Doomben 10,000

Doomben 10,000: feature races tips and previews

Doomben 10,000 - 1200m, Doomben R8

The Brisbane Racing Club has put on $1.5M for the Doomben 10,000 in the hope of luring some of Australia’s best sprinters to compete in their carnival, and they’ve attracted one of our very best to take on a quality field of rivals.

Giga Kick, winner of The Everest in the spring and All Aged Stakes last start, might well be the best in the land, and should still have plenty of sharpness in his legs. He is only fourth-up here and a month between runs, after a three start Sydney campaign that saw him run second in the TJ Smith and win that All Aged. He’s only been beaten three times in his life, by a combined margin of two and a half lengths, and has drawn to perfection here to add another Group 1 win to his record.

There are some good horses looking to topple him though.

Mazu won this race last year, and while he hasn’t graced the winners stall since, has run some top class races against the best there is. His main problem is that he has squared off against Giga Kick three times for three defeats, but he is sure to run well again.

Overpass returned with a career peak in Western Australia’s The Quokka four weeks ago, outlasting Amelia’s Jewel in one of the most thrilling finishes we’ve seen this year. Josh Parr will no doubt go forward again here, but may take a sit behind Prince of Boom this time, rather than lead outright.

Prince of Boom has come of age this preparation, after an indifferent Melbourne spring. He does seem to love this time of year though, with all six of his career wins coming between March and May, and his defeat of Rothfire first-up and close-up placing behind that horse in the Victory Stakes says he’s gone to the next level.

Aft Cabin provides the real X-factor of the race, with the Godolphin three-year-old tackling older horses for the first time. While yet to win at Group 1 level against his own age, he does appear to possess elite level talent and his Arrowfield win last start was dripping with class.

James Cummings does have a good hand here though, with Aft Cabin’s stablemate Vilana sure to have a few admirers. He has got a Group 1 in him at some stage, and despite being an easing favourite in the Hall Mark Stakes last time out, he won with an authority that suggests bigger thing in store.

It was less than two months ago that Mariamia won the Galaxy, and her fifth in the TJ Smith on a bog track was full of merit. A Case Of You is an interesting runner – the multiple international Group 1 winner arrived in Australia with no fanfare, yet has run two very respectable races in good company for the Price/Kent stable. He might sneak a place at big odds.

Selections: 1.Giga Kick 2.Vilana 3.Mazu 4.Aft Cabin

Cameron rose's Tip

GIGA KICK

WIN

Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000 13 May 16:02

8. Giga Kick

Win

Place

* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds

Spirit of Boom Classic - 1200m, Doomben R5

The Sydney trainers love targeting these Queensland two-year-old races during the Brisbane carnival, and they have a great deal of success in doing it.

Led by Chris Waller and the Snowden camp, they have a big pool of juveniles that they spend a great deal of time preparing and selecting whether they will be aimed at Melbourne’s Blue Diamond, Sydney’s two-year-old Crown races, or Brisbane and the JJ Atkins.

Peter and Paul Snowden have three runners engaged. Empire of Japan ran fifth in the Golden Slipper, which may well stack up here. Sovereign Fund may not have loved 60.5kg’s and heavy ground first-up, so will offer up an improved showing. The King is on a JJ Atkins path, and may find a couple of these too sharp.

Chris Waller has Armed Forces with James McDonald on board. Forget his debut run where he was sick, and take heart from the fact that he is talented enough to be here at all. This stable doesn’t bring them up north for a holiday.

Thunderlips for Bjorn Baker and Ducasse for Michael Freedman are both here from the same race as Armed Forces. The filly that won that day is proving herself to be very smart, and the form should be true. Thunderlips will be right there on the premises and should improve on a dry track, and we can look for Ducasse in the coming weeks as he steps up in trip.

Appin Girl leads the fight for the locals, unbeaten from two career starts, and the form behind her is stacking up well. Boris Thornton will press forward from barrier one, and will only need luck at the right time to be right in the finish.

Selections: 1.Empire of Japan 2.Appin Girl 3.Thunderlips 4.Armed Forces

Cameron rose's Tip