RACE COVERAGE : DOOMBEN 28 MARCH

The Brisbane Racing Club hosts Queensland metropolitan racing at Doomben today. 

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

RACE 1 - 11:42AM TAB QTIS TWO-YEARS-OLD HANDICAP 1200M

1^st – Minjee – Robert Heathcote – Michael Cahill

2^nd – Snappy Reply – Tony Gollan – Baylee Nothdurft

3^rd – Neutron – Kacy Fogden – Ryan Maloney

Race Review :

Robert Heathcote’s two-year-old filly Minjee held a lot of money at her first start at Doomben, ridden three wide the trip she managed a gallant third on a heavy track.

Ridden cold from the gates in the QTIS two-year-old’s over 1200 at Doomben today she produced a flashing finish under veteran steer Michael Cahill to nail Tony Gollan’s Snappy Reply in the last bound.

The race looked in the $1.80 favourite Snappy Reply’s keeping at the furlong when it kicked clear by almost three lengths, but Minjee descended down the outside doing her best work in the last one hundred metres.

The track looked to play fair for all participants Snappy Reply giving plenty of cheek on the fence while Minjee and third placed Neutron made up late ground down the middle on the Good 4 surface.

RACE 2 - 12:22PM MILLERS SWIM SCHOOL BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP 2200M

1^st – Calibration – Kris Lees – Andrew Mallyon

2^nd – Lady Solerno – Ronald Cameron – Michael Hellyer

3^rd – Populist – Gary Duncan - Sean Cormack

Race Review :

Kris Lees six-year-old gelding Calibration has proven to strong for his rivals over the 2200 staying trip at Doomben, emerging from the pack around the bend going over the top of Lady Solerno by a length and a quarter.

There was a mad dash for the lead early in the staying event, equal race favourite Cabachon Lil stuck out five wide was forced to ease, while Lady Solerno took up the running and Calibration settled a little better than mid-field.

The Ronald Cameron trained Lady Solerno gave a bold sight out in front for most of the race but the Lees galloper looks to have hope his fitness this his fourth run this preparation in Queensland and first over his favoured distance.

In a good trainer effort the gelding backed up after finishing three lengths off the winner over the 1845 metres at Eagle Farm last Saturday and had no problems finishing off the 2200, with a well timed ride from Andrew Mallyon.

RACE 3 - 1:02PM MOUNT FRANKLIN OPEN HANDICAP 2200M

1^st – Eric The Eel – Stuart Kendrick – Stephanie Thornton

2^nd – Mr Garcia – Kris Lees – Larry Cassidy

3^rd – Raqeeq – Chris Waller – Matthew McGillivray

Race Review –

Trainer Stuart Kendrick had already flagged the possibility of a trip to the Derby for gun three-year-old Eric The Eel and he's lived up to the trainers billing beating the open class horses first time over the 2200 metres at Doomben.

Leading apprentice Steph Thornton took up the horses usual racing position at the rear of the field letting Mawaany Machine and Ruby Guru set the pace up front.

Thornton shook up her mount before the corner pulling four wide and copping a slight bump on the turn, but it didn’t holt his momentum as he got to the line strongly over a gallant Mr. Garcia for Kris Lees.

The gelding had been in good form leading into the event winning over the 1600 metres in Class three grade at Doomben two starts back and running a big race to finish third in the Gold Coast Club Stakes over 1800 metres a fortnight ago.

An extra two furlongs and open company was the clear test but he passed with flying colours and is a big Derby watch.

RACE 4 - 1:42PM LEXUS BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP 1600M

1^st – Junction – Mark Currie – Matthew McGillivray

2^nd – Coastal Prince – Desleigh Forster – Andrew Mallyon

3^rd – Staying Black – Stuart Kendrick – Jimmy Orman

Race Review –

Jockey Matthew McGillivray surged forward on the Mark Currie trained Junction in the Benchmark 70 Handicap over the mile and ran along at a good clip out in front, favoured runners La Jument and Staying Black well off the speed.

With swoopers getting the money in the first few races the five-year-old gelding looked a sitting duck in front but kicked away on the turn outduelling Coastal Prince to the line.

Junction saluted at $20 TAB fixed price after showing good form on the provincial circuit this prep winning and placing at Toowoomba since first coming up in Nomvember and catapulted his way to a win over the mile following a good mid-week second at Doomben over the 1350 metres last start.

Race favourite La Jument never got into a winning position in the run dropping out to last on the home turn when the leaders had already skipped clear.

RACE 5 - 2:22PM XXXX DRY CLASS 6 PLATE 1050M

1^st – One Stryke – Lauren Abbott – Jimmy Orman

2^nd – Love You Lucy – Barry Squair - Larry Cassidy

3^rd – Royal Witness – Joseph Pride – Matthew McGillivray

Race Review –

The Lauren Abbott trained One Stryke proved winning form is good form getting home in the Class 6 Plate over the 1050 metres at Doomben on the back of an all the way win at Corbould Park.

