.

She’s Our Star (5) - I was all over last start and she led and wilted. To be fair when I saw her in the yard she looked like she may need the run. With that run under her belt now maybe she will strip fitter for that experience. She does really not have a solid second up record; however, but she will like the wet surface this weekend.

Basara (7) and Grey Missile (8) are chances as well if you are looking a little wider.

Selections: 16-11-7-2 rough chances 5 & 8

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Jockey Challenge

Looks like an open field this weekend with the South African dynamic duo of Robbie Fradd and Jeff Lloyd both not in action. It probably all comes down to who gets the rides on some of these emergencies and who gets a full book of rides. At this point it could come down to Jim Byrne, Paul Hammersley and Brad Stewart.

Early Quaddie (races 4 to 7 NSW only)

2,4,6 / 2,7,10 / 1,2,4 / 4,5,16 - cost is $81 to $1

Quaddie (races 8 to 11)

9,10,14 / 3,6,7,10 / 9,11,18 / 2,7,11,16 - cost is $144 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 8 to 11)

9,10 / 6,10 / 11,18 / 11,16 - cost is $16 to $1

Treble (races 9 to 11)

3,6,7,10 / 9,11,18 / 2,7,11,16 - cost is $48 to $1

This weekend the battle of NSW (WINNO) versus QLD (FLEMO) will continue. So be sure to check out our Facebook profiles for our up to date tips and thoughts on Saturday morning.

Good luck and good punting!

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