WINNO'S WINNERS: DOOMBEN, MAY 19, 2018
By Darren Winningham | Thursday, May 17, 2018
Well we are back at DOOMBEN this weekend – this time for the DOOMBEN Cup at Group 1 level.
The track is rated “GOOD” at the time of writing and the rail will be 2 metres out for the entire track.
The weather forecast is looking great for the coming days, so the track should remain Good and we should get a nice surface to race on. Last weekend there appeared to be a “fast lane” about 4 or 5 off the fence … but with some noted wet trackers staying on the fence and winning.
The surprise of the day had to be the $151 winner Anton En Avant trained on the Gold Coast by Stephen Lee – he did tell WINNO after the race “I did have a little something on him”.
In WINNO news this week.
James McDonald made a successful comeback in the saddle when resuming from an 18-month ban. His first ride back in the saddle was aboard the Chris Waller trained Cormac at Warwick Farm. He later rode another Waller runner – Monasterio - to complete a winning double. This bloke can ride and I am certain that the fire in the belly will see him back riding a stream of winners in the coming months! Welcome back Jay Mac!
I must mention the achievement of Chris Waller at the same meeting training five of the winners on a seven-race program – a pretty good effort!
One last jab for the week – no Jonathon Thurston and then no Cooper Cronk and now no Cameron Smith. Can you Queenslanders field a team this year! No excuses will be accepted either!
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
We have an early start to the day 11.15am – looks like morning tea at the track!
Tan Tat Diamond (2) resumed from a lengthy spell to win impressively last start at Doomben. On that occasion I think the performance even surprised trainer Steven O’Dea who thought the 1050 metres may have been too short for the gelding first up from a 98-week spell. Jag Guthmann-Chester takes over from Boris Thornton this weekend – with Boris riding the Brian Smith trained Sony Legend (1).
Tony Gollan has Kimberley Star (9) second up this week. She is an impressive mare who is also making a gradual comeback to racing after injury and a lengthy spell and a stable change. The first run up at the Gold Coast was at Listed level and she drops back to BM85 this week. Jeff Lloyd has been booked I think we may see a sharp improvement this weekend.
Beat Street (8) will appreciate the good conditions here. Last start he won impressively at his home track at the Sunshine Coast with Michael Hellyer aboard. He retains the ride and he has drawn well and gets in nicely.
Saipan (6) is trained by Ben Currie who remains in the news presently. This gelding won last start at Gatton over 860 metres. He has raced well over 1200 metres and has won previously over this distance. He has the services of the in-form apprentice Michael Murphy this weekend and the two-kilogram claim will benefit this runner.
Selections: 2-9-8-6
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Race 2
David Vandyke trains Savwell who won a similar class race here a month ago. I tipped him on top that start as I firmly believe he is a genuine mile horse and probably struggles to get any further. I see that Jeff Lloyd has stuck with him and that gives me some more confidence.
But be warned!
I fear Divine Unicorn (11) from the Matthew Dunn stables. This gelding comes off a mighty win when resuming at the Gold Coast a fortnight ago after an impressive trial win. This gelding was very impressive at that start when he hit the lead around the 100 metres and beat the unlucky Oink. He has not been over the mile before but, on that run, I think he will have no drama in running it out.
On a side note it will be interesting to watch the two South African mates go at it if they pair off in the final stages of the race – will it be Jeff Lloyd, or will it be Glyn Schofield (who rides Divine Unicorn).
A Shin Rook (8) is the unknown here. This former Japanese runner resumed at the Sunshine Coast for Anthony Freedman and won a Class 4 race over 1400 metres first up. He has never won over a mile but has some nice form over longer distances. He has drawn poorly in barrier 14 – however, he may race forward and just sit off the speed.
If you are looking for a knock out chance El Campeador (6) may be the one. Trained by Tony Gollan this gelding has a habit at winning when not in the market and third up – he ticks both boxes this weekend.
Another runner making a debit for a new stable is Sergeant Blast (1) who has won three times over a mile. He is now trained by Brian Smith after coming from New Zealand. He has had 10 weeks between runs and, to be fair, gets in very well at the weights with the 3-kilogram allowance for Boris Thornton. He probably prefers a wet track – but keep your eye on this one over the coming weeks to see where Smith ends up placing him.
