WINNO'S WINNERS: DOOMBEN, 30 MAY 2020

By Darren Winningham | Friday, May 29, 2020

DOOMBEN RACES – SATURDAY 30 MAY 2020

Doomben races this weekend with the track rated “SOFT”. The weather is forecast to be overcast leading into the weekend the track may stay in this range and should not impact any runner. The rail will be in the true position.

A word of warning – this meeting has a tradition of being a blood bath for punters and a day where the satchel swingers go home with plenty! This year there will be no bookmakers on course – so it looks like the TAB will be attempting to get my $$. I plan on getting plenty of theirs!

I think you should play wide and look for value on the program – you could make plenty!

The footy is back on TV – so it is a little ho hum for me. It is great to see it back – but whilst we are all locked down and cannot travel the “professional” rugby league is above those laws that everyone else must abide by.

Finally, a shout out to Matthew McGillivray – who came off in a race at the Sunshine Coast. Get well mate – hopefully you will be back in the saddle soon!

NB: As these selections were made on the Thursday prior to the Saturday race-day please check final fields and track conditions for any changes on the day.
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Race 1

An open race here with a variety of runners that could cause an upset.

However, I have settled on the Healey Racing trained Gin ‘N’ Bitters (10) who will be ridden by Justin Huxtable. She is only lightly raced but turned in an impressive effort last start on her home track in the Listed Chief De Beers. I have put the kiss of death on Billy Healey now – so I will be in trouble!

However, there is a serious contender here that could roll the early market favourite Gin ‘N’ Bitters (10). That will come from the Peter & Will Hulbert trained L’amante (13). She is only lightly raced and her trial a month ago looked better than it does in the form guide. Michael “Muppy” Hellyer takes the ride.

It will be “Bitter Sweet” to see which one of these young trainers reign supreme in the first! Either way there will be serious banter if they win the race!

Selections:

10 – Gin ‘N’ Bitters
13 – L’amante
3 – Koonunga
4 – Hi Fever

Race 2

A small but competitive race.

The Stuart Kendrick trained Star of Michelin (8) looks well placed in the small field. He will sit off the speed and come wide late. The small field should enhance his chances.

Barefoot (2) has been out of sorts. However, he is a massive price this weekend ($25) and I just think with this small field, the mile and third up with no weight on his back and Jimmy Orman to ride, he could cause a major upset in this race. He is trained by Tony & Maddy Sears in Toowoomba.

Top Prospect (2) is an NSW raider from the Kris Lees stables at Newcastle. He has struck some bog tracks in Sydney recently and he has shown a dislike for these tracks in the past. I think he will get firmer conditions this weekend and will be competitive in this field.

Selections:

8 – Star Of Michelin
9 – Barefoot
2 – Top Prospect
6 – Le Pulga

Race 3

The Tenor (8) is trained by Schweida Racing and will be ridden Jackson “McLovin” Murphy. He comes off a solid win first up here three weeks ago. He steps up to 1200 metres and should race in a prominent position and be difficult to run own late.

Oriental Runner (2) has been heavily backed in the early markets. Trained by John Smerdon, and to be ridden by Brad Stewart this weekend, he steps up in grade. His win at the Gold Coast was solid and his time was notable as well. He will be competitive here for sure – when this stable put their money on - they very rarely miss!

My selection is around $20 – Depths Below (10) who is trained on the Gold Coast by Gillian Heinrich. Ryan “GO THE BLUES” Wiggins takes the ride this weekend. He won here a fortnight ago and is looking for a hat trick of wins. I think that this race is not much harder than the race he won stylishly last start. Look for him to be three or four pairs back and destroy them late!

Pinnacle Star (9) will improve off the first up effort at Ipswich – do not leave him out.

Selections:

10 – Depths Below
2 – Oriental Runner
8 – The Tenor
9 – Pinnacle Star

Race 4

So, our first Listed race – for the two-year-old runners.

NSW v QLD starts here this weekend!

I like the two NSW runners to pose a threat to the locally trained Gotta Kiss (1). Gotta Kiss is trained by Steven O’Dea Racing and will be ridden by Stephanie Thornton. This filly returned to the winner’s circle last start here a fortnight ago. She was going strong to the line and will be a definite threat here. She is the early market favourite and there has been solid support for her.

Waller Racing seems to have launched a late attack on Brisbane Winter Carnival – with a nice runner here – September Run (5). This runner was dual nominated this weekend in Brisbane and Sydney and she will take his place in this field. She was arrogant and dominant winning first up at a midweek meeting at Canterbury – do not worry about the class of that race – her sectionals were noteworthy. Michael Cahill takes the ride here.

Panna Cotta (4) is the other NSW runner from the Mark Newnham stables who had a barnstorming carnival in 2019. If this runner shapes up to any of those from last year, she will be right in this race. She resumed in the Listed Woodlands Stakes and was solid to the line, only being beaten by one that looks like it has some above average ability – Macroura.

Personally, I think that this filly will win the JJ Atkins next weekend – that gets this runner in well here and she must not be underrated.

