3 minute read

Racing And Sports form analyst Brenton Le Grand provides his selections for a bumper ten-race card at Doomben this Saturday, brought to you by tab.com.au

For the second week in a row Doomben plays host to a Group 1 worth $1 million with the XXXX Doomben Cup over 2000m being the feature there this Saturday. A quality field has assembled and we've landed on one at succulent odds wagering on a place-heavy basis. 

The support card doesn't disappoint either with no less than five other Group or Listed contests. Our best bet comes in the form of a well-related 2YO in the Listed Bill Carter Stakes. Here's a race-by-race preview to give you an early start on the form, thanks to tab.com.au. 

Race 1 - Stradbroke Calcutta 13 June Benchmark 85 Handicap (1350m) @ 11.08am 

Avebury (15) was a touch plain when resuming at Canterbury but has since tuned up for this with a strong Randwick trial win. Boasts a solid second-up record with a win and two seconds from just three attempts and winning hoop J Mac is back on board. The 1350m looks ideal now and she should give this a mighty shake. Pacific Ruby (14) resumes here but has an impeccable fresh record only tasting defeat once in four outings. Drawn to get a gun run from gate five and can make her presence felt. Midnight In Tokyo (8) looked handy winning over this track and trip before the spell and has since blown out the cobwebs placing at the Sunny Coast behind Pereille. Rarely runs a bad race. Wategos (3) wasn't disgraced at Listed level last time out and should find this a touch easier. In the mix. Standing Order (10) strips fitter second-up and must be respected from the Gollan barn.

Tip: Backing Avebury @ $4.20 with TAB 

Race 2 - The Star Benchmark 85 Handicap (1110m) @ 11.43am

Contemporary (1) returned in fine fashion with a slashing win at Hawkesbury and doesn't know how to run a bad race. Will have come on with that run now under the belt and looks the one they all have to catch. Hidden Wealth (14) is one from one here and only needs some luck from the sticky draw to be prominent. Vodka Martini (8) disappointed first-up but the form he showed when last in work was good enough to feature in a race like this. Gets 1.5kg off and is worth another chance. My Snow Queen (19) best of the rest from the favourable draw.

Tip: Siding with Contemporary @ $3.90 with TAB 

Race 3 - Seven Darby McCarthy (1110m) @ 12.18pm 

Celui (1) couldn't have been more impressive winning the Vobis Gold Cash at Caulfield two back before just running into a couple better at Group 3 level last time out. Should find this a slight drop in grade and will be at peak fitness for this. Rates the testing material. Power Ballard (8) has only missed a drum once in six career starts all over this sprint journey. Has a handy first-up record and gets the deadly Clark/Waterhouse/Bott combination. Definite winning claims while fresh. Skirt The Law (6) has a touch of class on her side and no surprises to see her bounce right back to form against this lot. Fortuneer (10) put three wins together on the bounce to start the career before being tipped out for time to furnish. Hard to knock. Show Me Mercy (3) best of the rest in a race with plenty of chances.

Tip: Celui to win @ $4.60 with TAB 

Race 4 - City Property Services Bill Carter Stakes (1200m) @ 12.53pm 

The well-related Clean Energy (4) (full to 3xG1 winner Sunlight) debuted in spectacular fashion at Warwick Farm on a bottomless surface when leading all the way and is sure to have derived a stack of confidence from that victory. Drawn to get across easily from gate three for Hippo and can go right on with the job now. Lincolnshire (2) saluted at Listed level when facing the starter for the first time before just missing the placings in the Vobis Showdown at Caufield. Gets Lane on and must be respected from the Moody/Coleman stable. Zatanna (7) absolutely stonked them in lesser grade at Ipswich on debut and deserves her shot at this level. Top-three candidate. Poster Girl (1) wasn't disgraced in the 2YO Classic at the Goldy in January before being given time to mature. Can make her presence felt while fresh. Lady Shenandoah (9) comes through that same Clean Energy race and may feature with natural improvement.

Tip: Clean Energy straight out @ $2.10 with TAB

Race 5 - Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1050m) @ 1.28pm 

Eneeza (9) was unlucky to have not finished closer in the Golden Slipper two back before atoning for that with a strong Percy Sykes win last month. Has since been given a bit of a freshen up to drop back to the 1050m here but is in the right stable to do so. Lane sticks and is expected to be right there at the business end. Spywire (1) loves this sprint journey with two wins and a second from three attempts and is one from one when racing first-up. Should sit on speed from the favourable draw and will give backers a great sight. Embassy (5) has been right there in all three starts to date and looks to be nearing a maiden victory. Has to be included in the exotics. Arabian Summer (10) wasn't too far away in the 2YO Magic Millions and will have come on since that campaign. One of the main contenders. Astapor (3) next best in a race with only a handful of chances.

