WINNO'S WINNERS: MAY, 21. DOOMBEN CUP DAY
By Darren Winningham | Thursday, May 19, 2022
DOOMBEN RACES – SATURDAY 21 MAY 2022
Back at DOOMBEN this weekend after the Doomben 10,000 was transferred to Eagle Farm last week. The track is rated “Heavy”. The rail is in the true position. There is some rain forecast in the lead up – this could place the meeting in jeopardy with the track already soaked from the recent rain event.
It was a great weekend for Sam Clipperton last weekend riding a treble including the feature Group 1 race – Doomben 10,000 aboard the Snowden Racing trained Mazu.
A shout out to Lani Fancourt and Anthony Allen who tied the knot last weekend – from the posts I have seen on social media it looked a wonderful day for these two. Congratulations to you both – I hope that you enjoy the honeymoon in the Whitsundays!
NB: As these selections were made prior to raceday please check for any changes to track conditions and for any scratchings on the day.
Race 1
We start the day off with a race over 1600 metres.
Seduction Queen (12) is second up here. We all know that the Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted training partnership has an excellent strike rate, and this mare should not be overlooked. Jaden Lloyd will ride her after partnering her first up three weeks ago at Doomben – she will love the mile and should be very competitive.
Jack The Lad (8) won here two starts ago. He will be ridden by Jimmy Orman and I expect on the heavy track will be competitive again. He loves the mile and I think you should overlook his last start effort at the Gold Coast over 1400 metres where the race was not run to his liking and, to be fair, the distance was probably too short for him.
The Catch (9), trained by Michael Costa on the Gold Coast, has two wins from two starts this preparation. Has handled the wet tracks and has been very well supported since the markets have opened – Ben Thompson will ride the gelding for the first time, however Ben has ridden him twice in barrier trails so he should have an appreciation of the gelding and his ability. Keep safe.
Montez (3) is also trained on the Gold Coast by Maryann Brosnan and really has not shown much this preparation. Brad Stewart will ride and maybe he will make a difference to the gelding. He does enjoy wet tracks he should not be overlooked.
Selections:
12 – Seduction Queen
8 – Jack The Lad
9 – The Catch
3 – Montez
Race 2
A sprint race over 1200 metres.
These races are always difficult especially on wet tracks.
Snowzone (7) is trained by Kris Lees at Newcastle. He did win a race last time out of Grafton. He will be ridden by Tim Clark here, and I think he could upset this field at decent odds. He is currently around the $15 mark and one thing for sure is he will handle a wet track.
Mass Destruction (5) is trained by Tony Gollan and will be partnered by James McDonald. He tends to get back in his races however, with some speed in the race, I expect him to storm home late. “Jay Mac” has ridden him previously for a win and maybe he can get the best out of this gelding here.
The stable mate is Pull Anchor (11) who also enjoys wet tracks. She stormed home from last here a month ago to win a race on a similar racing surface. Ryan Maloney will ride again and, despite drawing barrier 14, she probably will not be a disadvantage by the barrier as she normally races back in the field. The only issue I have is if the track is heavy and the rain is coming down, she may need to be racing a little bit handier this weekend to be competitive in this race.
Skins (8), trained by David Vandyke, is his first up this weekend on a heavy track. The six-year-old gelding has won three times on slow tracks, so I expect him to be competitive on the soft surface. Has drawn terribly in barrier 16 and will need a lot of luck from that barrier this weekend. Apprentice Kyle Wilson Taylor will partner him for the first time. He has a tremendous record at the Doomben track and could show up first up.
Roman Aureus (4) is trained by Brian Wakefield and also has a tremendous record at the Doomben track and thrives on soft surfaces. He is on the quick backup after racing at Eagle Farm last weekend where he didn't fire. If you can overlook that failure last weekend and go on his previous efforts here at Doomben he commands a lot of respect and should not be overlooked in your exotic bets.
Selections:
7 – Snowzone
5 - Mass Destruction
8 – Skins
11 – Pull Anchor
Rough chance – (4) Roman Aureus & (15) The Big Goodbye
Race 3
The Bill Carter – a Listed for the two-year-old fillies.
Midnight In Tokyo (6) is trained by Kacy Fogden and she worked home nicely last start at the Gold Coast in a feature race on a heavy track. If she can back up here this weekend, I cannot see anything beating her in this race. She seems to thrive on heavy tracks, and I see that Nash Rawiller has been booked to ride her. I am sure that he will get the best out of her in the final stages of the race. She looks a solid winning chance here this weekend.
