Quick recap of last weekend first – we went two for three but missed the clean sweep when our bet of the day, Carmine King, put in a pitiful showing to be beaten 6.5L by Keep It Moist.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The lay of the day Pepperwood could only manage seventh but trainer Liam Birchley had a plan and it came to fruition when he won back-to-back Coffs Harbour Cups just five days later.
Discreet then did her job in the last proving too good, hopefully capping an excellent day or at the very least getting us out of trouble. She has ability so keep an eye on her next start.
The fields aren’t quite as big this weekend and we should finally get a better track – Doomben is currently rated a dead five and there’s only a possible afternoon shower forecast for Friday arvo so hopefully that doesn’t do too much damage.
Our banker comes nice and early today in race three, the Jockeys Celebration Day Class 6 Handicap.
Top weight Double Impact looks very hard to beat after a six-length win over this trip at Eagle Farm just two weeks ago in similar grade.
He’s been given an extra 2.5kg for his troubles but apprentice rider Anthony Allen offsets most of that with his claim.
That means the second placegetter on that day in Micken only meets him 2.5kg better off, and that simply doesn’t look enough.
Double Impact is currently available at the $3.20 quote while Micken is a skinny $5.
Stick with the form runner Double Impact – he should give you a strong start to the day.
The bet of the day comes in race seven, a 1200m open sprint which is arguably the highlight of this weekend’s program.
It’s a tricky looking race, but I can’t help but be intrigued by Robert Heathcote’s bad-mannered veteran Gundy Son.
He’s always had plenty of ability this larrikin but his behaviour at the barriers has given Heathcote plenty of headaches in the past.
So I’ll preface this by saying a bet on Gundy Son is very much a bet on whether or not he jumps away cleanly.
He was fourth in the Healy Stakes two back just 1.2L off Howmuchdoyouloveme. That came after he ran a strong second behind Pentasia in the Chief De Beers, a race he won two years ago.
It all read nicely heading into the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton last start but he missed the jump by six lengths and blew any chance he had.
He ended up 5.4L off the winner Youthful Jack and connections could only ponder what should have been.
Now he’s back to his favourite track where he’s won four times and placed a further eight.
He loves this trip and will be ideally suited by the dead ground.
Benny’s Buttons is a deserved favourite after his win two weeks back at Eagle Farm but he only has the one win from four starts at Doomben.
Don’t be surprised to see Gundy Son pounce at his $5.50 quote.
Our lay of the day comes in race two which is a pretty rough looking line up.
Saint Encosta has come up the $3.20 favourite, and when he heads the market you know something isn’t quite right.
The market likes him after his narrow fourth in the Grafton Cup 23 days ago behind Mr O’Ceirin as a 60-1 shot.
Plus he’s back in grade and should find this easier than what he’s been up against all campaign.
The problem is, he only has the four wins from 46 starts and that is a major issue when you’re going around at $3.20.
Granted, he’s not the only non winner in this field, but plenty of these are capable of beating him.
Tuskegee Hawk deserves another chance on some better footing today after a below-par second two weeks back at Eagle Farm.
Topping is coming along well for Tony Gollan and looks ready to win one now while To The North has been red hot since moving up here and might well run past the lot of them.
You simply don’t win by backing horses like Saint Encosta.
BRISBANE BEST
BANKER: Race 3 #1 DOUBLE IMPACT @ $3.20
BET OF THE DAY: Race 7 #2 GUNDY SON @ $5.50
LAY OF THE DAY: Race 2 #3 SAINT ENCOSTA @ $3.20
