RACE COVERAGE : DOOMBEN 4 APRIL

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 - 11:53AM TAB QTIS THREE-YEARS-OLD MAIDEN PLATE 1200M

1st - Kusama - T: Brian J Smith - J: Larry Cassidy

2nd - Angus The Black - T: Tony Gollan - J: Baylee Nothdurft

3rd - I Am A Rocker - T: Bryan Dais - J: Luke Tarrant

Kusama pushed through the middle of the field and held off the fast-finishing Angus The Black to score an early win for Brian Smith and Larry Cassidy.  

The 3YO grey filly was well-supported, backed in from $9 to $5 to take out a maiden win in her 9th start. 

Trainer Brian J Smith said:

"She got a soft run and she's a very fit little mare. We always wanted to ride her a bit quiet but she's always throwing her head but by backing her up quick she really settled."

RACE 2 - 12:28PM ASCOT CHILDCARE & KINDY BENCHMARK 80 HANDICAP 2200M

1st - Ilwendo - T: Matthew Smith - J: Brad Stewart

2nd - Strike Sika - T: Trevor Thomas - J: Sean Cormack

3rd - Lucky Jackson - T: Chris Munce - J: Larry Cassidy

Ilwendo and jockey Brad Stewart showed that they are practicing proper social distancing protocol by blitzing the field by four lengths over 2200m.

The 6YO scores a first win in the Sunshine State since making the move up from Sydney last month. 

RACE 3 - 1:07PM NUTURF QTIS TWO-YEARS-OLD HANDICAP 1350M

1st - Tumbler Ridge - T: Steven O'Dea - J: Boris Thornton

2nd - Thrasher - T: Chris Munce - J: Mark Du Plessis

3rd - Papaya - T: Chris Munce - J: Justin Huxtable

Tumbler Ridge and Boris Thornton did it the hard way, carrying the top-weight and having to come three-wide around the final bend to nail an impressive win for Steven O'Dea. 

The 2YO is starting to build an impressive career, with a second win from five starts. 

Trainer Steven O'Dea said:

"He was good today - I thought he was a little bit disappointing last start, he just didn't attack the line like we thought he should and just played around blinkers on him at home."

"It seemed to be effective with them on after the other day when he didn't attack the line. 

"Especially coming to the smaller track over the 1350 just to sharpen him up a bit and it worked out well today, there was good tempo and he was able to get in a good spot and he was able to pop three-wide and roll into it.

"(The weight) was my biggest concern today but he is one of those horses who likes to get out in that position he did today and roll into it.

"He's the sort of horse you don't want to let off the bridle too quick, you need to let him roll through his gears and he'll lengthen for you and that's what he was able to do today."

RACE 4 - 1:47PM CHANDON MAIDEN PLATE 1350M

1st - Blackboots - T: David Vandyke - J: Dale Smith

2nd - Adelase - T: Barry Baldwin - J: Mark Du Plessis

3rd - Iconista - T: Chris Munce - J: Justin Huxtable

A thrilling finish in race 5, Iconista kicked away down the straight and looked the winner at the 100 mark before Adelase and Blackboots hit the line together in the last 10 metres. Blackboots  and Dale Smith claimed the 1350m maiden in a photo finish for David Vandyke.

RACE 5 - 2:27PM LEXUS CLASS 3 PLATE 1615M

1st - Watch The Cat - T: Barry Lockwood - J: Sean Cormack

2nd - Metamorphic - T: Kelly Schweida - J: James Orman

3rd - Speaking Bad - T: Gary Duncan - J: Corey Bayliss

Watch The Cat defied the odds drift and made it an easy watch for favourite-backers, going on to score a second win on the trot for trainer Barry Lockwood. 

Trainer Barry Lockwood said:

"He's got himself flying, he's just changed his manners a little but he's content and galloping well."

"We get on well, he's a funny little horse but he's really happy at the moment.

"(Sean and I) spoke about it earlier and said you'll know in the first two strides whether you're going to go forward or back but don't panic either way and as it turned out, there was good speed in the race. 

"He might need another run over the shorter course (before going out in distance), he just wants to get on the bit half-way through the race but he'll get over that."