Selections: 7-11-8-1 rough chance 6
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Race 3
This is one of those races where six or seven runners could win without surprising.
I am just going to go down the page and give you an assessment.
No Annamossity (2) from the Heathcote yards. This runner loves to settle back and power home. He ran a massive race first up over 1000 metres at Ipswich – a track and distance that really didn’t help his chances. The run was super. He has drawn barrier 2 this weekend – much better drawn than several of the other more favoured runners.
Fit For Purpose (5) will need to have the Toby Edmonds polish as he has drawn barrier 20. Will the Edmonds camp get any luck in the barrier draws in the next few weeks? Anyway, he ran a solid race behind Divine Unicorn (race 2 – number 11) at the Gold Coast last start. He came home fast; however, I think 1400 metres at the Sunshine Coast could be what he is looking for.
Manaya (6) put in another honest run last weekend. She made her run in the best part of the track – and had every chance to win – just didn’t let down like she normally does. Maybe the wide run and coming in wide on the turn may have just taken a little bit out of her.
Realing (7) is first up here for the Matthew Dunn stable who has been flying lately. He wasn’t really tested in a recent trial at Deagon over 1000 metres – maybe he will perform his customary late storming finish here this week.
The stable mate is Zamex (10) who ran well last start on the Gold Coast. He was held up for a run and lost a plate in the running. I just wonder whether he is looking for further – like a mile, however, I expect him maybe to be ridden a little closer to the speed this week by jockey Joshua Parr (a great NSW lad).
Bred For Luck (12) is trained by Troy Pascoe. Last start he raced in the Listed Gold Coast Stocking. He was way out of his class – and was without luck in the running. Can I suggest you overlook that run and go on his previous two solid seconds here over a mile and 1350 metres where he finished second at around $31. He represents good value.
Then you have the David Vandyke trained Let’s Party Marty (14) - a lightly raced three-year-old gelding who resumed at the Sunshine Coast and jumped well and landed four wide and then powered home over 1200 metres. He has drawn well this week in barrier 3 and I expect him to take up a forward position behind the leaders and be hard to beat.
Now I have gone through half the field I still haven’t convinced myself on what to put on top here! So, for the record my selections are below but without much confidence.
This is a large field – many chances and who knows what may happen!
Selections: 10-14-12-2 rough chances 5, 6 and 7
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Race 4
The Bill Carter Stakes (Listed Race) for two-year-old fillies.
Granny Red Shoes (4) is trained by Toby Edmonds – she has drawn barrier 14 – ho hum!
I remember Granny Red Shoes running a massive race Calaway Girl Stakes (Listed) when beaten by Outback Barbie back in December. Since then she has had a 16-week spell and resumed for the new stable and won easily at the Sunshine Coast over 1000 metres. She looks well placed here and has some nice form.
Shamurt (2) from the Tony Gollan team won her first two career starts before racing as if she needed the run. She has had 3 weeks since that run when she was beaten by Mishani Hustler. Look she acquitted herself well. I just hope she can run a solid 1200 metres.
The topweight Sizzling Belle (1) raced last weekend in the Champagne Classic (Group 2) and she comes back to Listed company this weekend. She was unlucky in the run when held up around the 150 metres and really was not tested over the final stages – with some luck this weekend she should be in the finish. I think Nick Olive will be confident this weekend after seeing her solid run last week.
Eawase (6) from the Peter & Paul Snowden team resumed six weeks ago and won running 1.09 for the 1200 metres which was a good time on the day. I think if she brings that form here this weekend she is going to be very difficult to beat.
Selections: 4-1-6-2 rough chance 8 and 10
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Race 5
The Chief De Beers (Listed Race) for the sprinters.
This race can turn up some odd results each year.
I think the Bat Out of Hell at the Gold Coast may hold the key to this race. There were some solid runs down there in that contest.
Prompt Return (7) was run down in the shadow of the post there. He will strip fitter for that run – however, he has drawn a little wide and may have to be ridden a little quiet from barrier 11.
Then you have the Gollan trained Tiyatrolani (10) who was drawn wide and got stuck wide – but wow, did she continue to fight on. She is third up here with a poor third up record with no wins or placings from three starts but she has been very well backed since the markets opened firming from $9 to $4.60.