Sheza Belter (1), trained by Snowden Racing, raced in the same race as Midnight In Tokyo (6) on the Gold Coast last time out. Nothing wrong with that effort, however this weekend, drawn barrier 12, she may be tested from that barrier and is at risk of being caught wide in the running. However, if William “The Wizard” Pike can get any luck from the barrier, I expect her to be right in the finish.
Plymstock (2) is a Godolphin runner who is untried on wet tracks. In saying that her first up ffort over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm was very good behind Exo Lady and that form stood up last weekend when Exo Lady was narrowly beaten in a feature race. I think if she can handle the ground this weekend that she is the likely run out to threaten these more fancied runners – Kerrin McEvoy will ride, and he has a tremendous association with this stable - she must be respected.
Zougotcha (4) is trained by Chris Waller Racing and is first up - has raced on heavy tracks previously and has won on a heavy surface previously so she should handle the track without any concerns. James McDonald will ride. She has had a recent barrier trial where she raced very well and should be very competitive here. I expect her to be well supported in the market in the lead up to the race and on race day this may mean that the other runners will get out in the markets and we could get a better price about my other selections.
Selections:
6 – Midnight In Tokyo
1– Sheza Belter
2 – Plymstock
4 – Zougotcha
Rough chance – (11) Bezique
Race 4
A good race here over 1110 metres – Chief De Beers. A few early scratchings from the race.
They will go fast and the early speed may set it up for something to swoop home late and blow the other runners off the track.
Contemptuous (7) is trained by Matt Hoysted and Steve O’Dea and they continue to have winning success. Apprentice Jaden Lloyd has been given the tick to ride the stallion again this weekend. He is unbeaten on this runner riding him three times for three wins. Can he continue his 100% strike rate on this very nice sprinter? The way he is being supported in the early markets would suggest that there is a degree of confidence from the stable that he will continue his winning ways despite the heavy surface he will encounter this weekend.
Centrefire (11) is trained by Chris Munce. Resumed here first up on a heavy surface and got the job done very impressively. She went around last weekend at Eagle Farm and just didn't seem to like the surface. If you overlook that run and go on the previous run here where she destroyed the field on a heavy track, I think that she represents good each way value. Samantha Collett will ride her. He is drawn very well in barrier 3 and should ping the gates and be handy throughout running.
Niedorp (3) is trained by Tony Gollan and his first up with Jim Byrne to ride her. She's just seems to struggle on wet surfaces, and I think she may need some luck this weekend where the track should be rain affected come race day.
Joy To All (14) is a lightly raced five-year-old mare trained by David Vandyke who has had a few barrier trials in preparation for this first up assignment and has been well supported in the market since the market opened on Wednesday. I am not convinced that she should be so short in the markets. However, when the money goes on - they seem to get a pretty good result so she must be kept safe. William Pike has been booked for the ride.
Boomtown Lass (4) is trained by Chris Anderson and maybe with the speed on this weekend could be the one storming home late down the outside. I'm just concerned that she does not always go well on wet tracks however she should still be storming home as that is her style of racing.
Selections:
7 – Contemptuous
11 – Centrefire
3 – Niedorp
14 – Joy To All
Rough chance – (4) Boomtown Lass
Race 5 Pam O’Neill Stakes – Group 3
A Group 3 race over the mile for fillies and mares honouring a very special racing identity.
I think the form out of the Gold Coast Silk Stocking may prove they way to go here. The race was won by Dzsenifer (4) who defeated April Rain (6) on that occasion. I think the result will be reversed this weekend with April Rain (6) transforming to the “May Rains” that seem to be plaguing SE Queensland and getting the job done. The mare is trained by Chris Waller and worked home nicely last start over 1400 meters in the race at the Gold Coast. This weekend the extra distance looks right up her alley and would appear that she is the best placed in this race to step forward in post to win at Group 3 level. She will be ridden by James McDonald again. He rode a treat at the Gold Coast.
The stablemate Nudge (2) looks well placed as well over a mile at Doomben. She is proven over the mile - has a solid record at this distance. She is second up after resuming at Hawkesbury on a heavy track and running an admirable race first up. She has the services of Nash Rawiller, however there is some concern that she is not a genuine performer on heavy ground.
Dzsenifer (4) won easy at the Gold Coast last start with a very good ride from Ben Thompson for trainer Gary Duncan. She has gone up in the weights for that win, however she is proven at distances up to 1800 meters and that may be an advantage this weekend with the track being heavy. Her ability to run out a solid mile and further will be an advantage in a race like this in the testing conditions.
Yamazaki (3) resumed at the Gold Coast last start carrying a massive weight on a heavy track. This was not to her liking. This weekend she gets in better at the weights and appears well placed by Gold Coast trainer Michael Costa. She will be ridden by William Pike and the way she worked home at the Gold Coast over 1400 metres would strongly suggest that she is right up to and ready to run out a solid mile second up. Again, the only concern with this mare is that she appears not to really enjoy racing on a true heavy surface.
