WINNO'S WINNERS: DOOMBEN, MARCH 24

By Darren Winningham | Friday, March 23, 2018

DOOMBEN RACES SATURDAY 24 MARCH 2018

Doomben this week!

The track is rated “HEAVY” (Thursday) and the rail will be out 4.5 metres this weekend.

There is more rain forecast again on Friday – and scattered showers again on Saturday.

I am sure that the track will be a bog unless we get better than forecast weather over Friday and Saturday.

In WINNO NEWS this week

I see that the CEO of Queensland Racing has resigned – Eliot Forbes has moved on.

Whatever the reasons for the resignation it has not addressed the current situation with the “headquarters of racing” in Queensland – EAGLE FARM.

Now WINNO does not get upset often but like many people in racing I am pissed off.

The Eagle Farm track opening and redevelopment has now become farcical.

The fact that the Racing Minister – Mr Stirling Hinchcliffe can get up in parliament and make stinging observations about the remedial works and the fact the track is still not in a condition to be used for racing must raise concerns to everyone involved in racing.

To be honest I am over reading and listening to the speculation of who is to blame, what has gone wrong and all the other crap that has been said.

It is time for the Government to call an Inquiry into this scandal that has rocked the Queensland racing industry.

No more from me again – on this subject – rant over!

Let's get to it.

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

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Race 1

I always have had a big opinion of Jetsonic (5) who loves a wet track, always runs well fresh ... however, normally gets a little way back and makes a long-sustained run late. If the track is a bog and they are not making ground, I may be in trouble here – but I am sure that Matthew McGillivray who was in wonderful form last weekend will get the best out of this Tony Gollan runner.

Chris Anderson has Muddy Rope (6) going around – that is sought of ironic considering the conditions. This gelding likes a wet track and comes off a win at Ipswich on a soft track. Jeff Lloyd is in the saddle this weekend – he will probably have this runner placed near the speed and he should be difficult to beat.

The other two runners who will be suited by the damp conditions are All Pluck (2) to be ridden by Lani Fancourt and Secret Mo (3) to be ridden by Michael Murphy who seems to be riding in a purple patch at the moment with winners at Doomben consecutively on Saturdays over the past few weeks!

Selections: 5-6-3-2

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Race 2

Two-year-old runners on a heavy surface – no thanks!

I think the Tony Gollan debut runner Shamurt (10) looked well forward in a recent trial – Jim Byrne aboard and barrier 2 I think she could prove difficult to beat here.

I am struggling to find the placings. I think the Tom Button trained Gypsy Toff (4) may be a rough chance despite drawing barrier 14.

John Zielke trained Grand de Lago (1) is proven on a heavy track and may be competitive as well.

It is a tough race and many of these are untried on a heavy track – I may just sit back and watch!

Selections: 10-4-8-1 rough chances 3 and 12

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Race 3

Bryan and Daniel Guy have the unlucky Sweet Adaline engaged here. She has been racing very consistently without much luck – this weekend she has a chance to post a victory. She likes wet tracks and Jim Byrne remains on her. See you in the winner’s stall Bryan after the race!

Glamorous Miss (14) comes to town after racing well in the NSW provincial circuit. Matthew Dunn trains this one and she will race well down in the weights.

Selections: 13-14-6-5

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Race 4

Open handicap over a mile and we see the return of the grand war horse Rudy (1) for Helen Page on the Gold Coast. He is a grand old stayer and is proven on wet surfaces. Whilst he may have conditions to suit I am not certain that he will be ready to show his best first up. But it would be great to see him win!

The Munce Racing team has Constantine (6) going around here. He loves a damp track and should get conditions to suit – Matthew McGillivray in the saddle (this team won the 2-year-old classic on the Gold Coast last weekend with Boomsara).

I am going to put Rock On Ivy (8) from Donald “Ducky” Baker’s stables to show up here for a place at around $35 with Michael “Muppy” Hellyer in the saddle. This one always seem to show up at massive odds and runs a bold race fresh – he gets those conditions this weekend and “Hell Yea” seems to like riding long priced winners in town!

Selections: 6-8-3-1

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Race 5

Maybe a race to race double for the Munce Racing team with First Crush (7) in this race – this time Ronnie Stewart is aboard. This gelding loves wet conditions and I think last start the track was drying out very quickly. If the track remains heavy he is a genuine chance.

The ultra-consistent Morendi (1) goes around for new trainer Darryl McCabe again this weekend. At his first start in town for Darryl he managed a win. He has been harshly penalised at the weights for his great recent form – he may not go around if the track is heavy, but he always races very consistently.

There are a couple of runners backing up from the Gold Coast meeting last weekend – Honey Toast (2) for the Ben Currie team and Estikhraaj (5) for the Chris Waller team. Both looked like they were looking for further last weekend and they get conditions to suit here – look for an improved performance.

Stanley (10) for the Michael Costa, New Breed Racing, based on the Gold Coast has some solid soft track form and I think down on the minimum here may run a bold race on the speed with Robbie Fradd in the saddle.

