RACE COVERAGE : DOOMBEN 2 MAY

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 - 11:13AM TULLOCH HOUSE MAIDEN HANDICAP 1110M

1^st – Mount Beauty – Chris Anderson – Stephanie Thornton

2^nd – She’s Our Rippa – Tony Gollan Alannah Fancourt

3^rd- The Actuary – Tony Gollan – Taylor Marshall

"She's a new arrival that came to us from down South courtesy of the Glenlogan Park team and it's great to start off on a good note for both them and us."

"I thought it was a super ride from Steph Thornton she didn't panic at all when the leader got away from us and she fully deserves to be amongst our top jockeys now she's outridden her claim, ever since she arrived in Queensland she's performed beyond her years."

"Being out of Snitzel a Metro win was first and foremost and she's done that now making her a little bit more valuable for the Glenlogan team down the track."

"We;ll look for another race at the 1200 metres for her, I think there's plenty of improvement she's enjoying the Queensland sun."

Race Review –

Chris Anderson’s three-year-old filly Mount Beauty looks to have plenty of ticker, she sat outside tearaway leader She’s Our Rippa throughout the run in the 1200 metre maiden at Doomben and was flat to the boards at the 150 metres still three lengths off, but kept grinding to get there in the last bound.

As a two-year-old the filly was thrown in the deep end with some tough races in Victoria and South Australia but looks to have turned over a new leaf since coming to Anderson’s Queensland camp.

The daughter of Snitzel trialled well behind the speed Sugar Boom a month ago and showed signs of promise over an unsuitable 1000 metre trip at the Sunshine Coast.

Up to the 1200, leading rider Steph Thornton on her back and ridden much closer to the speed were the tonic, doing her best work late it looks as if she wants further.

With the with Steph Thornton outrides her metro apprentice claim, the young hoop has been a star since relocating from Victoria last year and fits right in with the senior jockeys.

RACE 2 - 11:48AM LEXUS QTIS TWO-YEARS-OLD HANDICAP 1350M

1^st – Starosa – Tony Gollan – Steph Thornton

2^nd – Uncomplicated – Stuart Kendrick – Mark Du Plessis

3^rd- Trust In Aloha – Stuart Kendrick – Jake Bayliss

Trainer Comments - Tony Gollan

"They didn't miss her in the betting $1.60 into $1.30 but I don't think she let anyone down she never looked in any real doubt."

"She almost threw the race away the other week laying in down the straight, so leading and getting to the fence didn't give her the opportunity to do that and she was really able to open up."

"She's going super at the moment we'll probably try to get her one more at this trip and then try to get her into the J.J. Atkins."

"I buggered up her first time I put the blinkers on and took them off, but even from her last run until today she's night and day much more professional."

Race Review –

Starosa did it the hard way last start sitting outside the well performed Tumbler Ridge the trip and still coming home the better.

Today was far more elementary for the classy two-year-old bouncing straight to the lead under Steph Thornton, the Tony Gollan filly opening right up in the straight eased down a six-length winner.

The filly kicked off her career last October with a solid fourth behind the classy Spirit One but was tipped straight out and has come back six months later looking a far more mature racehorse.

Tony Gollan has already unearthed exciting two-year-old filly Isotope in the last month and Starosa looks to be right up there with the stable mate.

RACE 3 - 12:23PM MILLERS SWIM SCHOOL QTIS THREE-YEARS-OLD MAIDEN PLATE 1600M

1^st – Iconista – Chris Munce – Justin Huxtable

2^nd – Isabella Spring – Barry Lockwood – Corey Bayliss

3^rd- Adelase – Barry Baldwin – Mark Du Plessis

Trainer Comments - Chris Munce

"She deserved to break through today she's been racing very honestly, we were hoping the step up to the mile would do the trick and she's handled it beautifully." 

"We thought about riding quitely from the wide barrier but decided we should probably commit and roll forward given she's got good barrier speed and Justin (Huxtable) didn't use up much petrol getting her there."