I was present when Nieta (4) made her debut at Ballina and won so impressively. Since then she has been racing in Group races. In fact, her last three runs in Sydney have been in Group 2 and Group 3 races. She drops back to a Listed Race this weekend and goes up slightly in the weights.
She was drawn wide last start and I don’t think she was really tested or put under any great pressure in the Sapphire Stakes (Group 2) at Randwick. Since then she has had a four week freshen up and she should race well here. The only veto I have is that she has an impeccable record on wet tracks – I just hope she is not a mud lark!
Savanna Armour (2) is a runner who just goes BANG! Every time she resumes she puts in an amazing run. She has had a 24-week spell since running a close second in a Group 3 race at Flemington. She has had three solid trials and I would think that she will be ready to perform well here.
A roughie in the race must be the Steven O’Dea trained Colosimo (12). Despite being drawn wide she always runs well fresh and ran a super trial on Tuesday this week at Deagon. Steven O’Dea has a habit of doing this and then they come out and run well a few days later – don’t let this one sneak under your guard at the massive odds of $41.
Selections: 4-10-7-2 rough chances 6 & 12
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Race 6
I found the first leg of the Quaddie difficult this week.
Chauffeur (1) resumes here for Brad Widdup and has Josh Parr in the saddle. He has a solid first up record and at the set weights of this weekend looks well placed considering he has been racing in Group races in his past few starts.
Winter Bride (11) is an up and comer who I think will be competitive here. The two recent trials demonstrate that she will be forward here and unlike the other Toby Edmonds runners on the program has drawn well in barrier 8.
Kurt Goldman seems to always produce one for the Brisbane Winter Carnival and I would think that his runner here Equal Balance (2), who won last start with a monster weight of 61 kilograms at the recent Wagga Wagga Carnival, could fit the bill. The run was over 1000 metres and the time was very good. I anticipate this runner will be very competitive as well.
Champ Elect (9) from the Munce Racing team and Adrenaline Thoroughbreds is a nice filly. She suffered an injury on the Eagle Farm track last year over the Carnival and Munce has taken his time with here getting her back to the races. She won impressively at Sunshine Coast first up over 1000 metres – it would not surprise me to see her pop up at nice odds here.
Selections: 1-11-2-9
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Race 7
The BRC Sprint (Group 3) over 1350 metres – tough open field.
Not a big fan of this race to be honest – these are an odd bunch and attempting to line the form up is proving problematic for WINNO.
The Bjorn Baker trained Test The World (13) was super behind Anatola (who goes around in the last race here) in the Gold Coast Silk Stocking. I think the extra 150 metres of this race will be right up her alley.
I was keen on Mr Sneaky (3) last start – but I think he fell foul of the heavy track. I am thinking we can overlook that run and go on the previous solid form on good surfaces including a nice run behind Hartnell back in February. If he gets back to that form, he will more than “sneak” past this lot!
Tony Gollan has I’m A Rippa (12) who carried 61 kilograms last start at the Gold Coast and drops 7 kilograms here. Sure, he goes down in the weights as he goes up in class, but I think his style of racing probably means that he will lead this field and may just be hard to run down if he gets left alone in front.
The Chris Waller runner Tougherthantherest (7) has won his last three starts – maybe a rough chance up in grade and looking for his first Group win.
Selections: 13-3-12-7 rough chance 4
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Race 8 2018 Doomben Cup (Group 1)
Chris Waller dominates the field with 6 out of the 12 runners!
I was very keen on Oregon’s Day (12) at the Gold Coast in the Hollindale Stakes – she subsequently won the race going away from them with a wonderful 11 out of 10 ride from the Queenslander Jim Byrne! I really cannot see why she will not continue with her winning form in the Doomben Cup this weekend – I think the race will be right up her alley.
The horse that maybe had “egg on her face” in the same race at the Gold Coast was Egg Tart (11) . She was ridden for luck along the inside by Jeff Lloyd and got caught in traffic over the final 150 metres. I am not too sure whether she would have beaten the winner Oregon’s Day (12) but being held up as she was just gaining some momentum certainly did not help. I see that the New Zealand champion ride Leith Innes has been booked by the Waller stables to ride her this weekend – this could be a vital jockey change.
