Doomben Best Bets + Preview | October 15

Everest week is here, Caufield Cup as well but we have benchmark racing at Doomben and we know what the mugs prefer, midweek madness. We find ourselves on a soft 5 track throughout the day with the rail out eight and a half metres for entire course and the first race to jump at 1.23pm.

---

Race 1: MAIDEN (1200M)

Happy to keep it in the holster early here at Doomben, open maiden with no standouts, follow the general maiden rule, drawn low and money push.

Race 2: MAIDEN (1200M)

The Gollan team has Armes here who has been great two runs in. He will be peaking here third up and gets Ben Thompson, weight relief and drawn in a middle alley to give him all the options. Happy to stick with here even at the shorter quote in another open maiden.

Race 3: MAIDEN (1200M)

Well we are going for a similar recipe with the main different being the draw. Cardonette and Making News gapped the field latest but she does have to come from barrier sixteen here today. There does look to be a bit of pace in the race and hoping that she can sit off them and with pace on peel of late, with outside lanes looking promising last week.

Race 4: Benchmark 68 (2050M)

Pretty keen on Ichiban here for the Waller stable. He was good from way back in the field in a Saturday race that was dominated up on pace by Valimi. From barrier one Cobi with the claim can be much more positive and with two placings from three starts this trip and a really good track record he can break the run of form and get that fourth win.

Race 5: Benchmark 65 (1650M)

Well this is a really interesting race with a fair few of these looking well below their best at the moment. Big Ticket Boy was great fresh over an unsuitable trip. If he improves off the back of that and continues his great record of two wins from four over this trip he is a solid each way play here.

Race 6: Benchmark 70 (1200M)

This race is a case of if Caspernova is not one run too many into the preparation with the claim he should be too classy for these but if not then its wide open. He puts himself in races which I like and Jace McMurray is flying at the moment. He handles the track and is a distance specialist.

Race 7: Class 5 (1350M)

We are going to have two plays this race with both Casrock and Tonneofgrit. They should both sit off the pace and stay out of what looks a hot speed on paper. They come through the same race and prior to that they were in behind Pareto and Shot of Whiskey.

Race 8: Class 1 (1350M)

Gambino should lead these off and if speed maps are remotely accurate could steal a few sectionals in running. The problem there is that back in trip probably doesn’t suit. For that reason, save Vovo who belted rivals latest but will need a smart ride from Ben Thompson to make sure she doesn’t miss the jump.

#Beans Bazinga – R2 H5 – Armes

Selections

Race 1: No Bet

Race 2: Armes

Race 3: Cardonette

Race 4: Ichiban

Race 5: Big Ticket Boy

Race 6: Caspernova

Race 7: Casrock and Tonneofgrit

Race 8: Gambino and Vovo