"I don't think she'll go much further than the mile at this stage but I think she can be very effective at this distance, she doesn't have to roll forward and lead she's multi-dimensional you could go back and run on with her too."

Race Review –

Iconista has been close to her maiden win her last two times out the Chris Munce filly making it third time lucky at Doomben after a ripping ride from Justin Huxtable.

The Munce stable apprentice was badly drawn in gate ten from the mile start and the hoop had to ride aggressively from the outset to finally find the front after a couple of furlongs.

Huxtable was able to slam the brakes on Iconista mid race pinching some cheap sectionals as the field bunched up behind him, favourite and eventual second place getter Isabella Spring stuck back third last off a slow tempo.

Shaken up around the turn the three-year-old filly responded dashing a couple of lengths clear holding a comfortable margin to the line.

RACE 4 - 12:58PM ROKU GIN CLASS 3 PLATE 1050M

1^st – The Tenor – Kelly Schweida – Jackson Murphy

2^nd – Perfect Aim – Pat Duff – Madeleine Wishart

3^rd- Pure Pulse – Chris Anderson – Justin Huxtable

Trainer Comments - Kelly Schweida

"Things panned out just as we discussed Jackson (Murphy) was able to get him out of the barriers first, find the fence and set his own tempo from there."

"We did come in with a bit of confidence but were mindul he hadnt raced 6 months, but it didn't seem to bother him he improved his first up record."

"He's a very handy horse he's placed at listed level in Sydney and we'd love to get him some black type here."

"Great ride from Jackson (Murphy) he just went quick enough that they couldn't attack him but we'd still have a kick, he just needs a few opportunities and should get them riding with the low weight."

Race Review –

The Tenor returned in ultra-professional fashion for Kelly Schweida in the Class Three Plate at Doomben, Jackson Murphy dictating terms from in front never looking like getting beaten in the run.

The gelding improves his first up record to three from five and looks set for a good four-year-old campaign after today’s effort.

The race was won early when The Tenor flew the gates going straight to the front, leaving odds on chance Stylish Saga stuck in a pocket behind himself and Perfect Aim where he was never able to open up and get into the race.

Trial form again stood up, a good gallop behind Wirnpa a couple of weeks ago having The Tenor spot on for his first up task.

RACE 5 - 1:37PM THANK YOU HEALTHCARE WORKERS OPEN HANDICAP 2000M

1^st – Magnufighter – Gary Duncan – Corey Bayliss

2^nd – Mongolian Wolf – Kris Lees – Ryan Wiggins

3^rd- Boom Boom Epic – Chris Anderson – Madeleine Wishart

Trainer Comments - Gary 'Jack' Duncan

"He's a little beauty this horse his breed they're pretty straight forward you don't have to do much with them just keep them sound to go out and race."

"Really pleased to see him stretch out to the 2000 metres today and handle it well I always thought he would be better up over this trip than the mile where they are a bit quick for him."

"It was good to see Corey take the initiative when they slowed the pace right up to cruise up outside the leader and keep him interested he's a smart young rider."

"He's going the best he ever has and is looking the best too, i saw him in the float this morning looking a picture of health."

"We think we can get more out of him we're aiming him towards the Chairman's Handicap at Group three level over the 2000."

Race Review –

Gary ‘Jack’ Duncan is experiencing a breakout prep with his five-year-old gelding Magnufighter who outstayed a small field over the 2000 at Doomben, a tactical ride from Corey Bayliss going a long way to winning to race.

Sitting third in the four-horse field at the 1000 Bayliss got off the fence and steadily made ground to sit outside Lady Solerno in the lead, taking over with 600 to go.

The shake did just the trick switching the horse on as he rounded the corner full of running holding a length and a half margin to a game Mongolian Wolf in second.

Magnufighter hasn’t been out of a place in his last five this preparation headlined by his listed Gold Coast Stakes win three runs ago.

