Blair Gibson’s Doomben tips

Best Bet: Race 6 No.1 Tycoon Evie

Next Best: Race 5 No.3 The Candy Man

Best Roughie: Race 4 No.3 What The Fuss e/w

Quaddie

Leg 1: 1,4

Leg 2: 2,5,9

Leg 3: 1,3,4

Leg 4: 3,8,11,15

Race 1

1-SUBTERANNEAN

11-TIGER HEART

7-EVERLAST

5-WARRIOR HERO

Too many chances to name in an even race to kick off. SUBTERRANEAN had a successful first prep where he was a winner over this track/trip. He then ran 3rd to Alpine Edge before going for a break. Ran quite well in a G3 to kick this prep off, fitter for that and this looks easier. Just has to lump the 59kg. WARRIOR HERO is a well bred colt who has only had the one start where he was nosed out on a heavy track at the Kensington track. Can improve off that and just needs a good steer from the awkward gate. EVERLAST is a horse I feel has some ability and just hasn’t set up well in trials or his only race start where he raced wide. A good run at big odds won’t surprise. ALERT AND READY finally go the job done in Toowoomba. Far weaker race but she’d promised to do that for a while. TIGER HEART was a very good debut run behind a talented stable mate. Should land midfield with cover and I’d expect him to be very good through the line. It’s has had big support since markets opened.

Race 2

1-HUMBOLT CURRENT

5-UNBIASED

3-SEAT OF POWER

6-SEEINGISBELIEVEING

One of the more frustrating horses in QLD is SEAT OF POWER. He has won five races but he’s also been rolled a few times at odds-on quotes. Got out to 2000m+ for the first time last start, he led at a slow tempo and was a 2.5L winner against some of these. Jumps 4.5kg which is the query. HUMBOLT CURRENT gets the dry conditions he loves and he’s the most consistent of these. Gets a claim for Huxtable and may sit in front of a few this week which is suitable. UNBIASED brings a completely different formline and hasn’t had a lot of luck lately. Out to this trip should suit and like Bayliss riding. Can win without surprising. SEEINGISBELIEVEING is a real one paced type getting out in trip and that may well be suitable. Fitter for recent racing and Byrne jumps on.

Race 3

8-HALLOWED GIRL

9-RACING PARADISE

2-BERING SEA

10-WOWSERS

Big chance of RACING PARADISE rolling across to lead at a slow tempo and to wind it up and from the 600-700m. Has improved throughout this prep and gets a really nice race set up here. He is the one they have to run down. If Du Plessis gets it wrong on the leader, HALLOWED GIRL might be the swooper. I feel she is a better horse than the leader and has a nice turn of foot. RACING PARADISE did beat HALLOWED GIRL home last start but she has a 2.5kg swing in the weights and should take far more out of that run as she was five weeks between runs. BERING SEA is always competitive in these races, the market will be the best guide with Vandykes horses today.  WOWZERS looks the other one who could improve with Byrne taking over the reins. At the prices I could back HALLOWED GIRL and smaller RACING PARADISE.

Race 4

3-WHAT THE FUSS

14-TRAMONTO

2-STARVIRGO

5-FLYING CRACKERJACK

A lot of different formlines to go over here and it should be a solid tempo. TROMONTO is a horse I’ve always liked but I’m not sure if he’s had some issues as they have never been able to have a sustained prep with him. He had a change of stables and won by 6.25L on a bottomless track last start. He should get the perfect run in transit and if he’s in one piece he has the class to win this. WHAT THE FUSS ran well the last time he come to QLD. He was 2nd to Express Princess at Doomben and then 2nd to Patches at EF. This looks a suitable race for him. Gets a lovely run in transit for Cahill, ear muffs come off and blinkers go on. Should sit on the leaders backs and get every possible chance. STARVIRGO was 3 wide but brave fresh last prep. From the gate is a big chance of the same happening here. If he gets any cover he is a live chance. Small e/w WHAT THE FUSS at $12/$3.80 and small win bet TRAMONTO for me.

