WINNO'S WINNERS - DOOMBEN, APRIL 28
By Darren Winningham | Thursday, April 26, 2018
Doomben this week!
At the time of writing the track is rated “SOFT” and the rail will be 5 metres for the entire course this weekend.
There are more light showers forecast again on Friday – and possible showers again on Saturday.
The track was chopped up last weekend – let’s hope the rain stays away and the track can recover.
In WINNO news this week.
Congratulations must go to Tye Angland with a winning double on ANZAC day at Randwick. That brought up his 100th winner for the season. How good is that – a great jockey and a wonderful NSW lad!
The Diggers Cup meeting took place last Saturday. I must faithfully report it was one of the largest crowds seen at Kilcoy. Bus loads of patrons turning up and sprawled across the track. Congratulations must go to this hard-working country Club for their innovation of pacing on the grass and mini trot races that are a wonderful highlight that support the thoroughbred racing.
In addition the ANZAC commemorative service was very moving and respectful. The patrons must be congratulated for their silence and mark of respect throughout the ceremony – it amazes me each year how the crowd contributes to this solemn atmosphere.
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
Another one of these distance races with only nine nominations – they are all looking for a Saturday win.
He Ekscels (3) is the new kid on the block from the Richard Laming stables. He has had 3 weeks since his last run at Cranbourne and looks a promising type – well for this grade.
Backhouse Billy (4), trained by Jenny Graham at Port Macquarie, and comes off an all the way win at the Sunshine Coast two weeks ago when ridden by Jeff Lloyd. This weekend the comeback lad Jimmy Orman takes the reigns.
Stanley (6) always stays under notice in these races – however, just needs the race to be run too suit him. That normally means a solid tempo in front and I think he will not get that this weekend as they are all plodders with no serious leader that will set some speed.
Jeff Lloyd seems to have a habit of winning these races – he rides Great Glen for the Gold Coast based Chris Waller stables. I cannot make a case for this one other than the jockey on it’s back!
Selections: 3-4-6-2 rough chance 7
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Race 2
A small sprint field here for the second race.
Bonsho (4) from the Tony Sears stables is resuming here. She just sometimes can need the run first up so I am not over confident. However, she is proven on wet ground and the grade and should race on the speed so that gives me some confidence.
The Tracey Bartley NSW invader is In Good Time (7) – she is a three-year-old filly who has 4 wins from 4 starts so she must be respected. She has scored the visitors barrier – barrier 11. Jeff Lloyd has been booked to ride and will probably hunt forward as is her style of racing from out there.
Kings Of Leon (3) is the other NSW trained runner here – trained by Matthew Smith. He has had three barrier trials to get ready for this assignment. He needs a dry track to see the best of him.
Selections: 4-7-3-9
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Race 3
A tough race here over the mile.
Coldstone (2) is from Victoria and is making his local debut here. He has been running in some nice class races and has had three weeks since his last run at Bendigo.
Cogliere (4) comes off a solid win at the Sunshine Coast a fortnight ago. Winning form is good form so this Marc Quinn gelding must be respected again this weekend. Robbie Fradd retains the ride.
Happy Go Plucky is an NSW runner trained by Allan Denham who rarely brings his runners north – so be warned this may be one with some ability! Damien Browne has been booked for the ride and his last start win at Wyong was very good. Maybe I have gone the wrong way here? Only time will tell.
Old Habits from the Rob Heathcote stables scored an unexpected win at the Sunshine Coast last start over 1400 metres. The way he finished off that race suggests that the mile will not be a problem this weekend. Sean Cormack is aboard again this weekend – these two seem to be combining to make a formidable combination in South East Queensland racing.
Selections: 2-4-5-3 rough chances 6 & 11
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Race 4
The races are not getting easier – a massive field over 1200 metres and at Benchmark 75 level.
The top weight is all class – Manaya (1) trained by Michael Costa. She resumes after a 20-week spell and has been trialling well. She won her last trial at Deagon and looks like she will be right in this race. She should race in the first half of the field and if she is fit enough should sprint well in the straight late.
Eminent (7) comes off 19-week spell. This David Vandyke runner always impresses me. He has a nice first up record and I think 1200 metres is more his go – so I expect him to be competitive here.