The Barry Lockwood runner Godzone Girl (11) gets in well with the claim for Taylor Marshall. She has some solid wet weather form and I think with a win a fortnight ago at the Gold Coast on a heavy surface she may be difficult to roll here.

Selections: 7-10-11-5

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Race 6

The first leg of the quadrella!

Mr Marbellouz (2) returns to Doomben after some great wins in recent starts. The gelding is looking for his fourth win in a row this weekend and Jag Guthmann-Chester retains the ride again. His three-kilogram claim may prove vital if the track is chopped up and shifty come this race. He looks well placed again by Toowoomba trainer Kevin Kemp.

The danger looks like the Rob Heathcote trained Suggan Buggan (4) who really does love wet tracks – apprentice Taylor Marshall retains the ride and he will be difficult to beat with the wet conditions.

Publishing Power (1) has some solid soft track form – trainer Ben Currie has put apprentice Michael Murphy on this weekend obviously looking to use Murphy’s three-kilogram claim to lessen the weight the gelding has to carry. This combination of Murphy and Currie have been lethal in recent weeks at Doomben and must be respected.

Selections: 2-4-1-8

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Race 7

I will probably get in trouble for tipping at Edmonds Racing team horse on top here – as they reminded me last weekend “when you don’t tip us Winno we win!”. Well sorry Toby and Trent Edmonds I am tipping Inspired Estelle (3) on top here with Jeff Lloyd who won here a fortnight ago on a heavy track in good fashion.

There are a few early scratchings in this race and the field looks very even.

The danger would appear to be the Michael Costa trained Viaductress (4) who won on a bog 3 weeks ago at Ipswich. She looks like she loves wet tracks, so I am putting her in for second.

Final Zero (5) is trained by Michael Lakey and first up was poor finishing a tailed off last. I thought that she would race better than that. After the race it was reported that she pulled up with cardiac arrhythmia so I can forgive the run. She has a good second up record and has solid form on wet tracks. Since that run she has had a successful barrier trail win at Doomben, so I think she will be in good form this weekend.

Selections: 3-4-5-6

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Race 8

Our Beebee (9) is a horse that I have an opinion of. She is trained in Toowoomba by Rex Lipp and she raced in some top-class races last preparation and just seemed to race without any luck. She seems to have come back to in good form with a nice trial win at Toowoomba a month ago on a soft track with Emma Ljung in the saddle. Robbie Fradd takes the ride this weekend and partners her for the first time ever – I just hope she comes back this preparation as I think she is a nice type.

The other Toowoomba runner is the Ben Currie trained Amanaat (8) who has won on heavy and soft tracks. Again, Michael Murphy is aboard this runner and will race on the speed and should prove difficult to run down if left alone in front.

Just Orm (12) from the Tony Gollan yard rounds out my top three – Jeff Lloyd is aboard this weekend.

Selections: 9-8-12-3

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Race 9

Hang (1) was a nice run first up and raced well. This Clang gelding looks like it may give the Ben Currie / Michael Murphy team a unique chance for a penultimate and last race double this weekend if they get any luck!

Unfortunately, I am tipping the Rob Heathcote trained Don’t Leave Me Out (8), who was just beaten last start by Hang (1), to turn the tables this week with Jeff Lloyd taking the ride.

The other Heathcote runner is Zofonic Dancer (2) and I see that Matthew McGillivray has chosen to ride this runner. He has a pretty good record on this Zoffany gelding with five rides for four wins – I think he actually rode this gelding for four consecutive wins before he was narrowly beaten in his fifth start before being sent for a spell. He looks like he has returned in good form with a solid hit out in a recent barrier trial when narrowly beaten by Final Zero (engaged in race 7).

Matthew Dunn brings another runner to town - Tristan De Angel (9) - after working solidly through his classes in Northern NSW with wins at Lismore and Grafton – on both occasions he was ridden by Robbie Fradd who partners him again here this weekend. The last start was on a soft track at Grafton, so it would appear he will handle wet track conditions.

Selections: 8-1-2-9

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Jockey Challenge

Looks like it is going to be a very close battle this weekend between Jeff Lloyd, Robbie Fradd, Matthew McGillivray and Jim Byrne. Review their rides after scratchings as I have them all finishing within 1 point of each the other at present with their current book of rides.

Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5 NSW only)

4,8,10 / 13,14 / 3,6,8 / 7,10,11 - cost is $54 to $1

Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

1,2,4 / 3,4,5,6 / 8,9,12 / 1,2,8,9 - cost is $144 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

2 / 3,4 / 8,9 / 1,8 - cost is $8 to $1

Treble (races 7 to 9)

3,4,5,6 / 8,9 / 1,2,8 - cost is $24 to $1

Last weekend WINNO beat Josh Fleming in our weekly tipping competition. Whilst it was a convincing victory (I won by $0.40) I am worried he will bounce back this weekend – so make sure you check out our Facebook pages on Saturday morning for our up to date tips and thoughts for Doomben!


Good luck and good punting!

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