3 minute read
Mick Bennett has your specials for main racing in Queensland.
Just eight races at Doomben on Saturday, an unusual occurrence in modern racing. It is only three weeks until Queensland Guineas Day which launches the Brisbane Winter Carnival, but there are precious few signs of it this weekend.
Despite the lack of quality across much of the program, there are a couple of nice bets.
Race 3, a Class 3 over the mile, looks a lovely race for the talented mare PHENOM.
She resumed last start over the unsuitably short trip of 1350m at Doomben and produced a real flashing light performance, coming from near the tail to be beaten under a length by the well-performed Castillian.
Prior to that return, Phenom had scored once and been unplaced three times when fresh, so it was a better-than-average effort at that stage of the prep.
Conversely, the four-year-old has two wins from her three second-up runs so it is fair to assume she has plenty of scope for improvement on Saturday, particularly out to a more suitable 1615m.
It is worth noting that last season, when under the care of Waterhouse/Bott, the then three-year-old placed three times at stakes level, including the Moonee Valley Alexandra Stakes over the mile.
That latest effort was clearly the best since crossing to the Archibald camp.
The scratching of chief rival Ramp It Up sets things up perfectly for the daughter of Zoustar, who should enjoy the run of the race just behind the pace from the inside draw.
The other special lands in Race 5, a three-year-old fillies contest over 1350m.
ICARIAN DREAM from the Ciaron Maher camp has been widely travelled of late, with the last four runs coming in three different states.
Her two runs in Queensland in December/January were excellent. A third to the airborne Grafterburners in the Listed Gold Edition was followed by an equally impressive effort in the 1400m Gold Coast Magic Millions Guineas where she was beaten just over three lengths.
Maher sent the filly back to Warwick Farm last start after a 53-day let-up when she closed strongly at the end of 1100m against older horses in a Benchmark 78.
She returns north off a break of one month against her own age and sex. An impost of 60kgs, 8kgs above the limit, is noted but her record in a field of this standard stands out. It is highlighted by her barnstorming third in the Group 3 Vanity over 1400m at Flemington in November when beaten just 2.5 lengths by rising star Sheza Alibi.
Ryan Maloney won't spend a penny from gate two – Icarian Dream looks a class above her opponents as she heads towards better races as the Carnival unfolds.
BRISBANE BEST
Race 3 No. 13 - PHENOM at $3.60
Race 5 No. 1 - ICARIAN DREAM at $2.90