Match race looms in 10,000
Doomben, Group 1 TAB Doomben 10,000, $800,000, 1200m
The first Group 1 of the Queensland Winter Carnival looks a real match race between two of the emerging sprinters of the past 12 months, Nature Strip (Nicconi) and Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}).
It looms as a fascinating clash of two styles, with Nature Strip rated as one of the faster horses in the country having led all the way to break his Group 1 duck in The Galaxy last time out.
The form behind him from that win looks strong, with Pierata (Pierro) coming out to win the G1 All Aged S., and sixth-placed I Am Excited (Snitzel) winning the G2 Victory S. two weeks' ago.
The query for him is how he goes up to the 1200m, having been to that distance twice, but not at anything beyond Listed level.
That hasn't stopped strong support for him all week, with the 4-year-old now supported into a clear top pick.
Osborne Bulls has been second in all four runs this campaign, all of them at Group 1 level. He stormed home in the Lightning and Newmarket Hcp to miss narrowly before being outsprinted by Australia's best sprinter Santa Ana Lane (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the TJ Smith S. and being unable to reel in Pierata in the All Aged S.
The concern for him is whether running second has become too much of a habit. His most recent win was in Group 2 company last November, but that was a much softer race and certainly none of his rivals had the speed or the quality of Nature Strip.
Osborne Bulls
However, Nature Strip won’t get an easy lead with I'm a Rippa (Love Conquers All), Manuel (Commands), Dollar For Dollar (High Chaparral {Ire}) all likely to go forward, while White Moss (Mossman) and The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) also close to the pace.
Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt) is in career-best form but has been comfortably beaten home by Osborne Bulls in her last three runs and you'd be brave to say she can turn the tables.
Outback Barbie (Spirit of Boom) resumes having been last seen when narrowly beaten in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas in January. She has a great first-up record, but this is the toughest field she has faced.
Dubious loves Sunshine state
Doomben G2 Moet & Chandon Champagne Classic, $200,000, 1200m
Dubious (Not A Single Doubt) returns to Queensland, where he has shown his best form, in what looks a really open renewal of this 2-year-old feature.
Well-beaten in the G1 Golden Slipper S last time out, Dubious has had two starts in Queensland for a win at Eagle Farm and a second in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January. This will be his sixth start in his juvenile year and he hasn’t had a lot of rest since winning the G3 Breeders' Plate on debut in September, but he is the class runner here.
Dubious winning the G3 Breeders' Plate
Czarson (Stratum) ran fourth in the Magic Millions race and resumed with a narrow second in a recent 2-year-old race at Kensington. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained colt has been set for this carnival and it would not surprise to see him take a big step forward here.
Jagged Edge (Better Than Ready) is unbeaten in his two starts, the most recent in the Listed Dalrello S. two weeks' ago. This does look a better race than last time, and he’ll have to show improvement.
Strasbourg (I Am Invincible) didn't quite measure up in the G1 Sires' Produce at Randwick last time but has been given a freshen up, with a Queensland campaign in mind.
Dealmaker poised to break drought
Doomben, G3 National Road Safety Week Rough Habit Plate, $140,000, 2000m
It may have been 11 months since he won a race, but Dealmaker (Dundeel {NZ}) looks well-placed to break that drought here. Chris Waller's colt has been a model of consistency, running placings at Group 3 level his past two and this looks a much easier assignment.
Purple Sector (NZ) (Pins), who has been just behind Dealmaker his past two starts looks the obvious threat but is also developing a reputation for avoiding the winning stall having won one of 12.
Beyond that pair, it’s a fairly thin race with Waller's Borazon (All Too Hard) afforded some chance off recent performances in much weaker races along with Steven O'Dea's The Golden Hind (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Haripour set to bounce back
Doomben, Group 3 Kirin Chairman's Hcp, $140,000, 2000m
Next month's G2 Brisbane Cup is on the mind of the majority of the connections of these horses and this shapes as an open race.
The Waller-trained Haripour (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) was a bit unlucky last time, unable to make a run at the right time in the G3 JRA Plate at Randwick. On his previous effort, when a strong winner of the Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo, he can rebound here.
Our Libretto (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) looks an ideal Brisbane Cup type, and while the 2000m might still be a little short for her, she is sure to be competitive in this race. She ran past Haripour last time and her jockey Jamie Kah is in great form at the moment.
Our Libretto
The Candy Man (Casino Prince) is on a winning streak having won five straight but this is a big jump up on the benchmark race he contested last time.
Also on a picket-fence run is Le Juge (Ire) (Dansili {Ire}), who has won three in a row in Queensland and while this is his first try at stakes company in Australia, he is progressive and can make an impression.
Multaja's Day
Doomben Listed Suez Queensland Day S. $125,000, 1350m
Godolphin mare Multaja (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}) should be able to secure a second stakes success in this race having been narrowly beaten in the G3 Hawkesbury Crown last time out.
She has been well-placed in this race and gets in with a nice weight and a good barrier.
Racecourse Road (Show A Heart) is searching for a hat-trick having stepped through lesser races at the Gold Coast and Eagle Farm with easy wins. He looks progressive, but perhaps not in the same class as the favourite here.
Vega One (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is also in excellent form this campaign and from the inside barrier, can be ridden a bit closer here.
Gem on Song
Doomben Listed Newington Farm Members Hcp, $125,000, 1600m
Gem Song (Your Song) trotted in last time and should make it back to back wins under the conditions of this race, where he carries just 54kg.
He carries 1kg less than Archedemus (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who proved too good from the front in the G3 Hawkesbury Cup last time. He makes his own luck and has an imposing winning record of six wins from nine starts.
Tom Melbourne (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) was just beaten by Archedemus last time but meets him 2kg better at the weights, so is a chance of turning the tables, while last-start G3 Easter Cup winner Plein Ciel (Ger) (Mamool {Ire}) is back in form.
