Rockhampton | May 22 | Best Bets + Preview

Doomben Cup Week? Pfft. There’s seven at Rocky today, so let’s build a bank. The rail is out +4.5m the entire, and we’re racing on a Soft 5 with a good chance of an upgrade early in the meeting.

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Race 1: Maiden Handicap (1400m)

He’s Poplar was good last start at Grafton in a Super Maiden, hitting the line strongly behind Jed over 1205m. He finds a weak race here, and should appreciate the step up to 1400m. The wide draw is the knock, because he doesn’t have an abundance of gate speed, but he should be hard to hold out.

Race 2: 3YO Handicap (1400m)

Ask Me Mate gets his chance to score an overdue win today in a suitable 3YO Handicap. He was good at the Sunny Coast two back, and then last start was well backed in a stronger race than this over 1100m. He’s been back to the trials since, and now goes to 1400m for the first time. The trip is a query, but he’s been racing like he’s looking for further, so it’ll be a good test. He’ll have the fence in run, which could prove the difference.

Race 3: Class 1 Handicap (1100m)

It’s not a race I’m overly keen to bet into, but Spellmaster made a good impression in his CQ debut, winning by 2.5L in maiden company over this track and trip a fortnight ago. There’s not a whole lot of depth here, but he should prove hard to beat once again, especially from barrier one.

Race 4: Benchmark 70 (1100m)

Obligated is better than I thought he was early on, so he can take the next step and take on the older horses now. He’s finished in the quinella in seven of his 10 starts, with two of those misses coming at starts two and three, and then again three starts ago in the Listed Gold Edition Plate on a Heavy 10 at Eagle Farm. He won well first-up with a big weight at Mackay and can go on with it here.

Race 5: Benchmark 70 (1400m)

Staying out. Papasito and Parade Ground look the leading chances, but could easily make a case for the likes of Menazzi & The Last Saga.

Race 6: Class 3 Handicap (1300m)

I liked the return of Magic Game first-up over this track and trip a fortnight ago. She went right back to last, only to be beaten a length by Itza Motza who she meets 2kg better off at the weights this time around. She’s drawn wide again, so she’ll likely get back and be finishing strongly. She’ll strip fitter second-up and looks hard to beat.

Race 7: Ratings Band 0 - 55 Handicap (1050m)

Hey Jealousy should be hard enough to beat off an easy CQ debut win at Mackay, but I have question marks on the horses behind him that day. I’ve landed on the top weight in Gilbert’s Gold, who always races well. He was rock-solid in betting first-up over 1100m but got back a bit further than usual from barrier one and then he was strung up behind them from the 400-200m. I’d have preferred to see him go to 1200m rather than back to 1050m though.

Living Breathing: Race 4 #4 Obligated

Selections

Race 1: He's Poplar

Race 2: Ask Me Mate

Race 3: Spellmaster

Race 4: Obligated

Race 5: No Bet

Race 6: Magic Game

Race 7: Gilbert's Gold