Today I’m riding at Doomben. The rail is out 9 metres and the track is rated in the soft range. This must be a very wide rail placement at this track as there are maximum fields of 11 and 12 horses for the majority of the card.
Race 4 is the WORKPAC QTIS Three-Year-Old BENCHMARK 70 Handicap over 1650 metres. My ride here is ALWAYS ON SHOW (NZ) who is trained by Kris Lees. This daughter of Showcasing has had 12 starts for a record of one win and eight placings. She comes into this race after running in a strong Saturday 3YO BM72 race over 1800 metres at Rosehill where she finished third. She carries the minimum weight in today’s race and is dropping back in distance from her last start. She is a very fit filly who is deep into her racing preparation having had five runs this campaign. She has drawn a wide barrier in this small field and is a filly that usually finds herself racing back in the field and there doesn’t look to be too much pressure on paper. She is racing in such consistent form and this looks to be an achievable race if she runs up to her best form.
Race 5 is the IPD Class 3 Handicap over 1650 metres. My ride here is SACRED SUITE (NZ) who is trained by Chris Waller. This four-year-old gelding by Sacred Falls is lightly raced for his age having had 15 starts for a record of two wins and five minor placings. He races here fifth-up this preparation and is racing over his preferred distance range. He will carry less weight today than at his most recent start, running with 55.5 kilos in this, which is 1.5 kilos above the minimum weight for this race. He will start from a middle barrier draw and should be able to make his presence felt against this field.