The Brisbane Summer Carnival kicks off next week, but not before a huge nine-race card gets underway this Saturday at Doomben.
The Listed Keith Noud Quality headlines the program, and we’ve got you covered with our best bets for the entire day below!
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Race 1 – 12:03pm – QTIS 2YO Handicap, (1100m)
This looks another winnable race for Heroic Son, who is looking to make it a double after winning on debut over a similar trip just over a month ago.
He let down beautifully after racing just behind the speed that day and seemed to have plenty left in the tank through the line.
This race doesn’t look any tougher and he should get a lovely run in transit again under Adin Thompson from the soft gate.
Race 2 – 12:38pm – BRC Membership Benchmark 80 Handicap, (2000m)
Flensburg is shooting for his hat-trick after winning over further on the Gold Coast a few weeks ago on a Heavy 10.
This is a rise in grade for the son of Reset, but it looks the next logical step for him with some recent form to his name.
There’s no question he’s going to see out the 2000m and he’s already proven himself effective on wet tracks. Barrier 1 makes life easy for Georgina Cartwright and I think the pair will be thereabouts when it matters most.
Race 3 – 1:13pm – XXXX Dry Class 6 Handicap, (1600m)
Rebel Salute always goes well on wet tracks and his recent form is difficult to fault.
The Deep Field gelding has found the money in each of his last six starts and was game to the line last time out when a clear third to Sir Warwick over shorter.
That performance suggested the mile will suit at this stage of his prep, while barrier 4 should see him get back and run on late.
Race 4 – 1:52pm – Mount Franklin Benchmark 72 Handicap, (1600m)
Neutron was a comfortable winner two back over 1350m at Doomben where he went all-the-way to gap his rivals by 3.5L.
He weakened late in his last start over the same track and trip, which suggests to me he’s looking for further now ahead of his fourth run back.
This is his first look at the mile, but with a clear turn of foot and Ryan Maloney still in the irons, I think he’ll see it out.
Race 5 – 2:32pm – Country Finals Raceday 4 December QTIS 3YO Handicap, (1200m)
Me Me Lagarde looks a promising sprinter in the making for the Edmonds team based on what we’ve seen from her so far.
The Star Turn filly won on debut at Ipswich over 1100m before running an eye-catching fourth in the Listed Bill Carter Stakes where she was seen weaving late towards the line.
She was quickly sent back to the paddock in time for the summer and her recent trials on the Gold Coast have been just as impressive.
Racing on the soft for the first time is the main query, but it wouldn’t be surprising if she’s lining up in better races than this soon.
Race 6 – 3:12pm – Cascade Benchmark 80 Handicap, (1050m)
Sticking with Lyrical Girl to make it a double following a brave win over the same track and distance a fortnight ago on soft going.
After a few close calls in the leadup, the daughter of Your Song stoked up out wide at the top of the straight and kept finding to fend of Shamaton to win right on the line.
She should take plenty of improvement away from that performance, while the fact Shamaton went on to win by a big margin last week at Eagle Farm obviously reads well.
Race 7 – 3:52pm – Benchmark 72 Handicap, (1200m)
This is a very difficult race to assess with a case to be made for more than half the field.
I’m with The Big Goodbye on top, who appears decent value considering he hasn’t missed the money at all in his last six starts.
The Robert Heathcote-trained five-year-old scored a well-deserved win by a comfortable margin two weeks ago Eagle Farm over the same journey where he landed just behind the speed before bursting clear late.
He’s a proven wet tracker with wins on the soft and heavy to his name, and although he’ll carry a couple kilos extra, I think he’ll go close.
Race 8 – 4:32pm – Listed Keith Noud Quality, (1200m)
Plenty of familiar faces going around in the feature, namely Group 1 placegetter The Harrovian and Doomben specialist Niccanova.
Both rate highly, but I’m with Tony Gollan’s mare Niedorp in her first run back after showing plenty in her comfortable trial win at Deagon last week.
The Not a Single Doubt mare is a three-time winner first-up from a spell, and she’s never missed the money in four starts over 1200m at Doomben.
The blinkers come off for the first time and she’s handled wet tracks in the past, while Gollan’s track record of three straight wins in this race speaks for itself.
Race 9 – 5:12pm – Gallopers Sports Club Benchmark 85 Handicap, (1350m)
Far from an easy race to wrap up the day, but I’m happy to put the favourite Morethannumberone on top.
The son of Better Than Ready has put together a very impressive resume since joining Michael Costa’s stable, winning back-to-back starts on the Gold Coast by a combined three lengths.
He’s returning from a freshen-up in time for the Summer Carnival now and I like the fact he’s had a trial in between runs.
Could be a slight query on a proper rain-soaked track, but if he finds daylight down the straight, his speed should do the talking.