I'll be heading to the spring carnival for Racenet soon enough – and packing my thermals for a permanent Melbourne move early next year – so keen to focus on some Melbourne bets as well as my usual Brisbane assortment.
BEAUDACIOUS (Doomben Race 1 No 10)
Have had my eye on this girl for a while and I reckon this is the time to back her, with the Kelly Schweida stable in great form and this mare up to 1200m after a terrific return over a shorter trip. As a three-year-old she showed she had a powerful finishing burst, but seemed fairly immature and was often flashing home when the race was over. She had several good runs behind the talented Our Beebee and the well-performed Tiyatrolani. Was just warming up at the end over the sprint trip at Doomben last time and Damian Browne will know her better now. Is a progressive type while the same can't be said for some of her opposition here. Will be motoring late.
BET: EACH WAY
ODDS $7 @ Bet365
PLOVERSET (Caulfield Race 4 No 10)
Was only a couple of lengths off Catchy in the Quezette yet we are getting double figures here and I'm more than happy with that! Obviously there is great talent under the bonnet after impressing on debut to beat hotpot Madeenaty back in March. Nothing she has done since is going to make me look elsewhere in this race and especially at the odds we are getting. She has the advantage of having a fitness edge on the resuming fave Merchant Navy, while the well-fancied Trekking must bring his Sydney form to Melbourne. Doubt you will go broke backing Lindsay Park runners this spring and like the odds we are getting about this consistent filly here.
BET: EACH WAY
ODDS $11 @ Bet365, Sportsbet, Ladbrokes, CrownBet
RANCHO MONTOYA (Doomben Race 6 No 15)
Some would say this Caulfield Guineas nominated colt has been a bit disappointing in his last couple – especially those who have backed him at $2.10 and $3.50! He certainly is yet to bridge the gap between potential and performance but he is also yet to run over anything like his preferred distance. After bolting in on debut at Ipswich, his last couple at Doomben have shown to me he is a horse absolutely bursting to get out over the mile. He gets to 1615m here and from a good gate Robbie Fradd should hopefully have him slightly closer than many would expect. He's the most promising horse in this field and finally gets to a trip he will thrive at.
BET: WIN
ODDS $4 @ Sportsbet (Power Play)
MISHANI BULLITT (Doomben Race 8 No 1)
Connections didn't believe he could win first-up but he proved them wrong! Trainer Chris Anderson felt this colt would need to get out over more ground than 1200m when he resumed but he put them to the sword anyway with a flashy finishing burst. If you go back and have a look at the tape of the Group I JJ Atkins in June, this guy should definitely have run a place if he didn't get baulked for a run. There is some talent in this field and concede Cellargirl is a big threat, especially with the 3kg claiming apprentice, but I'm sticking with Mishani Bullitt. He will eat up 1350m and Brad Stewart should have him perfectly poised to strike late after getting a soft run from the inside barrier.
BET: WIN
ODDS $6 @ Bet365
AMELIE'S STAR (Caulfield Race 8 No 7)
Know for a fact the Darren Weir camp has an extremely high opinion of this mare who he has nominated for the Cox Plate and both Cups. She was never going to be suited when running against Hartnell and co first-up over 1400m but drops back in grade here and goes up an extra 300m. Ran well enough in the Group I Doomben Cup on heavy ground during the winter and suspect the break has done her the world of good. Whether she might need one more (she's never won second-up) is something of a query but there aren't too many world-beaters in this. Only had 13 starts so there is plenty of upside.
BET: WIN
ODDS $6.50 @ Sportsbet, Ladbrokes, CrownBet, Bet365