Sydney trainer Joseph Pride held the $2 elect Royal Witness who looked hard to beat and paper and even tougher when he got one out one back, but Orman was able to follow the favourite everywhere he went pealing off his back in the straight striding out to win by a neat half length.

Short course specialist One Stryke had finished no more than three lengths off the winner in his four runs this preparation for trainer Lauren Abbott and a freshen up of three weeks had him primed to tackle the deep field rewarding punters who got on at $26.

The six-year-old chestnut is as honest as they come the win taking him over the $200,000 threshold and if he can stay up for twelve runs like he did last prep expect more gutsy performances to come.

RACE 6 - 3:02PM CHANDON FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP 1350M

1^st – Sofie’s Gold Class – Debbie Newham – Michael Cahill

2^nd – Red Stina – Rex Lipp – Matthew McGillivray

3^rd – Lashoni – Baylee Nothdurft – Tony Gollan

Race Review –

Sofie’s Gold Class made in two on end for trainer Debbie Newham in the Fillies & Mares handicap over the 1350 metres at Doomben, another last start Corbould Park winner getting the cash also giving Michael Cahill a riding double.

The lightly raced six-year-old mare held sway at $5 in an open field and was given every possible chance by Cahill who cut a path to the middle of the track and finished over the top of Lashoni which at one point levelled up and a fast finishing Red Stina.

The mare now has six wins from her sixteen race starts and looks in career best form handling the jump from mid-week grade, the extra 150 metres and 60 kilos on her back with ease, she looked like she could handle more ground.

RACE 7 - 3:42PM KIRIN NO METRO WINS HANDICAP 1200M

1^st – Gypsy Toff – Tom Button – Nick Keal

2^nd – Ditmas – Mel Eggleston – Matthew McGillivray

3^rd – Heritage Sash – Toby & Trent Edmonds – Robbbie Fradd

Race Review –

Gypsy Toff continued her breakout campaign for Sunshine Coast trainer Tom Button getting home for her third consecutive win in the No Metro Wins Handicap at Doomben.

The four-year-old mare was given an armchair ride from Nick Keal who found himself third pair back on the outside, allowing him to present to the middle of the track striding to the lead from a bold second from Ditmas.

Gypsy Toff’s last two wins came over the 900-metre dash at Aquis Park and the 1000 metres at Corbould Park, but the extra furlong didn’t worry her with apprentice Nick Keal’s claim easing the 59-kilo handicap.

The mare has taken her time to crack her maiden metropolitan win with ten provincial wins under her belt many coming up north in Rockhampton and Mackay, at just four she is well and truly city grade now.

RACE 8 - 4:18PM ASCOT CHILDCARE & KINDY COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES BENCHMARK 78 HANDICA 1350M

1^st – Parko – Scott Morrisey – Ryan Wiggins

2^nd – Mr Bellagio – Toby & Trent Edmonds – Matthew McGillivray

3^rd – Magic Fox – Kelly Schweida – Jackson Murphy

Race Review –

Gold Coast trainer Scott Morrisey combined with hoop Ryan Wiggins and gelding Parko to cause a boilover in the penultimate over the 1350 metres at Doomben, the $51 shot running them ragged for an all the way victory.

Winning his maiden just seven starts ago Parko has been more adept at his home track Aquis Park, but Morrisey has been slowly edging him towards city class with a couple of midfield runs at Eagle Farm behind Stampe and Emerald Kingdom in his last four starts.

Wiggins had a clear directive to push for the lead from barrier sixteen and managed to work his way across the field and take up the running at a fairly genuine clip.

Eyes were on favoured runners like Qiji Phoenix, Mr Bellagio and Star Fox in the straight, but it was Parko who despite drifting to the outside of the track held on by a long head to record his first Saturday metro win.

RACE 9 - 5:00PM NUTURF QTIS THREE-YEARS-OLD HANDICAP 1350M

1^st – Command’N’Conquer – Steve Tregea – Jimmy Orman

2^nd – Vanna Girl – Toby & Trent Edmonds – Matthew McGillivray

3^rd – Stampe – Chris Munce – Sean Cormack

Race Review –

Steve Tregea’s Command’N’Conquer has lived up to the billing as one of Queensland’s most promising young three-year-old’s making it three starts for three wins in the QTIS 3YO Handicap.

The gelding caught the eye on debut at Toowoomba on the 26^th of February hardly touched by jockey Jimmy Orman cruising in by three lengths.

His star rose last start mid-week at Doomben where he sat three and four wide no cover the trip and still raced away by three and a half lengths piquing the interest of many followers.

Facing another large class jump in the QTIS 3YO’s the gelding enjoyed a much easier trip jumping to the lead, Jimmy Orman controlling the race from the front showing the versatility the horse possesses.