Race 5

3-THE CANDY MAN

7-WALKING FLYING

1-OLMEDO

4-RELOADED

I have no idea why they have persisted in taking THE CANDY MAN south all the time. The horse doesn’t go any good down there yet he has been down numerous times and goes like a busted bum every run. They wasted a run last start by going to Bendigo where he was completely legless. He gets back to Doomben and this track/trip is his bread and butter (3:2:0:1). Love the booking of Nothdurft and I’d expect sharp improvement. CONSTANT FLIGHT flopped last start but all Vandykes horses went horrible that same day? Watch the market. WALKING FLYING only beat Kubrick last start but it was a good style of a win and may keep improving under the Edmonds care. RELOADED is an absolute myth but he did trial well the other day, Byrne rides and he gets back on top of the ground which is a positive for him. OLMEDO was only beaten 2.65L in the G1 Cantala last October. Forgive the Doncaster run where they led and this is a massive drop in grade.

Race 6

1-TYCOON EVIE

4-FORCE OF WILL

5-ONLY WORDS

2-GOOD SOIZE

TYCOON EVIE does look the obvious here but I don’t want much shorter than the $2.80. She has put together three dominant wins and she can lead or take a spot anywhere she wants. Very versatile and just improving with every run. Back out to this trip is ideal and is clearly the one they have to beat. FORCE OF WILL won four straight in NZ including a G3 before running 6th in the G1 Vinery. This is a massive class drop and her best would shake the heck out of this. My little query with her is she’s had a full prep and to 2000m, now back in trip. She’s also crossed the Tasman and now from Syd to Brisbane. Has to take a toll at some stage? ONLY WORDS improved last start and may be one that keeps improving for the Waller camp. GOOS SOIZE is a nice horse on the way up, I just feel she will need a run or two and peak at 1800-200m 3rd up.

Race 7

9-MAOZI

5-MISS IANO

2-ROYAL WITNESS

12-GEE TEE TEE

It looks a really good race for MAOZI and I feel she is an underrated mare. The trials have been very good and she will be winning races this prep. The real issue for her is she isn’t great out of the gates and Robbie makes me very nervous when he has to jump one out. If she lands midfield it’s then a case of getting off the fence at the right time. At $8 I’m prepared to have something on.  MISS IANO is having start 44 but has raced well here multiple times. El-Issa knows her well and her form last year around the bm90 range in Melb would go very close here. ROYAL WITNESS is always around the mark in these sort of races and should again run well here.

Race 8

4-ANDERMATT

3-LORD OLYMPUS

1-SIMPLY FLY

6-KUMASI

If any of the main chances drew well you’d be confident in a bet. Most have drawn poorly from a very tricky starting point. SIMPLY FLY is airborne and one of Qld’s better horses and the hot tempo will suit. Gate 1 would be a dream for most horses but he is likely to be buried back in the field and need a miracle ride to find luck. ANDERMATT is above average and in the Godolphin camp. Comes here off two Listed races where the form will be very good and this is much easier. Blinkers first time I like but he is one who has drawn poorly and will need a good steer or will spot them a big start. LORD OLYMPUS is going to have to push on and just see if he can find cover. If he does he is the horse to beat, if he’s 3 wide facing the breeze he’s probably no hope. Really hard race off the map.

Race 9

15-SKINS

8-GEM OF SCOTLAND

11-AXE

3-SOFIE’S GOLD CLASS

Great race to finish the day. The Costa camp have turned a poor run around (by their standards) and are firing on all cylinders with 6 winners from their last 14 runners. AXE has won two recently in the same fashion. He has good early speed and can lead or sit right on speed. They may have to use a bit of juice early here but he’s run the best L400m and 200m in both his recent wins. On the way up for the new stable. GEM OF SCOTLAND looked cooked after her severe hip injury but she may have just needed racing as the last effort was very good. She was 3-4 wide the trip and just kept coming through the line. Needs to improve again but her best would run over these. SKINS looks one of the more exciting types in Qld. He has never been past 1110m so the 1350m is an interesting play. He has run the best L200m in his last four runs so it may not be an issue at all. Has a heap of upside but it’s fair to say the Vandyke horses have been impossible to catch recently. How have the rest of the stable faired today? The jockey change on SHE ZA BOSS may make a world of difference so I want to respect any money for her. SOFIE’S GOLD CLASS does have a touch of class and nice work in a recent trial. She is the value for exotic players at $20+