The runner that I think will benefit the most dropping back from 1350 metres to 1200 metres is the Stuart Kendrick trained Patronizing (12) who led them up last start, was possibly was not in the best section of the track, but battled on well under the urgings of Jimmy Orman to be beaten under 1 length in a blanket finish. I think the drop back in distance will assist this one.
Rich Affair (17) should be a nice price and always seems to pop up in this grade. He cannot be left out.
Selections: 1-7-12-17
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Race 5
The 2018 Dalrello Stakes for 2-year olds at Listed level.
Shamurt (11) from the Tony Gollan stables has been in great form since debuting – 2 from 2. This is her toughest test to date however, but she has drawn nicely in barrier 5 and I think that she may just be too smart for this lot. Jim Byrne stays aboard her. Maybe she is the real deal and will go onto glory over the Winter Carnival.
The Rob Heathcote trained Only Wanna Sing (2) won a recent barrier trial at Deagon. He was not asked for a strong effort in that trial and he looks like he has returned great from a short 8-week spell. This runner will handle all surfaces, so I think he is a good gamble if you are going away from the more favoured runners.
Ben Currie has Mishani Hustler (1) in the race. What a strange few weeks for the Currie stables, in the headlines for several reasons, and then last weekend the unfortunate incident involving one of the stables’ star runners – Armanaat. Maybe the stable can get a change in luck with Mishani Hustler. He likes to lead and dominate the race and looks like he will be able to do that again this weekend – Taylor Marshall retains the ride.
Selections: 11-2-1-3 rough chance 6 & 12
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Race 6
Wow – a massive field here – some are probably looking to commence their journey into the Winter Carnival races in the coming weeks.
I keep on coming back to the James Cummings trained Godolphin runner – Marsupial (3). He does not have an impressive record really with 2 wins from 11 starts but he has had a fortnight off since a good win at Warwick Farm and has drawn well in barrier 2 – so there are a few things to like about this one.
However, in saying that there are some genuine chances away from the Godolphin runner.
Snitz (1) drew badly in the final of the NSW Country Championships last start at Randwick and was hampered in the running – so it may pay to overlook that run. Matthew Dunn has probably just been keeping him ticking over at Murwillumbah with bigger and better things in store for this gelding.
Mishani Bullitt (2) from the Chris Anderson yards got the race run to suit last start at Sunshine Coast and finished off nicely. He seems to have come back from his spell in good shape and it may pay to follow this one.
The roughies for mine are the Rob Heathcote pair Stella Victoria (11) and Femme Fireball (13). These two runners like to see a fast speed and love to race home hard at the end of the race. I think they may get conditions to suit here with the engagement of Oneness (6).
Oneness (6), trained at the Gold Coast by Mel Eggleston, has been working through his grades well. I was at the Gold Coast last start to see him dominate in front and hold them all off with Luke Dittman in the saddle. He goes up in grade here this weekend – but if they are leading and winning on Saturday he could be massive chance at large odds!
Now if the track gets into the “GOOD” range watch out for this one – Miss Miao (14) trained at the Sunshine Coast by Garnett Taylor. This Top Echelon filly likes the firm tracks. She has had a recent barrier trial on a heavy track on her home surface. She was not extended in that outing. She always performs well fresh – 3 starts for 2 wins and a second. She will have my attention if the track dries out. Around $21 she represents good each way value.
Selections: 3-1-2-13 rough chances 6, 11 and 14
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Race 7
The Bracelet – another Listed race over the Doomben mile.
I think the two Chris Waller horses are genuine contenders here. Improvise (3) won at Sunshine Coast last start and looked like she had some more improvement left in her. I think we can confidently say she will be in the placings.
The other Waller runner is Another Dollar (7) who came back in distance last start at Toowoomba and won. I am confident that she will run a solid mile, but she does need some genuine speed on so she can get home late.
Clarry Conners trains the topweight Torvill (1) who has been running around in Group races in Sydney and filling some places. She has drawn out on the runway at the airport in barrier 20 and Jimmy Orman will need some luck from out there. I assume he will go back and ride her for luck.
La Scopa (8) is from the Matthew Dunn stables. Last start she flew home late and was narrowly beaten by Improvise (3) at the Sunshine Coast. She looks a nice type for the Oaks in a few weeks’ time.