Café Royal (7) is probably the best wet weather horse in the field having excelled on heavy tracks previously before coming to Queensland and racing at the Gold Coast last start. Maybe this weekend with a second up effort in QLD she could repeat the solid form that she has demonstrated in NSW on heavy tracks. I note that Kerrin McEvoy retains the ride this weekend.
Selections:
6 – April Rain
4 – Dzsenifer
2 – Nudge
3 – Yamazaki
Rough chance – (7) Café Royal
Race 6 BRC SPRINT (Group 3)
This is the first leg of the Quaddie. A Group 3 race over 1350 metres.
This is a tough race to choose a winner and it may play dividends to play wide here in this race as I expect there may be an upset result.
I keep on going back to the run of Holyfield (9) who is trained by Annabel Neasham over the Magic Millions carnival in January. The run was extremely good only to be nailed on the post in the final stride by Eleven Eleven - and we all know how good he is. On that effort alone it would suggest that this gelding is nicely placed here second up. He did resume at weight for age level in the Archer at Rockhampton and ran a solid race finishing fourth. Back to handicap conditions he meets many of those runners better at the weights and I expect him to be very competitive here. He has some solid form on slow ground, however has never raced on heavy surfaces previously I'm just going on the fact that he is down in the weights and should get the run of the race from the barrier he has drawn. Samantha Collett will ride this weekend and her style of riding should ensure him placed in the leading pack throughout the running and he should get the job done.
Taksu (12) is trained by Joe Pride in NSW and looks the likely leader on paper. He has been performing well in restricted grade in recent starts and he is down in the weights this weekend and gets every chance to win at Group 3 level. He thrives on wet surfaces so the track will be not to his disadvantage. He will be ridden by William Pike for the first time. He also has had the advantage of a one month freshen up in a recent barrier trial to getting ready for this race.
Soxagon (3) Is trained by Mark Currie and will be ridden by Brad Stewart again this weekend. He resumed with a massive weight at the Gold Coast and beat a pretty good field on a heavy track first up. On that occasion Brad chose to take him to the lead and he gave nothing else a chance in the running and skipped away with a very solid win. The step up this weekend in distance will not bother him. He is a very classy runner he should be respected in this field.
Chris Waller Racing has several runners in the field all of which must be respected. Blondeau (6) was a dual acceptor a few weeks ago and the stable chose to race him at Gosford where he got the job done, so he comes to Queensland after a solid win at Gosford on a soft track. He has very good form on soft and heavy surfaces and should not be overlooked in a race like this. He has the bonus of the services of James McDonald.
The stablemate Bullfinch (15) has demonstrated very good form since arriving in SE QLD over the past month posting two exciting wins. He does drop back in distance from 1400 metres where he won last start at Eagle Farm - Larry Cassidy goes back on him this weekend. There is no wet weather form disclosed for this runner, however, the way he has raced since coming to Queensland would suggest that he should handle the conditions and be very competitive at huge odds – currently $21.
To be fair there are many other runners that could upset or post a win in this race this. As I said, it would pay to play wide in this race. However, in saying that if the track has any bias to leaders, I would suggest you have something on Last Chance (7) who does thrive in the wet and will race handy on the speed.
Selections:
9 – Holyfield
12 - Taksu
6 – Blondeau
3 – Soxagon
Rough chance – (2) Emerald Kingdom & (7) Last Chance & (15) Bullfinch
Race 7 XXXX DOOMBEN CUP (Group 1)
The feature race this week over 2000 metres – GROUP 1.
Will the rain come and make the track heavy?
Will Zaaki (1) be as effective in the wet as he was in 2021 – a 7 length win?
Zaaki (1) backed by the lethal duo of Annabel Neasham and James McDonald – I think he can win – but I don’t think he is in the same form as he was this time last year. If the rain comes and the track becomes a slog, I think he is susceptible here.
Conventina Bay (10) is a New Zealand mare trained by Robbie Patterson who will be ridden by Samantha Collett. I think that this mare has a tremendous record in Group 1 races – 6 starts – 2 wins and 3 seconds and has an amazing record on heavy tracks. If it turns into a slog on a very heavy track, I think that she is an great chance to knock of the favourite at $25.
Chris Waller is well represented here with four out of the ten runners. I think his best two chances are Polly Grey (9) to be ridden by Tim Clark and Kukeracha (4) to be ridden by Jimmy Orman. Both runners come out of solid efforts in the Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast.