Tip: With Eneeza @ $2.40 with TAB 

Race 6 - XXXX Chief De Beers (1110m) @ 2.03pm 

Looks a wide open affair. Group 3 winner Spacewalk (1) is an ultra-consistent commodity who resumed in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush and wasn't too far beaten behind stablemate Parisal. Has placed over this track and trip, is a winner second-up and gets McDonald on board to navigate from the sticky alley. Should be right there when the whips are cracking. Hardware Lane (10) was dominant winning the Bat Out Of Hell at the Sunny Coast and Du Plessis stays in the stirrups. Rarely runs a bad race and cannot be discounted. King Kapa (5) has been off for a while but loves this track and on his best form he could play a role. Keep in mind while fresh. Golden Boom (14) has never missed the top-five and is a must for the multiples. Doull (3) is a last-start Group 2 winner and should be kept very safe while fresh.

Tip: Spacewalk each-way @ $7 with TAB 

Race 7 - Drinkwise Mile (1600m) @ 2.38pm

The $200,000 Group 3 Drinkwise Mile. Zoe's Promise (2) was well-supported when resuming and absolutely put them to the sword at Eagle Farm last time out saluting by an ever-widening four lengths. Looks to be appreciating the sun on her back up north and is a three-time winner over this mile journey. Rates the hardest to toss. Foxy Frida (3) hasn't been too far away in tougher company this preparation and will be rock-hard fit for this. Expect a spike in form. Thalassophile (5) returned to her best last start and may have turned the corner now. Top-three hope. Osmose (4) is better than recent efforts suggest and is worth another chance. The well-related Princess Rhaenys (7) (full to G1 winner Jon Snow) next in line.

Tip: Zoe's Promise to win again @ $4.60 with TAB

Race 8 - ANZ Bloodstock News The Roses (2000m) @ 3.17pm 

The $300,000 Group 2 The Roses. Looks a battle of the former Kiwi fillies. Scarlet Oak (13) just found one better in her Australian debut at Randwick in the G3 James Carr before a dominant display at Newcastle at their standalone meeting. Steps up to the 2000m now and appears to be on an upward trajectory. Shapes as a top prospect again. Molly Bloom (1) made up a stack of ground at her first Australian start and is another who should appreciate the extra trip. Strips fitter second-up and is expected to play a role in the outcome. Poifect (12) has found a rich vein of form and Dee stays in the irons. Respect. Tutta La Vita (2) hails from a handy family (half to G1 winner Secret Agenda) and has been thereabouts in tough company of late. In the mix. Amazonian Lass (3) should go forward and give supporters a run for their money.

Tip: Scarlet Oak @ $3.70 with TAB 

Race 9 - XXXX Doomben Cup (2000m) @ 3.57pm 

The $1 million Group 1 Doomben Cup. Going a bit wider here with Bois D'Argent (11). Saves his best form for this 2000m journey and will be at peak fitness for this with Shinn now engaged. Eats up the wet conditions and at the juicy each-way quote is worth a place-heavy investment. Kovalica (3) hasn't won for a year but has been plying his trade at the highest level and Nash sticks from the favourable draw. Can finally return to the winner's circle. Detonator Jack (4) only narrowly went down in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup and is usually thereabouts. Top-three contender. Numerian (1) surprised a few winning first-up and the extra furlong suits. In the mix. Huetor (2) is a bit hit or miss but may earn some minor money if he brings his best.

Tip: Going for value each-way on Bois D'Argent @ $26 with TAB 

Race 10 - BRC Sprint (1350m) @ 4.30pm 

The $300,000 Group 3 BRC Sprint. Vilana (4) hails from a handy family (half to 5xG2 winner Savatiano) and showed he had come back well with a close-up second behind Mazu in the G3 Hall Mark first-up. Has won two from five when second-up and the 1350m should be in his sweet spot now. Will be hoping the track is cut up by the last and rates a serious contender. The consistent Yellow Brick (12) has only missed a drum once in 13 career starts and rarely lets supporters down. Has to be included. Here To Shock (8) has been in red-hot form this preparation and will be at peak fitness now. Sure to be thereabouts again. Freedom Rally (18) is drawn to get all the favours from the inside alley and cannot be discounted. Strait Acer (10) has been a great money-spinner for connections and may pick up another cheque.

Tip: Backing Vilana @ $4.60 with TAB