LIVE COVERAGE: Doomben 10 August

The city meets the country this Saturday at Doomben for the Queensland Country Life Raceday. Funds raised on the day will be distributed to the Queensland Country Women's Association, which is recognised as the one of the main sources of aid in times of natural disasters throughout Queensland.

Follow our live blog for all the comments from jockeys and trainers, photos and race replays from all nine races on the card. 

Race 1 - 11:28AM TAB OPEN Handicap (2200 METRES)

1st - Calypso Bay - John Manzelmann - Ron Stewart

2nd - Harper's Choice - Gerald Ryan - Michael Cahill

3rd - Exoteric - Chris Waller - Ryan Maloney

Trainer - John Manzelmann

"It's always a huge thrill to win in town, I was expecting this horse to be competitive today, but we certainly didn't expect a win."

"He had a good run at Townsville and Steele Ryan approached me and asked me if I wanted to buy him and I thought he'd be a good horse at Cairns so said why not and now we've got a city winner."

"We came for the Country Highway Classic, to get a win here is a bonus, unfortunately I didn't have anything on at the $93."

Jockey - Ron Stewart

"John hasn't had the horse for long so he left things up to me and I think we were both pleasantly surprised with the result."

"We were able to tuck away out of the wind for most of the run which was probably a factor and he travelled up beautifully on the turn."

Race 2 - 12:03PM RAY WHITE RURAL QUEENSLAND COUNTRY HIGHWAY Class 4 Plate (RESTRICTED) (1350 METRES)

1st - The Tax Accountant - Tom Button - Nick Keal

2nd - Bobby Axelrod - Ben Robinson - Minehiko Shimodaira 

3rd - Court Rules - Graham Banks - Jim Byrne

Trainer - Tom Button

"I'm just rapt for the owners, we keep travelling down and it costs a bit of money, but he never lets you down with his effort."

"We were expecting the breakneck speed and the leader (Bobby Axelrod) was flying and actually kicked away at the top of the straight, but he knuckled down late and got there."

"Nick rode him a treat to slot him in one out and one back from that draw and he didn't panic with the speed on."

"I think we'll keep him down here now and try to collect a little bit more Saturday money."

Jockey - Nick Keal

"He had very good form through the three-year-old carnival and we had a beautiful run in transit, there was a lot in his favour today."

"They went very quick that first six hundred and almost got me off the bit I thought I might be in a bit of trouble."

"First Saturday winner big milestone for me and a huge thanks to Tom for the ride."

Race 3 - 12:38PM ROBINSON NIELSEN LEGAL BenchMark 75 Handicap (1050 METRES)

1st - Just Orm - Tony Gollan - Nick Keal

2nd - Stellar Power - Bryan Dais - Jake Bayliss

3rd -  Hi Fiver - Brian Wakefield - Michael Cahill

Trainer - Tony Gollan

"It can be very hard to find a race for these 1000 metre type horses, but this race looked really good for him, he's had a faultless preparation and showed it today."

"Nick gave him a really good ride we just needed that little bit of luck from the gate and once we got our spot we looked a winner a long way out."

"We aimed for that pair three back one off and when we were only steady out of the gate that couldhave gone up in smoke, but Nick stuck to the plan and got him there."

"He's got a good future this boy, with the three kilo claim and his talent he'll have a fair few rides in Brisbane."

Jockey - Nick Keal

"Unbelievable feeling to ride a winner for Tony, him along with Kevin Kemp have been my biggest supporters when I started."

"We had a plan where we wanted to be and we were able to pull it off."

Race 4 - 1:13PM AQWA CONSTRUCTION QTIS Three-Years-Old Handicap (1200 METRES)

1st - Alligator Blood - David Vandyke - Ryan Maloney

2nd - Scathing - Chris Munce - Sean Cormack

3rd - Kasita - Tony Webb - Michael Cahill

Trainer - David Vandyke

"He's lazy and he plays like a big dog at home, so when he hit the front fairly early I thought his mind might wander, but that was ultra impressive."

"We've got high hopes for him we'll probably head south for the carnivals and on that performance today he won't be out of place."

"He's going to improve a lot his cot's not there yet we're really excited where he can get to."

"The owners handpicked him from the Magic Millions and they've done a great job."

"Going into his first start we were hoping he'd find the line and he brained them that day and has just consistently trended upwards."

"He's nominated for the Caulfield Guineas and the Golden Rose."

Jockey - Ryan Maloney

"He couldn't have been more impressive, I thought off his trial he might be a bit vulnerable but he was flawless today and will only improve."

"He's pretty push button, we got into the box seat today and he'll need that in those big races."

"I still think he's six months away which is the most exciting thing, he looks like one good horse."

