Doomben | June 18 | Best Bets + Preview

The Stradbroke may be over (damn,..) but the Mugs Show rolls on. There's eight races from Doomben this Wednesday, with the first kicking off at 12:33pm local time. The rail is out 11m the entire, and we're starting on a Soft 5. 

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Race 1: MAIDEN (2070m)

The favourite So Suave looks hard to beat in the opener, but we're more than happy to steer away from an odds-on pop in a 2000m maiden.

Race 2: 3YO MAIDEN (1660M)

Team Hulbert saddle up Cambridge Bay here, who clearly brings the best last-start rating with a solid third over 1350m here a fortnight ago. He should relish getting to the mile third-up, and while he's better suited back to Set Weights.

Race 3: 2YO Handicap (1350m)

Zhongxin Koala found a pretty strong race on debut at Ipswich, and I thought he was really good. Thee Creek and Lucky Lass ran the quinella - they settled first and second in run and were coming out of blacktype racing, while the Koala was on debut, bombed the start and settled down last. If he can step cleaner from barrier two, he'll be right in the finish up to 1350m for Alan Chau.

Race 4: Maiden (1110M)

Expecting that this will be a good form race going forward. Deep Vegas was heavily backed on debut but struck a heavy track, and then went straight for a break. Yoyo Yeezy is a half brother to Uncommon James, and his trials have been terrific. They look the quinella, and whichever doesn't win, will probably win next time. Staying out though, with the likes of Out Of Turn and Rosso Levanto also chances.

Race 5: Class 3 Handicap (1660M)

Warrant was nailed late by Becamo over this track and trip last start, and while he's drawn wide here, he gets in 2kg lighter and will take a bit of getting past. His last three runs are all good enough to see him right in the mix here, and without a whole lot of pressure drawn inside him, I expect he can get across without having to work double time and be hard to topple.

Race 6: Class 1 Handicap (1200M)

Good luck to King Mug Moz who has a share in Make A Call, but I'm not here to make friends, so I'm looking elsewhere. There's two at big odds I can entertain, but one looks unlikely to run with no jock booked yet. That's Hey Chardonnay. She's been a victim of no luck on a few occasions, so she probably shouldn't be in a Class 1. The other is Bit Of Grunt, who has returned in top order, breaking his maiden last start on a Heavy 10. He won't get those conditions on Wednesday, but he's going to get every chance from gate two and can be strong at the end of 1200m.

Race 7: Benchmark 70 (1350M)

Backing two horses again, who both come out of the same race on a heavy track last start on Derby Day before the meeting was called off. Fat Fingers was disappointing there, but forget that and go off her prior form, and she's right in the mix. Itza Charmdeel was first-up off a lengthy break and went forward, sticking on well. This much easier, he can cross from a wide draw and gets in well after Lang's claim.

Race 8: Class 5 Handicap (1110M)

Keen to see Caspernova back at the races - he looks well above average, winning four from nine and running second on three other occasions. Those seven top-two finishes have all been 1200m though, so I just think he's rock-bottom odds first-up over 1110m. He's probably too good, but he can win without us.

Living Breathing – R2 #1 Cambridge Bay

Selections

Race 1: No Bet

Race 2: Cambridge Bay

Race 3: Zhongxin Koala

Race 4: No Bet

Race 5: Warrant

Race 6: Bit Of Grunt & Hey Chardonnay

Race 7: Itza Charmdeel & Fat Fingers

Race 8: No Bet