Sydney racing will be back to the headquarter on Saturday. Randwick was rated a Slow 6 on Thursday and with persistent rain falling, the track could end up in the Heavy range on raceday.
Doomben 10,000 day in Brisbane this weekend. Doomben was rated a Dead 4 on Thursday and with some showers forecast, the track should remain in the Dead range on raceday.
In the LG Mobile Hcp BM80 (Sydney Race 5, 1400m), the Queensland visitor Cuddlesome is unbeaten over 1400m. This Les Ross-trained mare is very tractable as she can race on pace or settles mid-field. From barrier 8, that gives Jackson Morris plenty of options. Cuddlesome has also won in wet condition before. Currently at $8.50 fixed odds, Cuddlesome seems a good each-way bet.
In the AmbassaorTravel Hcp (Brisbane Race 2, 1200m), I like the Kelso Wood-trained Seeking More. The 3YO started this campaign with two wins over 1110m. Last start, he was dropping back to 1000m and couldn’t sprint with them. Up to 1200m on Saturday looks ideal for him. He also has a terrific record at Doomben winning 3 from 5 starts. From barrier 4, Michael Cahill can settle him up the pace and could simply kick away in the straight. At $8.50 in the fixed odds market, I reckon Seeking More is over the odds.
In the Group 3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (Brisbane Race 4, 1350m), the grey mare Arinosa has got to be the most improved horse during the autumn carnival. This Waller trained 5YO has won her past two starts impressively, with the latter being an impressive 4.5 lengths win in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at Randwick. She came from a long way back that day and absolutely annihilated a good field. Waller has since kept her up to the mark by scoring a Rosehill trial win over 900m. Arinosa looks ready to continue her winning way.
In the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (Brisbane Race 8, 1350m), Your Song is an easing favourite after drawing the widest gate in barrier 15. History is against him as the last 3YO to win from such a wide gate was Chief De Beers in 1995. I believe Buffering can finally shake off the tag as the best sprinter in Australia not having won a Group 1 race. He won well 1st up in the Victory Stakes and he missed the start pretty badly in the BTC Cup last start in which he couldn’t make up ground on the Heavy condition. He has been unfortunate to bump into Black Caviar & Hay List constantly. But Buffering is the best rated horse in the Doomben 10,000 and his best chance to claim his maiden Group 1 victory. Under the weight-for-age condition, Buffering definitely looks the horse to beat in the 10,000.
By Owens Wong, Editor