RACE 6 - 3:07PM MILLERS SWIM SCHOOL BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP 1050M

1st - Niedorp - T: Tony Gollan - J: Baylee Nothdurft

2nd - The Great Boombino - T: Craig Cousins - J: Boris Thornton

3rd - Hollaback Girl - T: Tony Gollan - J: Stephanie Thornton

The all-too-familiar Gollan-Nothdurft combination notched up another win thanks to the classy 3YO Niedorp. 

The filly sat on speed for the entirity of the trip, bursting away from the pack down the straight to claim a second career win.

Stable rep Craig Cavanough said:

"She's shown us a lot from day one; Winter Carnival last year running in some of the best races and was a little bit unlucky.

"Went to Melbourne and ran into Loving Gaby, and that smart colt from Toby and Trent Edmonds (Ruuca) so she's never disgraced herself in any of the runs she's had.

"I think we'll just wait for the programs to come out and see what they program in May, but I'll say we'll probably be looking to Sydney."

RACE 7 - 3:47PM KIRIN QTIS THREE-YEARS-OLD HANDICAP 1200M

1st - Okeechobee - T: David Vandyke - J: Jake Bayliss

2nd - The Move - T: Tony Gollan - J: Baylee Nothdurft

3rd - Shadow Of Time - T: Dale Smith - J: Stewart Barr

Okeechobee took home the QTIS 3YO Handicap with the latest of late lunges, grabbing race-favourite The Move on with the last bob of the head. 

The impressive Vandyke filly grabs a first metro win, and a third in four career starts. 

Trainer David Vandyke said:

"I was delighted where she was with the fast pace on and I kept hoping he (Jake Bayliss) would get out and when he did he gave her a clear run to the line.

She's a quality filly, we had her pegged for some of the Stakes races for the three-year-olds but now without the Winter Carnival she'll go to the paddock.

"She's going to be a lot better as she gets older and is putting together a really good record.

"She's been a difficult horse, she gets a bit hot and bothered but today she was on her best behaviour."

RACE 8 - 4:23PM TAB OPEN HANDICAP 1615M

1st - Get Stuck In - T: Tony Gollan - J: Baylee Nothdurft

2nd - Magnufighter - T: Gary Duncan - J: Madeleine Wishart

3rd - Sabkhat - T: Steven O'Dea - J: Justin Huxtable

The Gollan-Nothdurft partnership have a second win of the day, with short-price favourite Get Stuck In leading the 1615 metre race from start-to-finish. 

It's a second win on the trot for the 5YO gelding, who never looked in strife turning into the straight, before kicking away from Magnufighter who had tried to go with him for the entirety.

Stable rep Craig Cavanough said:

"He's not much to look at, but he's a tough little critter."

"He just tries all the time and if you had a stable-full like him, you'd be happy.

"He's been asleep out the back there all afternoon but we knew he was going to produce something.

"The thing about him is he tries all the time and he gives you 110% and it's good to see the owners with another winner.

"Last prep, Tony tried him at 1800 and it was no good, he just kind of pulled himself into the ground but the mile seems to be his go where he can just roll along and put the pressure on when he wants to put the pressure on."

Race 9 - 5:02PM XXXX DRY CLASS 6 HANDICAP 1200M

1st - Macewen - T: Tony Gollan - J: Baylee Nothdurft

2nd - Starvirgo - T: Rob Heathcote - J: Mark Du Plessis

3rd - I Am Vinnie - T: David and Coral Feek - J: Robbie Fradd

Wow, they've done it again! The Gollan/Nothdurft combo make it a third win in four races, after the well-supported Macewen sat just off the speed and flashed home down the outside to claim the last of the day.

The ever-consistent 4YO was eased out at his last start, but showed the excellent form that saw him win three on the trot in the Brisbane spring. 

Stable rep Craig Cavanough said:

"There was plenty of speed in the race, and Baylee just got him in the right position."

"The horse has done a good job to come back and win today after that near-fall at Eagle Farm the other day but he's come through that as good as gold and was dominant today.

"As soon as the saddle went on out the back he knew it was game day."