I reckon Doomben will be a day for the ladies on Saturday as I've narrowed my focus to two promising girls who have the x-factor to get the job done.
FRANCISCA (Doomben Race 3 No 5)
My Racenet colleague Tom Walter and I were cashed up after this improving filly won with a leg in the air in a midweeker at the Sunshine Coast – and I have to be on again. Has a sparkling turn of foot and she beat older mares in style last time. Convinced she can step up to metro Saturday grade and get the job done here. She is a very progressive type and I also like her from a price point of view compared to some others. There is no way I could be taking $2.60 about Rancho Montoya who to my eye was disappointing last time and I also think he needs to get out over more ground. Dansez is too short in the market for a filly who has only just broken for her maiden win and Umberto only just got the job done on the Gold Coast last start. Francisca is the one with the x-factor and think she will sit back here and go bang.
BET: WIN
ODDS $5 @ Ladbrokes (Odds boost)
KHALAMA (Doomben Race 8 No 13)
Former Kiwi mare who is in red-hot form and primed to make it three in a row for Tony Gollan. The step up to 1200m looks ideal for this mare who has displayed her big finish in her last two wins at Doomben. Tricky gate here but she will go back anyway and hopefully Robbie Fradd can slot her in with cover. You can look at the barrier two ways – it's certainly not ideal, but on the positive side we are getting better odds than we would have had she drawn a decent marble. Backing get-back horses off wide gates at Doomben is the quick way to the poor house but convinced she has better ability than these and we are getting as much as $7.50. Each-way special.
BET: EACH WAY
ODDS $7.50 @ Bet365