Selections:

5 – September Run
1 – Gotta Kiss
4 – Panna Cotta
7 – Bellevue Star
Rough chance – (11) Always on Show

Race 5

Toby & Trent Edmonds have got Vanna Girl (2) going very well presently. She is looking for a hat trick of wins this weekend after a superb win in the Listed Daybreak Lover here a fortnight ago. Brad Stewart takes over in the saddle from the injured Matthew McGillivray.

Again, the main local fancy faces solid opposition from the two NSW trained runners Rocha Clock (1) and Celestial Falls (4).

Rocha Clock (1) is trained by John O’Shea and he does not bring many runners to Queensland so he must have a big opinion of this runner. She ran a great second to Dawn Passage (Race 8 No 3, later in the program) in the Inglis Guineas at Rosehill. Andrew Mallyon has scored the plum ride on this genuine chance.

Celestial Falls (4) is another Mark Newnham runner who just seemed to peak on her run last start over 1400 metres. Stepping up to a mile and with three weeks between runs I think she will be right in this race.

Shuhood (8) is a Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott runner who has posted two consecutive wins. She looks like she will run further than a mile and it would not surprise me to see her cause an upset here.

Selections:

2 – Vanna Girl
1 – Rocha Clock
4 – Celestial Falls
8 – Shuhood
Rough chances – (3) Jeweliana

Race 6 Listed Hinkler

The first leg of the Quaddie this weekend - another Listed Race.

This race has had some major upsets in years gone by – so bet with caution!

I have gone wide here. Will my on top selection from the Chris Anderson stables – Boomtown Lass (15) - beat Anderson’s old training partner’s (Rob Heathcote) runner Emerald Kingdom (11)?

It will be a battle – who will have bragging rights?

Boomtown Lass (15) looks like she is forward enough to race well here fresh after a solid hit out in a barrier trial here a fortnight ago. She won it well and looked like she would take some improvement. My confidence is higher this weekend with the key booking of Mark Du Plessis who has a wonderful record on this mare – 3 wins and 3 seconds for 6 rides. She has drawn wide, but there is some serious speed in the race. I expect her to settle behind the speed and sprint strongly late.

Emerald Kingdom (11) was average first up at the Sunshine Coast. This gelding has a impeccable record second up and he loves this Doomben track. I am not certain whether they will push forward from the wide barrier or just sit in behind the speed. Either way jockey Michael Cahill and Heathcote will have a preconceived plan to make sure he is first past the post.

Free of Debt (18) comes to Queensland after some unlucky efforts over the South Australian carnival. Chris Bieg trains this three-year-old colt and he has placed his faith in local apprentice Justin Huxtable to get him around Doomben safely and first past the post.

He has some serious gear changes with a lugging bit and a tongue tie going on for this run. He raced keenly in the Group 2 Euclase last start and just faded late over the 1200 metres. I think the shorter distance, the gear changes and nice barrier sees him as a genuine chance here this weekend. I backed him last start and wasn’t too disappointed with the run – I will be keen to back up again here each way.

Bandipur (1) is an ex-Godolphin runner now trained by Kelly Purdy. He was solid in the BRC Sprint a fortnight ago and should benefit from the shorter distance of this race.

Other chances include the Steven O’Dea trained Scallopini (3) who is resuming from a spell and races well fresh and the Edmonds Racing runner Usmanov (9) who has been racing well at his home track over 900 metres – barrier 16 may be his undoing.

Selections:

15 – Boomtown Lass
11 – Emerald Kingdom
18 – Free of Debt
1 – Bandipur
Rough chance – (3) Scallopini and (9) Usmanov

Race 7 Group 3 Chairman’s Quality

2000 metres at Doomben – a big field and a race that has a history of upset results.

A recipe for disaster in my opinion.

In saying that I have found a runner that has won well here in the past - Etana (11) trained by Ciaron Maher & David Eustace. She won the 2019 Roses (Group 2) here last year in a dominant fashion. Since then her form has been inconsistent – but she has been racing in good company. Last start at the Sunshine Coast she just trailed the place getters home – the more I watch the race the more I think 2000 metres is now what she is looking for. Mark Du Plessis takes the ride and he is in career best form winning the feature race last weekend aboard Victorem.

The Sydney runner Ilwendo (15) raced on the speed and kicked strongly last start at Randwick only going down in the final stages. He is well in with the conditions of the race – watch out that he does not lead and get away with cheap sectionals and catch them all off the bit! Stephanie Thornton rides.

Black On Gold (10) is a Chris Waller Racing runner making his debut here in Queensland. This runner ran an exceptional race last start at Scone in the Listed Scone Cup over a mile. That distance is short of his best. I keep going back to his run on Magic Millions day 2020 when he was narrowly beaten there. If he can get some clear running and luck in the straight, I can see him causing a major upset in this race.

