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The Queensland Racing Carnival rolls on this Saturday for ten of the best on Doomben Cup Day.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
This year's edition of the time-honoured Group 1 feature is an intriguing affair with Huetor looking to join the great champion Rough Habit as a back-to-back-to-back winner.
While the Doomben Cup is the main event, we have a cracking support card with five other black-type races plus the inaugural running of the Magic Millions National 2YO Classic.
We've run the rule over each race and provided our top selections below.
RACE 1 - 11:08AM: BENCHMARK 85 Handicap (1350 METRES)
Midnight In Tokyo (8) ran well when resuming over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast last start.
The Annabel Neasham-trained mare got caught in the wrong part of the track so to finish third behind Pereille in the heavy conditions was meritorious.
She'll strip fitter second-up and did win here when having her second run back last preparation.
The rise in distance looks ideal and should see Ryan Maloney settle in a prominent position.
1 Unit – Midnight In Tokyo (8)
RACE 2 - 11:43AM: BENCHMARK 85 Handicap (1110 METRES)
Contemporary (1) returned this preparation in magnificent order with a win at Hawkesbury.
The James Cummings-trained son of Exceed And Excel got to the outside in the straight and powered home to claim the 1100m contest easily by 1.5 lengths.
He rarely runs a bad race as his record of four wins and nine placings from 18 starts suggests.
He'll strip fitter second-up and while drawn a touch sticky, there looks to be an abundance of speed in the race which will help Nash Rawiller find a decent spot in running.
1 Unit – Contemporary (1)
RACE 3 - 12:18PM: DARBY McCARTHY (1110 METRES)
I'm prepared to forget Skirt The Law (6) went around last start when resuming in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate.
The Tony Gollan-trained didn't fire a shot but was found to be lame post-race.
The 2023 Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner raced well last preparation during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival where she was beaten a head in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes and placed third in the Listed Cap D'antibes Stakes.
She'll enjoy returning to Doomben where she is undefeated in two starts.
I like the booking of Damian Lane to navigate the potentially sticky barrier.
1 Unit – Skirt The Law (6)
RACE 4 - 12:53PM: LISTED BILL CARTER STAKES (1200 METRES)
Clean Energy (4) is yet another talented two-year-old from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable.
The filly is a full sister to Sunlight, and she looks to have inherited her class based on her debut win at Warwick Farm.
After impressively winning two trials leading into the 1000m contest, she overcame an outside gate to lead all the way for a two-length victory.
She'll be better for the experience and now draws perfectly in barrier 3 for Adam Hyeronimus.
2 Units – Clean Energy (4)
RACE 5 - 1:28PM: MAGIC MILLIONS NATIONAL 2YO CLASSIC (1050 METRES)
Spywire (1) looks to have come back for his second preparation a more furnished horse.
The Chris Waller-trained son of Trapeze Artist raced extremely wide in a recent Randwick trial but still cruised to an easy win despite covering a lot more ground.
He won on debut before going on to finish third in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and having excuses in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes and Listed St Albans Stakes.
He maps to get the run of the race for James McDonald and looks well placed to win the inaugural Magic Millions National 2YO Classic.
1 Unit – Spywire (1)
RACE 6 - 2:03PM: LISTED CHIEF DE BEERS (1110 METRES)
King Kapa (5) finished a close third after working hard to find the front from a wide gate in the Listed Chief De Beers last year.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding is better drawn in barrier 3 in this year's edition which should see Damian Lane give him a peach of a run.
He's warmed up for this first-up assignment with two nice trials with the most recent being a slick piece of work where he controlled proceedings in front to win.
He races well fresh and looks ready for a bold showing.
1 Unit Each Way – King Kapa (5)
RACE 7 - 2:38PM: GROUP 3 DRINKWISE MILE (1600 METRES)
Zoe's Promise (2) returned in magnificent order over 1400m at Eagle Farm last start.
The Kris Lees-trained four-year-old mare went straight to the front before putting a gap in them in the straight to easily win by four lengths.
She'll strip fitter second-up and went within a head of winning when having her second run back last preparation.
The rise to a mile will suit given she won over the distance at Randwick third-up when last in work before finishing second to Lekvarte in the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes at Gosford.
She should enjoy a nice run on speed for Andrew Mallyon.
1 Unit – Zoe's Promise (2)
RACE 8 - 3:17PM: GROUP 2 THE ROSES (2000 METRES)
Scarlet Oak (13) is promising filly that has hit the ground running since arriving at Chris Waller's stable from New Zealand.
The daughter of Kermadec won her maiden at Matamata in impressive fashion before running well to finish second in the Group 3 James Carr Stakes at Randwick.
Last start she could not have been more impressive when putting her rivals away in a few bounds before arrogantly cruising to a 2.5 length win over a mile at Newcastle.
She'll be close to peak fitness now and the rise to 2000m in the Group 2 The Roses looks ideal.
She maps to get a beautiful run for James McDonald.
1 Unit – Scarlet Oak (13)
RACE 9 - 3:57PM: GROUP 1 DOOMBEN CUP (2000 METRES)
Kovalica (3) grows a leg when he comes to Queensland and that was again on show last start in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes at the Sunshine Coast.
The Chris Waller-trained son of Ocean Park turned his form around to finish 1.6 lengths third to Numerian, recording the quickest final 200m split of the race.
He'll appreciate a drier surface and the rise to 2000m, given he finished third in last year's Group 1 Doomben Cup as a three-year-old and won his other start over this course and distance.
He should enjoy an economical run from barrier 3 for Nash Rawiller.
2 Units – Kovalica (3)
RACE 10 - 4:30PM: GROUP 3 LADBROKES BRC SPRINT (1350 METRES)
Here To Shock (8) will appreciate the drop in trip after peaking late over 1600m at Caulfield last start.
It was still a great run by the Team Hayes-trained gelding who fought bravely to finish a nose second.
The start prior he stormed home to win the Group 3 Victoria Handicap, defeating Seonee by half a length who then won the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes to frank the form.
There looks to be plenty of speed in the race which should see Mick Dee settle in a stalking position from the nice gate.
1 Unit Each Way – Here To Shock (8)
