WINNO'S WINNERS: DOOMBEN, FEBRUARY 24, 2024

By Darren Winningham | Thursday, February 22, 2024

DOOMBEN this week where the track is rated ‘soft’ and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit. There are forecasting warm weather in the lead up – possibly an upgrade closer to race day.

Footy Season is close – let me see – NSW will win Origin 2024 – maybe Storm to get the NRL premiership. As for the Broncos – who cares!

Straight into it.

NB: As these selections were made prior to race-day, please check for any changes to track conditions and for any scratchings on the day.

Race 1

A distance race over 2020 metres.

Kevin Kemp has two genuine chances here with Artful Girl (7) and Sigourney (9). Artful Girl (7) was smashed in the betting late at Doomben over a similar distance a fortnight ago. Marnu Potgieter will ride her again. She has won at this track and distance – keep safe.

Sigourney (9) has got back in her last two starts and worked home late. I think that the three weeks between runs and her last effort at Doomben a fortnight ago may have just caught her out for fitness. I expect a bold showing here this weekend – Jim Byrne will ride.

Selections:

7 – Artful Girl
9 – Sigourney
10 – Bak Da Man
11 – Disputed River

Race 2

A class 1 over 1615 metres.

Tough race – maybe Notacluehoworwho (3) trained by Gary Duncan with Cejay Graham in the saddle may be difficult to beat. He got too far back over 1350 metres a fortnight ago here – then he was flying home late. The mile looks like the perfect trip for him.

American Phireball (2) burnt his opposition last time out in a maiden race at this track in a midweek race. He is trained by Chris Munce and Kyle Wilson Taylor will ride him again. May just step up here and be competitive again.

Selections:

3 – Notacluehoworwho
2 – American Phireball
6 – You And I
11 – Fire Love

Race 3

The first leg of the early Quaddie with ten races on the card – a race at Class 3 level over 1350 metres.

Chris Munce trains Jukebox Glow (14) who has been racing consistently recently. He is third up here and I think this distance may suit him – Robbie Dolan will ride.

Tony Gollan Racing has many representatives here – the one I like is Kokonotsu (3) who has two recent trials under his belt. He does race well fresh – will be improved over longer distances. There is speed in this race – I expect him to be thundering home - $10 is a good price each way.

The stable mate is Snow Boum (13). She won last time out at midweek grade – Cejay Graham will ride. Has drawn barrier 3 – will race on the speed.

Russian Mystic (9) is trained by Barry Lockwood and will have Kyle Wilson Taylor aboard. He raced in a Class 1 race here two weeks ago and carried a huge 60 kilograms. He was working well home to finish off strongly. He does go up in grade and down in weights – I just think the weight differential makes him very appealing as a genuine each way chance at $11.

African Daisy (2) looked the winner three weeks ago at Eagle Farm all the way down the straight – however, got nailed on the post. She gets in well here with the claim for Bailey Wheeler.

Selections:

3 – Kokonotsu
9 – Russian Mystic
2 – African Daisy
14 – Jukebox Glow
Rough chance – (13) Snow Boum

Race 4

The two-year-old runners race here over 1110 metres in the QTIS Jewel Prelude for colts and geldings.

Open race here – some with some exposed form resuming – then the debutants that have all trialled well.

Maybe the best way to go is to wait and see what happens in the betting closer to the race start.

The Stuart Kendrick trained Defiant Boom (2) raced consistently in his first preparation without much luck running into some smart ones. He has trialled well recently – that would see him ready to win here – Michael Rodd will ride.

Head Honcho (1) is trained by Ryan Tyrell with Kyle Wilson Taylor (KWT) to ride. A recent trial winner and again on his runs in his first preparation he will be ready to show up here.

Cryptostar (3) is trained by Liam Birchley and won easily at Rockhampton. Ryan Wiggins rode him to that win. Wiggo may need a GPS to find his way around Doomben on a Saturday! Nonetheless the gelding looks promising and could measure up here.

Of the unraced brigade maybe something on the David Vandyke trained All Inclusive (8) who has been trialling well and has Ryan Maloney aboard.

