The Queensland Summer Carnival rolls on at Doomben this Saturday with a 10-race Tattersall's Classic Raceday highlighted by the Listed Tattersall's Classic and the Tattersall's Recognition Stakes.
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The Classic brings together a strong line-up of quality mares, while the Recognition again commands attention as Oughton returns to defend his title and the winning machine Tuff Tu Mas faces the toughest test of his sharp rise.
I've crunched the form, assessed every angle, and my top picks for each Doomben race are locked in below.
Race 1 – Class 1 Plate (1350 METRES)
No. 2 Clear Proof
CLEAR PROOF (2) ventures north from Sydney looking for an easier contest and he finds it with this Class 1 Plate.
The John Thompson-trained gelding should have finished closer than 2.77 lengths seventh first-up when never getting clear at Randwick.
He worked home nicely second-up over 1300m in a Rosehill Midway to finish 1.5 lengths fifth.
The set weight conditions of the race are in his favour given he placed at Listed level in his second start.
There doesn't look to be a great deal of speed in the race which should see him settle closer with the advantage of barrier 1.
Selections: 2-9-11-4
Race 2 – BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (2020 METRES)
No. 6 Thinkhardandfast
THINKHARDANDFAST (6) has improved with each run this preparation as she has risen in distance.
Following back-to-back thirds to open her first campaign for Mark Currie, she was unlucky not to win over a mile at Eagle Farm when finishing a half-length second.
She made up for that last start over 1800m at the Sunshine Coast when working early to find a forward position from the wide gate before letting down nicely to win by 1.5 lengths.
Given how strong the So You Think mare was last start and the fact the stable is quickly backing her up, she'll enjoy the rise to 2020m.
The use of Jai Williams' 3kg claim is astute and will see her carry just 55.5kg.
Selections: 6-1-2-8
Race 3 – Class 3 Plate (1615 METRES)
No. 14 Pocketmoney
POCKETMONEY (14) fought gamely over 1350m at Doomben two starts ago only to be overhauled late by Boom Shot to finish just under a length second.
The Chris & Corey Munce-trained mare was four weeks between runs, so there was plenty of merit in the performance, and the hit out obviously benefited her last start.
Stepping out over 1400m at Eagle Farm, she found the line strongly from well off them to win narrowly.
Martin Harley retains the ride and has been riding in unbelievable form on Munce runners.
The Irish horseman should land his mount in a prominent position from barrier 2.
Selections: 14-12-10-13
Race 4 – Class 6 Plate (1350 METRES)
No. 10 Navyonthehighway
NAVYONTHEHIGHWAY (10) returned in magnificent fashion three starts ago when weaving a passage through the pack to win over 1110m here.
Unfortunately, the Chris & Corey Munce-trained mare hasn't had a lot go right in her past two starts with wide barriers giving her little chance to succeed.
She's at peak fitness now and I love that Tahlia Fenlon is back in the saddle given she has won four of seven races on the daughter of Merchant Navy.
With just 54.5kg on her back thanks to the claim and the conditions of the race, hopefully Fenlon can use that weight advantage and adopt the go forward tactics that proved successful in the past.
Selections: 10-2-3-7
Race 5 – Fillies and Mares BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (1200 METRES)
No. 9 Balance The Books
BALANCE THE BOOKS (9) has shown signs of brilliance in her young career and lines up here for her third start looking to remain undefeated.
On debut, the Tony Gollan-trained mare settled towards the tail of the field over this course and distance before exploding in the straight like she was shot from a cannon to easily win by two lengths.
She was sent for a spell after that win and recently returned in impressive fashion over 1000m at Eagle Farm where she was last out of the machine before rocketing home to salute by 1.37 lengths.
She'll strip fitter second-up, will enjoy the rise in distance and just needs a typical Angela Jones peach to be fighting out the finish.
Selections: 9-4-3-13
Race 6 – Colts, Geldings and Entires BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (1200 METRES)
No. 12 Now Is The Hour
NOW IS THE HOUR (12) was excellent in his first race for Tony Gollan when showing good speed to cross from the outside barrier over this course and distance before dashing clear to win by three lengths.
That impressive performance saw him heavily backed as a $1.50 favourite second-up where he again drew the outside gate and was forced to work early to find a spot outside the lead which took its toll, but to his credit he fought on bravely to finish just over a half-length third to Pocketmoney.
The son of I Am Invincible was excellent last start at Eagle Farm after a short let-up where he, you guessed it, overcame a car park draw with sheer speed to win by 1.48 lengths.
He finally draws well in barrier 2 and that should make him awfully hard to beat.
Selections: 12-4-15-3
Race 7 – LISTED TATTERSALL'S CLASSIC (1200 METRES)
No. 2 Zaszou
ZASZOU (2) returned in magnificent order last start over 1100m at Randwick.
In her first start for Ciaron Maher, she let down powerfully to finish on the heels of the winner in third.
She'll strip fitter second-up and loved racing in Queensland during the winter where she won the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes.
There's good speed in the race which will aid her cause and should see her savaging the line.
Selections: 2-5-3-9
Race 8 – LISTED TATTERSALL'S RECOGNITION STAKES (1350 METRES)
No. 9 Boomtown Boss
BOOMTOWN BOSS (9) was backed if unbeatable when resuming over 1200m at Eagle Farm last start.
Punters knew as the Tony Gollan-trained gelding put his rivals to the sword for a 1.36 length win.
Epic Proportions was second that day and franked the form by bolting in his next start which was the Listed Keith Noud which is the race that several of the key chances come through.
He'll strip fitter and won the Listed Daybreak Lover over a similar distance when second-up last preparation.
He's drawn to get a soft run for Emily Lang.
Selection: 9-2-1-7
Race 9 – BENCHMARK 80 Handicap (1615 METRES)
No. 16 Margot's Deel
MARGOT'S DEEL (16) is a special talent from the Jason Edwards stable that continues to rise to the occasion.
The Dundeel mare was brilliant three starts ago when charging home to win a No Metro Win race as a Maiden over 1350m here before getting within a length of the winner over this course and distance second-up.
Despite being five weeks between runs after numerous acceptances and scratchings, she proved too strong for subsequent winner Thinkhardandfast over 1600m at Eagle Farm last start.
She's at peak fitness now and while the speed in the race isn't red hot, there should be enough to help her show her damaging turn of foot.
Selections: 16-1-7-11
Race 10 – BENCHMARK 85 Handicap (1110 METRES)
No. 15 Lyles
LYLES (15) is a lightly raced four-year-old that has won or placed in six of his seven starts.
Trainer Matthew Smith brought him north last start after he opened this campaign with a strong on pace win where he led all the way over 1000m at Warwick Farm.
It was an ultra-impressive display over 1000m at Eagle Farm with him not only demoralising his rivals by 2.23 lengths, but he also broke the track record.
Ryan Maloney should be able to cross and find the fence.
Selections: 15-2-19-8
