Doomben racing tips & quaddie numbers | Saturday, February 12
| What | Doomben Races |
| Where | Doomben Racecourse – 75 Hampden Street, Ascot QLD 4007 |
| When | Saturday, February 12, 2022 |
| First Race | 12:07pm AEST |
| Watch Live | |
HorseBetting’s Queensland racing analyst brings you his best bets and quaddie picks for the nine-race card at Doomben on Saturday, with odds from the top-ranked betting sites. The track is rated a Soft 5 at the time of writing, but clear weather is predicted for Brisbane, so we expect to see the track upgraded to a Good 4 by the time Race 1 jumps at 12:07pm AEST. The rail is out 4.5m for the entire course, so every horse should get their chance, although there is likely to be a slight advantage to those runners that settle closer to the speed.
Best Bet – Legal Esprit
Legal Esprit was one runner we added into our blackbook for The Follow Files after his first-up run at the Sunshine Coast on January 29. The Donald Baker-trained three-year-old now goes to 1200m for the first time, which does look to suit given the way he attacked the line over 1000m when fresh. The son of Bel Esprit is yet to miss the placings in seven career starts, having won five times including both of his second-up runs. The gelding is likely to get back from barrier eight, but there is plenty of speed in the race, which should allow in-form apprentice Kyle Wilson-Taylor to boot home the talented sprinter. With just 57kg on his back after Wilson-Taylor’s 2kg claim, he becomes very well-weighted in his bid to return to the winner’s stall. The $6 seems a very generous price for a horse like this.
Next Best Bet – Tramonto
Jonny Field and Jaden Lloyd combine in the last race of the day with Tramonto, who is resuming off a failed Golden Eagle campaign. The four-year-old went to Sydney in the spring for the $7.5 million race, but he copped a torrid run in transit in the key lead-up race, the Silver Eagle, so Field abandoned plans to push on. The gelded son of Wandjina has a terrific first-up record, having won twice from five fresh runs including a win over Contemptuous in his first-up run in August. Lloyd is fresh off a winning double at Doomben last Saturday, so the young apprentice will be riding full of confidence at this meeting, while he was bullish about Tramonto’s chances when talking to HorseBetting during the week. From barrier six, Tramonto will be handy in the run and able to stalk his main market rival, Kingston’s Here, who has drawn outside him. The handy galloper finished second in the Listed Goldmarket Handicap at the Gold Coast last campaign and ran Weona Smartone to less than half a length, so he should take a power of beating in a Class 6 with only 52kg on his back.
Best Value Bet – Hail Manhattan
On the back of a luckless 11th in the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup, Peter & Will Hulbert will be hoping that Hail Manhattan can relish the drop in grade. The five-year-old gelding is now third-up for the campaign and had a trial between his first and second runs back, so he should be getting close to peak fitness levels on Saturday, while he will enjoy the step out to 1600m. The son of Manhattan Rain has raced four times over the mile, winning twice and placing second twice, including a comfortable win in the Listed Members Cup at the Sunshine Coast on February 27, 2021. Hail Manhattan was only narrowly beaten in the Rockhampton Cup during the winter over this distance, before stepping out to 2000m and romping home in the Mackay Cup at his next start. He always runs well at Doomben and will appreciate a drying track. Ryan Wiggins rode the gelding in his northern campaign and he reunites with him on Saturday, which is a big plus, while barrier two allows the pair to get a perfect run behind the speed. He looks very well placed.
Saturday quaddie tips for Doomben
| Doomben quadrella selections | |
|---|---|
| Leg 1: | 2-3-4-10-13 |
| Leg 2: | 1-3-4 |
| Leg 3: | 1-3-5 |
| Leg 4: | 7-14-15 |
| Investment: | $135 for 100% |