I like some roughies here as well starting with Hardly Surprising (11) from the Ciaron Maher stables. I was tipped this runner last start at Morphettville. Whilst the run was not impressive she worked home well. This week Maher has taken the visors off and but blinkers back on – maybe this will get her mind back on the job.
You could not miss the run of Protest (17) who motored home along the rai last start at Sunshine Coast l. To be fair it was probably one of the runs of the day. Daniel and Bryan Guy look like they have a nice filly here that they are training for Aquis. I think that she is being aimed for the Oaks as well and whatever she does this weekend she will be better for the run.
Selections: 7-3-1-8 rough chances 11 & 17
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Race 8
The feature race – the Group 2 Victory Stakes over 1200 metres at WFA.
There is only a small field but there is some depth here.
There is a big push for the 2017 Stradbroke winner Impending (1) who resumes here this weekend but she is not for me. I can see her being in the top four, maybe, but I think she will need the run and at $1.85 on offer I would lay her all day!
I am going for the David Pfieffer three-year-old – I Am Excited (9). I thought she ran a tremendous race last start in the Group 2 Arrowfield when beaten by Catchy. My reasoning is that if Catchy was in this race I would have her winning it – so I am hoping that this Snitzel filly can improve again after that run a fortnight ago.
The Tony Gollan warhorse Most Important (3) always goes well fresh and can destroy a field like this when he brings his “A” game to the racecourse. His trial at Eagle Farm on 10 April looked solid and first up over 1200 metres he will trail the two leaders who are liable to go so fast that a back marker will be storming home. The leaders I am talking about are Jungle Edge (2) and Monsieur Gustave (4).
Supido (5) is from the Mick Kent stables in Victoria. His last two runs have been in Group 1 company and he has only just been behind the winner on both occasions. The way he races strongly suggests that, with the speed in the race that I have described, things will suit him here. Jeff Lloyd in the saddle – what else can you want. His navy-blue colours and white sash will maybe the colours swooping out wide late on the track!
Selections: 9-5-3-1 rough chance 4
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Race 9
The last race – the Gunsynd Classic a Group 3 race over the Doomben mile.
Ciaron Maher has the favourite Villermont (2) who was galloped on last start in the Carbine Club Stakes (Group 2) at Randwick and, despite suffering that injury, still worked home nicely. He deserves to be the favourite and the key booking of Damian Browne suggests Maher is keen on his chances.
I may be way off the mark here with my on top selection – this one just resumed and was second up over a mile at Warwick Farm in maiden company and yes I know it is a massive class rise to Group 3 but I really think that run was exceptional and he ran some reasonable time in that win as well - so here goes – Omineca (13) trained by the maestro Chris Waller. The gelding has had a fortnight off since that run and has settled in well on the Gold Coast. I am punting on this one with the Jeff Lloyd magic winning this race at around the $15 mark.
Team Snowden has California Turbo (5) debuting in Brisbane after two consecutive wins in Sydney. The latest win was in the South Pacific Classic at listed level at Randwick over 1400 metres – the mile should not be a drama.
The Ben Currie trained Hang won the Toowoomba Guineas last start and must be respected again here.
Selections: 13-2-5-4 rough chance 8
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Jockey Challenge
Looks like it is going to go down to the result in the last race – this is going to be a tough day! I think it is between Damian Browne and Jeff Lloyd – take you pick Saturday morning when the prices go up!
Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5 NSW only)
3,4,7 / 2,4,5 / 1,7,12 / 1,2,11 - cost is $81 to $1
Quaddie (races 6 to 9)
1,2,3,13,14 / 1,3,7,8 / 1,3,5,9 / 2,5,8,13 - cost is $320 to $1
Value Quaddie (races 6 to 9)
1,3,13 / 1,3,7 / 3,5,9 / 2,13 - cost is $54 to $1
Mad Quaddie (races 6 to 9)
1,3 / 1,7 / 5,9 / 2,13 - cost is $16 to $1
Treble (races 7 to 9)
1,3,7,8 / 1,3,5,9 / 2,5,8,13 - cost is $64 to $1
Value Treble (races 7 to 9)
3,7 / 5,9 / 2,13 - cost is $8 to $1
FLEMO towelled me last weekend in our tipping competition but I think between us we tipped the first five winners on the program – then the track was heavy, and our selections did not perform all that well. Anyway, it is back on again this weekend.
I am coming for you FLEMING!
Good luck and good punting!
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