The first thing you’ll notice about this afternoon’s Doomben program is just how tricky it looks.
All the top-class horses are tucked away in winter hibernation so there aren’t any out-and-out superstars to back up here any more, which generally means a slightly less reliable pool of horses to choose from.
There are however still a few horses which catch the eye again today.
The main race is the Tattersall’s Mile where Lucky Hussler looks primed to bring up an overdue win.
He’s been game all campaign – finishing third behind Sizzling in the Queensland Guineas, third behind Academus in the Daybreak Lover and second two weeks ago behind Eximus in the Sunshine Coast Guineas.
This is an easier looking assignment today but there is a big danger in Grant Allard’s Loaded.
He’s after a third-straight win today and backs up quickly after finishing 2.8L clear at Eagle Farm last weekend.
Fourth-up in this one he looks super fit, and I’d expect he’ll be hard to hold out.
The banker today is the Sydney-trained Inside Job, representing the David Pfieffer yard.
He’s been solid all campaign and might just find things a bit easier up here if anything.
The key piece of form for him was his 3.4L fifth to Sessions at Rosehill two back. Sessions is a very promising type, and that should hold Inside Job in good stead for this.
His main competition all look very beatable.
Keep It Moist flopped last weekend while Bribie is prone to a minor placing.
There’s been money for Inside Job already, and it looks to be right on the mark so snap up a bit of the $2.80 that’s still around.
The race prior also looks very interesting with Flying Home perfectly placed to bring up a fourth career win.
He finished off strongly at Ipswich two back for a strong win, then hit the line well to miss by less than a length at Caloundra two weeks ago.
His only other start at this trip netted a fourth placing at Eagle Farm in tougher.
His main danger is possibly Anagold who seemed to fluke the Ipswich Cup two back.
She followed that up with a poor performance in the Caloundra Cup two weeks back, and that form took a major hit on Thursday when Zennista and Voila Ici both flopped in the Grafton Cup.
The $3.80 about Flying Home looks very juicy.
The lay of the day comes in the last on the program where Discreet is looking to back up a last-start win at Eagle Farm.
She beat home Avaladyluck who ran third at Eagle Farm last week after being stuck wide most the trip and that form looks okay, but she has to jump from the outside barrier in a capacity field today carrying the top weight.
There’s a handful of pretty classy gallopers in her way today including General Exhibit, Smakatus and Caliente so stay away from the $4.20.
BET OF THE DAY: Race 5 No 4 Flying Home @$3.80
BANKER: Race 6 No 8 Inside Job @ $2.80
LAY OF THE DAY: Race 8 No 1 Discreet @ $4.20