There is also the Jake Bayliss factor – this runner needs to be ridden strongly to get the best out of him. In recent months Jake has proven himself to be a strong rider late and has lifted several runners to get them first past the post. He has been working hard since making his riding base Queensland. He deserves a Group win to his name for the hard work he puts in – maybe some “cream” for him and his manager Joshua Jones.

Do not underestimate the local runner Magnufighter (8). He races well here at Doomben and Jim Byrne will ride him to perfection.

There are plenty of chances – some of them at massive prices. You could win enough in the exotics to have a nice holiday – well a holiday once we get permission to travel!

Selections:

11 – Etana
15 – Ilwendo
10 – Black On Gold
8 – Magnufighter
Rough chances – (4) Another Dollar (14) Live and Free (16) Warnaq

Race 8 Group 3 Fred Best Classic

The main feature race – the Group 3 Fred Best Classic.
Hightail (2) has been scratched as he will now be a certain starter in the Stradbroke, and so the race becomes a little more open now.

You would have had your head in the sand if you did not see the dominant wins of Dawn Passage (3) in his past two starts. He races just off the speed and this track and some speed in the race should see him get a cosy run in behind them. Look for Brad Stewart to set him alight with around 150 metres to go – he will be unlucky not to win this race.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott train this runner. If he wins this race, we will be a certain starter in the 2020 Stradbroke and to be fair will be a genuine chance in that race.

NSW trainers are also represented with Grand Piano (5), trained by John Thompson, who comes back from a mile where he won last start to the shorter distance. I really do not think that will be any drama as there is sure to be pressure on and a genuine tempo in the race. This runner makes his runs late and has run some extraordinary sectionals in his last two wins

Jimmy Orman has the ride and he will be looking to win his second Fred Best Classic – his previous win was aboard Niccanova in 2017. Niccanova resumed last weekend and powered to the line late – he will make the field next weekend for the Stradbroke. Orman has enlisted a personal trainer to assist him cut the weight to make the 53 kilograms.

Exhilarates (12) is the horse that must be not underrated after her effort in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas last start. She was held up at a vital point in the running and had to be checked and lost all momentum. Given a clear run this weekend, with Larry Cassidy to take the mount, she will be right in this. Cassidy has a tremendous record aboard the “blue army” (Godolphin) runners.

The Odyssey (1) was gallant in defeat last start in the Gold Coast Guineas. If he can settle again and finish off strongly he will give apprentice Stephanie Thornton a chance to post a great Carnival win.

Selections:

3 – Dawn Passage
5 – Grand Piano
12 – Exhilarates
1 – The Odyssey
Rough chances – (13) Subpoenaed

Race 9

The last race of the day – another Listed race.

Now the race is 1350 metres Jen Rules (17) run on the Gold Coast was full of merit. The track and tempo didn’t suit her – bigger track this weekend, my favourite smiling, tongue poking jockey Dale Smith on board – I give her a massive chance. I may even have to take Dale out for dinner if my last leg of my parlay gets up. I hope that the $21 stays around on Saturday – where is my resident bookie Con Searle when I want to get on!

Chris Waller Racing has several runners here and all are genuine contenders.

I like the chances of Romani Girl (15) to finish off strong here. She was solid last start when resuming from a 15-week spell over 1400 metres. She was inconvenienced at the start and then had to be ridden for luck. She raced home strongly and had a wonderful final 800 metres sectional. She will strip fitter for that run and, given a little luck in running and a clean jump, I expect her to be in the finish when the judge calls a halt to the race.

Into The Abyss (14) had no luck in the straight last start at Rosehill in the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic. She is back in grade drawn well and should be reaching peak fitness third up from a spell. Another nice ride for Jimmy Orman.

Madam Rouge (3) has been building up to something – maybe she is the one to keep your eye on this weekend as a prospective Tatts Tiara chance moving towards the end of the Carnival. She will be flashing home late.

There are many chances here in the last race of the day – a great race to finish off a wonderful day of racing.

Selections:

17 – Jen Rules
15 – Romani Girl
14 – Into The Abyss
3 – Madam Rouge
Rough chances – (1) Fiesta (4) Multaja (8) Krone
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Jockey’s Challenge

Maybe something on Michael Cahill and Mark Du Plessis could see a big result.

Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5 NSW only)

2,8,9 / 2,8,10 / 1,4,5 / 1,2,4 - cost is $81 to $1

Value Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)

8,9 / 2,10 / 1,5 / 1,2 - cost is $16 to $1

Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

1,11,15,18 / 8,10,11,15 / 1,3,5,12 / 1,3,4,14,15,17 - cost is $384 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

8,11,15 / 10,11,15 / 3,5,12 /14,15,17 - cost is $81 to $1

Treble (races 7 to 9)

8,10,11,15 / 1,3,5,12 / 1,3,4,14,15,17 - cost is $96 to $1

WINNO V FLEMO

FLEMO beat WINNO last weekend with some great tipping. After his beloved BRONCOS got carved up on Thursday night by Parramatta, I will be looking to put $40 on him this weekend! Be sure to check the up to date and amended tips each Saturday morning on Facebook after any track changes and scratchings!

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