Doomben racing preview & best bets | Friday, December 10
| What | Brisbane Handicap Day 2021 |
| Where | Doomben Racecourse – 75 Hampden St, Ascot QLD 4007 |
| When | Friday, December 10, 2021 |
| First Race | 2:07pm AEST |
| Feature Race | R6: Listed Brisbane Handicap (1640m) |
| Watch Live | |
HorseBetting’s Queensland form analyst has picked out his top tips and quaddie selections for this week’s rare Friday twilight meeting at Doomben, including a play in the Listed Brisbane Handicap. The track is rated a Soft 5 and the rail is out 7m for the entire course. The first of seven races is set to jump at 2:07pm AEST, while the 1640m feature will go at 5:14pm.
Listed Brisbane Handicap – Niccanova
Eight-year-old gelding Niccanova is on the six-day backup after running third in the Listed Tattersall’s Recognition Stakes at this track on Saturday over 1350m. The Steven Tregea-trained son of Nicconi has had four starts at the Doomben mile for two wins and a placing, with one of those coming in this very race in 2019 when he came through a run in the Recognition Stakes as well, so the formula is proven. He has to lug 60kg again, but the horse is no stranger to carrying big weight, while Ryan Maloney replaces the injured James Orman. Niccanova settled second in the Recognition from gate seven, the same alley he will jump from here, so the potential to sit handy in the run again will be there. The horse is flying and has a clear class edge on most of his rivals, so we are happy to be with him again.
Doomben Best Bet – Yourallthat
In the opening race of the day, Barry Lockwood and Baylee Nothdurft combine with the three-year-old Yourallthat. The filly by Your Song trialled really well prior to her debut at this track in June this year, where she started at $3.20 and finished third in a race that has produced five subsequent winners: Rayjen (1st), Celtic Princess (2nd), Mystic Aroma (4th), Capital Miss (5th) and Address Unknown (9th). She showed enough gate speed on that occasion to lead from barrier 10, so from the wide draw in 13 (likely to be 10 after emergencies are withdrawn), she should be fast enough to cross over and find the front again, which will make her mighty hard to run down over the 1200m journey.
Next Best at Doomben – Shebringzit
Tony Gollan and Ben Thompson combine in the second with Shebringzit, who is looking to make it back-to-back wins. Previously trained in South Australia, where she won only two of her 18 starts, the four-year-old mare looks to have quickly adapted to life in Queensland, placing once and winning once in her two starts since making the move in October. The second of those was a dominant victory on a Soft 7 at the Sunshine Coast over 2200m on November 12, so the 2040m trip and rain-affected track at Doomben should pose no problems. The daughter of Sebring drops 5kg in this Benchmark 78 after carrying 59kg in a Benchmark 65 last time out, so she should relish the big drop in weight. Drawn in gate three, Thompson can box seat and get her out into clear air in the straight, where she can put her rivals to the sword once again.
Next Best Again at Doomben – Dune Forty Five
One horse we have always had a bit of time for is Tony Haydon’s Dune Forty Five. The four-year-old son of Americain won impressively first-up at the Sunshine Coast over 1400m before flopping at that same track and distance last time out in a metropolitan meeting. While running eighth and beaten 3.5 lengths doesn’t look all that flash, he closed off well enough, and the winner of that race, Darleb, has since won again. As well as that, this gelding’s second-up record is average, so we are happy to forgive him for that. Dune Forty Five goes out to 1640m now third-up, which will suit, while his only run previously at Doomben was at just his second career start when ninth in a very competitive 3YO Handicap. Tiffani Brooker does the riding from barrier nine, so he is likely to settle in the second half of the field and be running on strongly late. He has the ability to take this race out.
Doomben quaddie tips for Brisbane Handicap Day
| Doomben quadrella selections | |
|---|---|
| Leg 1: | 4-5-6-10-15 |
| Leg 2: | 1-4-10-15 |
| Leg 3: | 2-3-7 |
| Leg 4: | 1-2-3-4-5-6 |
| Investment: | $360 for 100% |