Selections:
1 – Zaaki
10 – Coventina Bay
9 – Polly Grey
4 – Kukeracha
Race 8 THE ROSES GROUP 2
Another one of our feature races over 2000 metres at Group 2 level.
Some of these fillies will be aiming at glory in the QLD Oaks in the coming weeks.
Stalking (6) is trained by James Cummings – Godolphin. Will be ridden again this weekend by Jimmy Orman. Was working nicely into the race at her last start on the Gold Coast when Orman was forced to go back to the rails to make a run in the final stages - this was not the best part of the track on the day, and she kept on fighting on well late. I think this weekend she represents great each way value at $10 and should get the run of the race from barrier 1.
Barb Raider (1) comes out of the recent Australasian Oaks (Group 1) at Morphettville where she raced on the speed and fought on well late. Kerrin McEvoy will ride this weekend for trainer Jerome Hunter. I just have some concerns about her on a heavy track especially, particularly if the track gets further rain affected in the coming days.
Biscayne Bay (2) is trained by Maher & Eustace and last raced six weeks ago in the ATC Oaks (Group 1) at Randwick on a terrible track. I don't think the track will be that heavy this weekend, however with the freshen up I expect her to run very well in the race where she will be ridden by Ben Allen for the first time. She has drawn badly in barrier 16, however she should race midfield and be able to power home late if she handles the conditions.
Smirk (11), trained by Chris Waller, did perform well recently at the Gold Coast over 1800 metres. I think she had every opportunity on that day to win that race however, with that run under her belt she should be better for that effort and may be able to finish in the placings here. James McDonald will ride for the stable.
Gin Martini (4) should be kept safe – could run a bold race for John Sargent with Robbie Dolan to ride. I think she is looking for a distance like this. Just again some concerns if they are on a very wet track.
Selections:
6 – Stalking
1 – Barb Raider
2 – Biscayne Bay
11 – Smirk
Rough chances – (4) Gin Martini
Race 9
The last race – over 1110 metres – a massive field. I just hope the heavy rain that is forecast stays away and we can get through the meeting.
Zavaboom (7) is trained by Gollan Racing. The blinkers go on this weekend and the fact that James McDonald will ride is a bonus for the gelding. Not too sure how he will handle the heavy track, however has trialled well on a soft surface and this would suggest he should be able to cope. Hopefully he'll get out in the market as he is short odds currently at around the $5 mark.
Rubiquitous (2) Is trained by Chris Anderson and will be ridden by Brad Stewart. His last start win here was nothing short of amazing. He was sensationally backed in the race firming on $21 into $9 and getting the chocolates. That race has some strong form and drawing well would suggest that he should get the run of the race and be very difficult to hold out.
Hamlet Von Snitzel (6) Is trained by Robert Heathcote and will be ridden by Jaden Lloyd. He should race on the speed from his handy barrier 7 draw. I expect him to be in the race and be hard to hold out late. His form on wet weather is not known and this may be a problem if the track deteriorates across the meeting.
The New South Wales trained Dragonstone (3), trained by Mark Newnham, has had a freshen up since his efforts on very heavy tracks in Sydney. Just had a month freshened up since those efforts and I would have put him on top here to win the race, but he is drawn extremely poorly in barrier 16. Kerrin McEvoy will ride and may need some luck from the wide draw.
Miss Hipstar (12) has the blinkers going on this weekend for the first time and is third up this preparation. Again, she will be ridden by Larry Cassidy. Battled second up at the Gold Coast on a heavy track I think that she will take benefit from that run and could be competitive here with the gear change.
Selections:
7 – Zavaboom
2 – Rubiquitous
6 – Hamlet Von Snitzel
3 – Dragonstone
Rough chance – (12) Miss Hipstar
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Jockeys Challenge
Jimmy Orman, William Pike, James McDonald and Nash Rawiller have some nice rides. I think James McDonald could get the job done here.
Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)
5,7,8,11 / 1,2,4,6 / 3,7,11,14 / 2,4,6 - cost is $192 to $1
Value Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)
5,7,8 / 1,6 / 3,7,11 / 2,4,6 - cost is $54 to $1
Quaddie (races 6 to 9)
3,6,9,12,15 / 1,9,10 / 1,2,6 / 2,6,7 - cost is $135 to $1
Value Quaddie (races 6 to 9)
6,9,12 / 1,10 / 1,6 / 2,7 - cost is $24 to $1
Treble (races 7 to 9)
1,9,10 / 1,2,6 / 2,6,7 - cost is $27 to $1
WINNO V FLEMO
The battle continues this weekend with WINNO and FLEMO. WINNO won last weekend with a solid effort between us both. Be sure to check the up to date and amended tips each Saturday morning on Facebook after any track changes and scratchings where I will post our selections and any late mail!
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