Race 5 - 1:48PM EUREKA STUD Fillies and Mares No Metro Wins Handicap (1200 METRES)

1st - Epic Girl - Anderson & Heathcote Racing - Tegan Harrison

2nd - Tardis - T & T Edmonds - Baylee Nothdurft

3rd - Flower of Love - Kelly Schweida - Mark Du Plessis

Trainer - Chris Anderson

"She's so tough this filly everytime you take her to the races she gives you 110% and that's all you can ask for."

"We had to use some gas early from a wide gate which was a little concern, but Tegan has got such a great affinity with her and was too good late."

"We often tip her out and give her a bit of a break at the beach, but when she's racing like this I hope we can get atleast one more run into her."

Jockey - Tegan Harrison

"I love wearing these colours, I'm quite lucky at the moment they have a number of good ones in work and I'm loving riding them in town."

"The good thing about riding a horse like her is she's very versatile and today we were able to sit and sprint on the speed."

Race 6 - 2:27PM GOLLAN RACING Colts, Geldings and Entires No Metro Wins Handicap (1200 METRES)

1st - Unlikely Story - Tony Gollan - Ryan Maloney

2nd - Mail Escort - Tony Sears - Corey Bayliss

3rd - Amenzel - Les Kelly - Mark Du Plessis

Trainer - Tony Gollan

"I didn't think there would be much pressure in the race and it would have suited All Important better, but Robbie Fradd was up there on the speed three-wide which switched things up."

"It set it up for something to come from behind and he's always looked better than a No Metro Win horse, and rated nicely by Ryan today he was too good."

"We spoke about taking short cuts in the straight rather than cricling the field, you can't take off early and expect to circle them at Doomben you've got to take the gaps and Ryan did it brilliantly."

Jockey - Ryan Maloney

"Everything panned out perfect, he can be a bit tardy out of the gates but he jumped out beautifully and rather than sit three or four deep we just tucked in one off in the second half of the field."

"I just had to wait on the run but when it came he got to them in and flash and put it to bed fairly easily."

Race 7 - 3:07PM MUNCE RACING BenchMark 70 Handicap (1630 METRES)

1st - Galtero - Tony Gollan - Baylee Nothdurft

2nd - Polemic - Stephen Lee - Jim Byrne

3rd - Yamazaki - Anderson & Heathcote Racing - Jimmy Orman

Trainer - Tony Gollan

"He found the right race today, Baylee was pretty confident on him sitting behind that speed and he was really strong through the line."

"It was a very confident ride he went a bit early, but I think he knew what he had under him and got the job done."

"It's a good result for this horse he's been down on confidence searching for form and hopefully this has turned him around for the rest of his preparation."

"There is a nice race over 1800 metres for him at Eagle Farm in three weeks time where we might use Nick Keal for the claim and then it will be up to the 2000 where he was at his best last prep."

Jockey - Baylee Nothdurft

"He's a bit of a different horse this one, he's taken me a couple of rides to figure out so I thank Tony for keeping me on."

"With the winkers on today, gun run behind the speed it was his race."

Race 8 - 3:47PM KELLY SCHWEIDA RACING OPEN Handicap (1630 METRES)

1st - Magnufighter - Jack Duncan - Dale Smith 

2nd - Silvera - Tony Gollan - Baylee Nothdurft

3rd - Morendi - Darren Graham - Michael Cahill

Trainer - Jack Duncan

"He's a beautiful horse he just hasn't been able to crack a win, but Dale gave him a cracker of a ride today and he got his head down at the right time."

"There was a big of speed on and he always travelled well, still a big effort to come down the middle and win."

"That's four starts in five weeks so he's got the runs under his belt now a win to go with it."

"He just hit the lead too early at Eagle Farm last time out and relaxed nicely over the mile today and saved his run for when it mattered."

Jockey - Dale Smith

"He relaxed really well today, we were probably a pair further back than I would have liked, but he rolled along got into a good rhythm and got there in the last stride."

"Tony's bad luck (interference from Morendi on Silvera) was our good luck, you can't control that in racing and it went our way today."

"It was well deserved for the horse he's been so close in so many starts this prep, so I think he was due a bit of luck."

Race 9 - 4:27PM QUEENSLAND COUNTRY LIFE Class 6 Plate (1350 METRES)

1st - Tokoriki Lad - Tony Gollan - Jim Byrne

2nd - Impasse - Chris Waller - Robbie Fradd

3rd - Oink - Kelly Schweida - Jackson Murphy

Trainer - Tony Gollan

"When Jimmy produced him at the top of the straight I was pretty confident, but Impasse made a real race of it and we were fortunately the one with our head down."

"They were ripping along and the plan was to get off the fence as soon as possible, which from the alley way no mean feat and he trucked up into the race really nicely."

"There are more wins in this horse, this is the first time he's won at Doomben in seven starts."

Jockey - Jim Byrne

"He's a horse that stretches out better when he's on the outside of them, so when the opportunity came to drop off a few positions to get him settled we took it."

"I think you'll get a mile with this horse and unlike others I don't think he'll lose that dash knowing the way he gets to the line I was pretty sure he'd get his head out."