He showed the 2000 was no problem, expect Duncan to push on and make the most of his purple patch.

RACE 6 - 2:17PM XXXX DRY BENCHMARK 90 HANDICAP 1600M

1^st – Sir Barnabus – Jason Edwards – Mark Du Plessis

2^nd – Milk Man – Matthew Smith – Jimmy Orman

3^rd- Shalwa – Tony Gollan – Madeleine Wishart

Race Review –

A brilliant training performance and perfectly timed ride from Jason Edwards and Mark Du Plessis respectively have seen Sir Barnabus score first up over the 1600 metres at Doomben.

The five-year-old gelding was relatively unwanted in the market at $26 dropping back to the mile after finishing her last preparation up above the 2000 metres.

The pace in the race was good with noted leader Shalwa joined by Sabkhat giving the well backed Sydney horse Milk Man an ideal trail while Sir Barnabus was sitting back third last.

Du Plessis got to work before the turn knowing the stayer didn’t have a great turn of foot but could sustain a long sprint.

Sir Barnabus joined the leaders at the furlong ranging up on the outside of Shalwa with Milk Man darting the fence, Du Plessis ultimately lifting him late to score by a head.

The horse will almost certainly look for a rise in distance now, the win a bonus at the start of the stayers preparation.

RACE 7 - 2:57PM TAB QTIS THREE-YEARS-OLD PLATE 1200M

RACE 8 - 3:37PM RACECOURSE VILLAGE CLASS 6 PLATE 1200M

1^st – Jardin Rouge – Brian Wakefield – Larry Cassidy

2^nd – All Important – Tony Gollan – Anthony Allen

3^rd- Beat The Beast – Natalie McCall – Daniel Griffin

"It's been a long time coming that one she's been very consistent this preparation ran into Usmanov at the Gold Coast and then was caught carrying 62 kilos on a wet track luck hadn't gone her way until today."

"The Usmanov and Gracie Belle formlines around her looked excellent and we were really hoping this breakthrough would come soon it's been a bit of a lean trot but we got there."

"I might have to put the tongue tie on Larry (Cassidy) after he was spruiking her track work earlier in the week, but he was spot on she was ready to go."

"It's a good present for young Brian his birthday is on the 21st of May and we've had a bit of sickness in the family, so we're looking forward to when we can all celebrate together."

"Dad rode in the same colours and we got them a few years back they're very easy to make out and good to see them winning."

Race Review –

Brian Wakefield gets a much-deserved breakthrough with Jardin Rouge in the Class 6 Plate over the six furlongs at Doomben.

The lightly raced six-year-old held an impressive one in three winning strike rate coming into today and finally broke through this preparation at start six, never being far away from the money in his previous outings.

Larry Cassidy was able to secure a box seat ride behind the other well backed commodity Racecourse Road who likes to set up shop in front, but the veteran hoop never let him get too far away stalking him at the turn.

A great piece of riding saw him peel off two sets of heals and into the clear at the top of the straight, Racecourse Road was first to crack while he gradually wore down All Important for the deserved victory.

RACE 9 - 4:17PM BERNBOROUGH ASCOT BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP 1350M

1^st – Mr. Bellagio – Toby & Trent Edmonds – Justin Huxtable

2^nd – Canapes – Paul Butterworth – Larry Cassidy

3^rd- Solar Star – Tony Gollan – Anthony Allen

Race Review –

Mr. Bellagio makes it two on end for Toby and Trent Edmonds coming to town and scoring by the narrowest of margins in the last at Doomben.

The top weight brought strong form into the race winning last time out at the Gold Coast and a pair of seconds at Doomben before that, but today was no easy task lumped with 61.5 kilos even with Justin Huxtable’s claim it took a big effort.

It was another savvy ride by the young hoop who settled one off midfield and got the back of Canapes which towed him into the race approaching the straight.

He looked as if he was going to blow right by them and win by a margin, but the weight definitely told as Canapes came again on his inside the top weight with just enough left in the tank to take the photo.