The Doomben 10,000 meeting will be held this Saturday (13th May). The course proper was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday and with mainly fine weather in Brisbane leading up to the weekend, Doomben will be racing on a Good track on raceday.
Cepheus has been very consistent this preparation and he could take out the JRA Chairman’s Handicap (Brisbane Race 6, 2000m). Cepheus displayed good finishing speed last start when 2nd here at Doomben in the Tails Stakes. Matthew Dunn has taken the blinkers off to make sure the gelding will settle well enough to run out a strong 2000m. The last time Nash Rawiller on board Cepheus resulted in a Group 2 victory in the Ajax Stakes so Nash’s engagement is a positive move. From barrier 6, Rawiller will go to the lead and dictate the pace and Cepheus could simply run away with the Chairman’s Handicap.
The Ocean Park gelding Kovalica has won five of his last six starts and he could continue his winning way by taking out the Rough Habit Plate (Brisbane Race 7, 2000m). The Waller-trained 3YO has a terrific record in Queensland winning all his three starts in the state. Kovalica really dug deep last start showing a good turn-of-foot winning the Queensland Guineas. James McDonald will bide his time somewhere mid-field and Kovalica will run over the top of this field.
Giga Kick has been in hot form and he is the deserved short-priced favourite in the Doomben 10,000 (Brisbane Race 8, 1200m). The Everest winner resumed with a 3rd in the Challenge Stakes before a close 2nd in the TJ Smith Stakes on a Heavy 9 track. Last start in the All Aged Stakes, the 3YO showed a devastating turn-of-foot to beat Zaaki and that horse had franked the form by taking out his third Hollindale Stakes last weekend. Craig Williams knows the horse well and he will settle outside Aft Cabin at the tail of the field. Giga Kick will once again showcase his terrific acceleration down the Doomben straight.
By Owens Wong