Selections:

2 – Defiant Boom
1 – Head Honcho
3 – Cryptostar
8 – All Inclusive
Rough chance – (9) Brazen Act

Race 5

This is another two-year-old race over 1110 metres – the QTIS Jewel Prelude - this time for the girls.

Gollan Racing has a smart one on debut here – Tiye (12). She has won two trials in solid fashion. Angela Jones will be riding her, and she has drawn well in barrier 3.

I like Overfull (8) from the Peter Robl stables with Jag Guthmann-Chester to ride. She is around $13 and won impressively on debut at the Sunshine Coast. She was smashed in the betting on debut. The only concern I have here is the wide barrier – drawn in barrier 12.

Fields Amour (3) won on debut at Ipswich and then ran a nice second in Saturday grade a fortnight ago. That run was good enough to suggest that she will perform well here. Lee Freedman trains and Samantha Collett will ride.

Selections:

8 – Overfull
12 - Tiye
3 – Fields Amour
5 – Time To Cry
Rouch chance – (11) Sandy Grip

Race 6

Last leg of the early Quaddie. A class 6 race over 1350 metres.

Last start winner Viminele (7) will be hard to toss again. Trained by Lindsay Gough and Jake Bayliss to ride he looks well placed after a dominant win here two weeks ago.

Brentwood (3), trained by Tony Gollan, I think should be forgiven for his last start effort – he was second up. Maybe a case of the second up yips. This weekend Angela Jones will ride him, and I think the extra distance will assist his chances.

Boom Torque (2), trained by Matthew Dunn, was drawn wide last start – got caught wide throughout – lost a plate in the running – you get the picture – not much luck. I think from the better draw and the smaller field he should get the run of the race – Jimmy Orman will ride again. Look for a bold effort.

Selections:

7 – Viminele
3 – Brentwood
2 – Boom Torque
9 – Bettcha The Crown

Race 7

First leg of the Quaddie – BM75 level over 1615 metres.

Redwood Shadow (10) is trained by Sears Racing with Ryan Maloney aboard. The gear change of blinkers going on is something that should be noted. I think he got too far back over the mile here last start – look for him to be placed closer in the running this weekend and with the blinkers on he should let down well late.

Granite Prince (9) ran second to O’Miss Behaving (13) here two weeks ago. This Michael Nolan trained gelding was the winner until the final stride. He does meet the last start winner better at the weights – Damien Thornton will ride.

O’Miss Behaving (13) is trained by Robert Heathcote – Jimmy Orman will stay aboard. She won well last start in a race where the tempo was strong, and she flew home late for a narrow win – well placed here again – but up in the weights.

Bold Pedro (8) may be the one that causes an upset in this race at huge odds. He is around $21 and trained by Garnett Taylor and Ryan Wiggins will ride him – drawn perfectly in barrier 1. Will be on the speed and will be right in the race. He has a superb second up record and I think he is a big chance to cause an upset and see the bookies cheering.

Selections:

10 –Redwood Shadow
9 – Granite Prince
13 – O’Miss Behaving
8 – Bold Pedro
Rough chances – (5) Heleva Deal

Race 8

Open class race over 1200 metres. The first leg of the Treble.

Golden Boom (10) is the short-priced favourite from Gollan Racing yards – Angela Jones will ride. Last start a extremely short priced favourite and was defeated at the Sunshine Coast. The stewards reported some post-race recovery issues with the gelding. He has since trialled - just not too sure whether to take the short odds or let him go around and see him win.

I think I will back something each way to beat the favourite – Perseids (11) trained by Natalie McCall and Cejay Graham aboard. Go the Girls! Last weekend the girls did dominate, winning five of the first seven races. Perseids resumed at Randwick in early January and then had a run a month ago on his home track at the Sunshine Coast – since then a freshen up. He may just turn up here and, at $21, I am happy to have something on each way.

Arentee (6) from the Chris Meagher yards resumes here. The blinkers are off here – he has been trialling well. He did slay them in his last start with a gear change of blinkers on – maybe he will be ready to sprint well fresh. Damien Thornton will ride, and he seems to go well on this gelding – super price each way - $17.