I have stayed down the bottom of the field here with my third selection Abbie Marie (13) to be ridden by Matthew McGillivray who returned from a long run of outs with a winning double last weekend. This Michael Kent mare comes from Sydney from a very similar preparation to Oregon’s Day (12) with her last start run in the Coolmore Legacy (Group 1) where she ran a credible fifth. I think at the $21 mark she is a great each way chance in the race. Despite the three weeks between runs she does perform well when he races are separated. She had a very lackadaisical trial at Murwillumbah where she wasn’t really asked for much – I think that she will be ready to pop up here this weekend.
The best of the Chris Waller runners? Comin’ Through (2), I think really didn’t appreciate the Gold Coast course last start and maybe better suited here at Doomben, Tom Melbourne (4) the enigma that keeps on running a place – he will break through one day and pull our pants down! Then the ex-Japanese runner Santono Rasen (7) who I was on first up from a spell in the All Aged Stakes (Group 1) and then again, each way at the Gold Coast in the Hollindale Cup (Group 2) when he stormed home to be beaten by 2.45 lengths. This stallion is too short for me this weekend. I really think we will see the best of him over a slightly longer distance – but he is a horse with solid form over 2000 metres in Japan.
Selections: 12-11-13-2 rough chances 4 and 7
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Race 9
We finish off the big day with a Listed race for the fillies and mares.
I like the Mark Newnham trained Anatola (5) who resumed with a solid win at Randwick and then drew a wide barrier at the Gold Coast and crossed them easy for a wonderful all the way win in the Silk Stocking (Listed). Joshua Parr (another great NSW rider who bleeds BLUE) has made the journey to Doomben to resume his association with the mare again after being unavailable at the Gold Coast due to a track mishap earlier in that week. He has a great affiliation with her with three rides for two wins and one second.
There are a couple of other runners who may push forward here – Pomelo (8) and Don’tbabylon (5). I really do not think that Parr will need to get into a speed battle with these couple of runners and from barrier 6 may let them go and take a sit.
Don’tbabylon (5) is trained by Matthew Dunn and interestingly he has engaged the front running specialist jockey Tegan Harrison to partner this mare first up. She has drawn barrier 1 and her barrier trial at the home track at Murwillumbah in winning the trial was very impressive. Be warned this runner may be a genuine chance here and she is some outrageous odds presently at around the $31 mark.
Ruud Not Too (6) is trained by Stephen Marsh from New Zealand who has put fellow kiwi Damian Browne aboard this weekend to partner her first up from a spell. She has won twice first up previously and she won a trial at Doomben on Tuesday this week. That run looked impressive on tape. I think she may be in for a big Winter Carnival. Another one at some silly odds of $41.
Secret Trail (9) is a team Snowden runner who steps up from the 1100 metres at Caulfield (Listed race) last start. I think she will be better suited by the 1200 metres this weekend.
Selections: 2-5-6-9
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Jockey Challenge
Looks like a landslide win for Jeff Lloyd – take the short odds and just line up to collect! But if you like a roughie get on a great NSW lad – Joshua Parr! The Carnival last year seemed to run on jockeys winning a treble on most days. Last weekend it was Tim Clark – maybe this weekend Joshua Parr can jag a winning treble with a nice book of rides!
Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5 NSW only)
7,8,11 / 2,10,12,14 / 1,2,4,6,10 / 2,4,7,10 - cost is $240 to $1
Quaddie (races 6 to 9)
1,2,9,11 / 3,7,12,13 / 2,11,12,13 / 2,5,6 - cost is $192 to $1
Value Quaddie (races 6 to 9)
1,2,11 / 3,12,13 / 1,2,11 / 2 - cost is $27 to $1
Mad Quaddie (races 6 to 9)
1,2 / 3,13 / 11,12 / 2,5 - cost is $16 to $1
Treble (races 7 to 9)
3,7,12,13 / 2,11,12,13 / 2,5,6 - cost is $48 to $1
WINNO v FLEMO
Well last weekend I did return to form with a BANG! I tipped the Quaddie and the Treble and tipped the last race first 4 in order that paid $240!
I gave the Queenslander Josh Fleming a nice old thrashing! Be warned Josh will probably bounce back this weekend – but if he doesn’t, and he goes down 5 in a row like last year, there will be an appropriate punishment executed!
Good luck and good punting!
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