It’s Doomben 10,000 day at Doomben this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Soft 7 on Thursday and with fine weather in Brisbane leading up to the weekend, Doomben will be racing on a Soft track on raceday.
Kiwi visitor Megablast will have conditions to suit in the Chairman’s Handicap (Brisbane Race 4, 2000m). The 6YO gelding won brilliantly 1st up over 1600m three weeks ago on a Heavy track in NZ. He is a superior wet tracker with all his 9 career victories coming from wet tracks, and the anticipated Soft track on Saturday will suit Megablast right down to the ground. Stepping up to 2000m 2nd up is ideal. From barrier 13, Michael Coleman will drop the gelding back to mid-field and with his turn-of-foot and wet track ability, Megablast will swim through the condition and take out this Group 3 event.
Sizzling Belle is the best performing 2YO in the Champagne Classic and she will perform to her high rating by taking out this Group 2 event (Brisbane Race 5, 1200m). This Nick Olive-trained filly started off her career with a bang winning her first 3 race starts before finishing 2nd in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes. She eventually ran 9th to Estijaab in the Golden Slipper beaten only 4.2 lengths on the line. Being by Snitzel, she should have no problem handling the Soft track and from barrier 11, Kathy O’Hara is likely to take the filly forward and sit outside the leader. Sizzling Belle will have too much class for this field and she’ll be hard to catch.
The reigning Doomben 10,000 champion Redzel is once again the horse to beat in this year’s edition (Doomben Race 8, 1200m). This Snitzel 5YO was the superior sprinter last Spring winning all his 4 starts culminating to victories in The Everest and the Group 1 Darley Classic. Resuming earlier in the Autumn, Redzel was nosed out by Redkirk Warrior in the Lightning Stakes before easily taking out the Challenge Stakes. He finished 2nd to the superstar 3YO Trapeze Artist last start in the TJ Smith Stakes. With five weeks between runs, Team Snowden has given Redzel a 1050m trial 10days ago to keep his fitness up to the mark. Redzel has a good record over 1200m and he can handle any track conditions and from barrier 6, McEvoy will go straight to the lead and Redzel will show us why he is the best sprinter in the country.
By Owens Wong, Editor