Selections:

11 – Perseids
10 – Golden Boom
6 – Arentee
2 – Legal Espirit
Rough chances – (13) Gaius

Race 9

The QTIS Jewel Prelude for three-year-olds over 1110 metres.

This is a tough race – with the weight scales favouring the lightly raced horses.

With that in mind I like the Jack Bruce trained Vindicta (16) with Jake Bayliss aboard. Ran into a smart one two weeks ago here. Looks well placed in this grade and gets in well with 53 kilograms.

Russian Alliance (1) is trained by Kevin Kemp and was superb in her last preparation. She is drawn well in barrier 9 and despite the 60 kilograms she will be right in this race. Kyle Wilson Taylor will ride her for the first time with regular jockey Larry Cassidy injured. With a career record of 7 starts and 5 wins – she must be respected.

Highbar (4) is trained by Joshua King. He raced handy last start at the Sunshine Coast and powered away over 1000 metres – he has drawn well in barrier 8 he will be difficult to hold out here. Mark Du Plessis rides again.

Sunnycoast (9) is trained by David McColm – a new addition to his stable. He seems to get the best out of these runners when they come to his yards. He has won his past two starts in Central QLD at very short odds. Then has been trialling well in preparation for his first start in metro Brisbane. Bailey Wheeler will ride and, despite barrier 13, I think he may be able to race fresh at $21.

Selections:

16 – Vindicta
1 – Russian Alliance
4 – Highbar
9 – Sunnycoast
Rough chances – (5) Femme Fatale

Race 10

A massive field over 1614 metres at Open class level.

Daytona Bay (3) is proving a nice acquisition to the Kelly Schweida Racing stables. A superb win last time out over 1400 metres. Jimmy Orman will ride again. He looks like he will get the mile – maybe one run short – but in saying that – winning form is great form.

Shopping Espirit is from the Chris Waller Racing team. A very good second at his latest run at Eagle Farm over the mile. He has a tremendous record at the mile and has won twice on this circuit. Mark Du Plessis will ride.

Waller has two other runners at good odds that could show up as well – keep them safe or include them in your multiples. Oscar Zulu (1), who gets in well with the claim for Tahlia Fenton, and Rousseau (7), to be partnered by Bailey Wheeler.

Indian Dreamer (14) was scratched last weekend as there was no jockey to ride him in the last race. They back up here at Doomben for Toby Edmonds Racing. To be fair I think he goes much better at Doomben and down on the minimum with Robbie Dolan to ride he could cause a major upset in this last race. With $21 on offer he is a tremendous each way chance to blow out these more favoured runners.

Sneak Preview (4) has won his past three starts. Trained by David Vandyke and with Cejay Graham to ride he must be considered.

Another runner at serious odds is The Elanora (10) who is having his third start for the Billy Healey stables. His second up run here over 1350 metres was striking, storming home late at massive odds of $61. An effort like that again would see him right in the finish here. Angela Jones has the ride.

Selections

3 – Daytona Bay
8 – Shopping Espirit
14 – Indian Dreamer
4 – Sneak Preview
Rough chances – (10) The Elanora – (1) Oscar Zulu - (7) Rousseau
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Jockeys Challenge

Looks like a battle between Jimmy Orman, Angela Jones and Kyle Wilson Taylor who has a tremendous book of rides. I reckon it may be between Angela and Kyle – loser buys dinner! I will go with Kyle to get the job done in a narrow battle.

Early Quaddie (races 3 to 6)

2,3,9,14 / 1,2,3,8 / 3,8,12 / 2,3,7 - cost is $144 to $1.

Value Early Quaddie (races 3 to 6)

3,9 / 1,2 / 8,12 / 3,7 - cost is $16 to $1.

Quaddie (races 7 to 10)

8,9,10,13 / 6,10,11 / 1,4,9,16 / 3,4,8,10,14 - cost is $240 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 7 to 10)

9,10 / 10,11 / 1,4,16 / 3,8,14 - cost is $36 to $1

Treble (races 8 to 10)

6,10,11 / 1,4,9,16 / 3,4,8,10,14 - cost is $60 to $1.

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 selections and any late mail!