Ready and set for a huge prep! 2nd up 7th career run 2nd prep, and has smashed her previous PB of -0.7 saying "next level" in the process. Sat 3wnc on the over the one bend 1200, before +4.0 in the mid race and +2.4 last 400. This included a 1.5 length slowdown from the 600 to 200, before a late 1 length rebound over the last 200. IVR figure was adjusted down 5 lengths allowing for the firm track, and note she won her only 1400 race at the end of her last campaign Flemington 19/07. Anzac Day next from here?

Subsequently: 2nd Mornington 18/04, unplaced Bendigo 02/05 then winner Sandown 23/05

Good quality benchmark range QLD mare who had zero chance under this race shape, but has produced a hidden run that says beware of underestimating going forward. -11.3 at the 800 had her effectively out of play early 5 lengths from the leaders who were cruising. -3.3 in the mid race was a solid 8 length squeeze, but off "no" tempo. However +9.5 last 400 was a blistering and clear career best closing sprint. Worth considering too that her booming Doomben lead in trial win 24/02 could have left her with some flatness?

Subsequently: Twice unplaced QLD then winner Group 3 BRC Sprint 23/05 

5yo import now in his 3rd local prep and has returned in phenomenal form this time in. First up +1.1 at Flemington over 1400 before a best of the day mile win with +3.6, and here has repeated the top ranking on the day level stepping to 1800. -5.0 at the 800 having a cruisey 2nd line run, before +2.9 in the mid race and a powerful +6.2 last 400. This also included a sharp 3.5 length dip before the home turn between the 600 and 400. Should take a power of beating in the Australian Cup from here. 

Subsequently: Unplaced Australian Cup 28/03, before 2nd Gold Coast 09/05 and winner Doomben Cup 23/05

4yo mare 2nd up after 259 days away, and here has won with a new PB from -0.5 set when 2nd in the QLD Oaks last June. -7.1 at the 800, before an excellent 10 length squeeze going +2.8 from the 800 to the 400. Sustained the close with +5.9 last 400, but note lost 0.8 of a length over the last 200 in isolation. Given she's improved significantly from here -2.4 resuming at Rosehill a fortnight earlier, it's no surprise there was a late conditioning taper. Easily won a Gold Coast 1800 on a genuine bog track last April, so any rain shouldn't worry her going forward. Looks set for more success this carnival. 

Subsequently: Twice unplaced and freshened. Winner Group 3 mile Doomben 23/05

This is a quality colt! Resumed with a win at Warwick Farm when out of traffic late with -2.6 lengths below benchmark, so here has improved 1.7 lengths despite missing the start. Just -8.5 at the 800 had him 3.8 lengths from the lead. +0.7 in the mid race meant a super strong 9.2 length squeeze and he sustained it home with +2.5 last 400. The context which really impressed - even allowing for the first use of the track - was the best last 800 and 600 and 2nd best last 400 of a multiple Group 1 iconic day from a 2yo. More to come! 

Subsequently: Winner Eagle Farm 02/05. Winner Gold Coast 23/05

We wrote of her run 3 weeks earlier "Somehow" still a maiden but won't be for long!" after running 2nd to GRAFTERBURNERS at Eagle Farm with -0.9 lengths below benchmark, and while she still is after running 3rd to the same star colt in this $3million slot race, the question now could be "Is she the best maiden in Australia?!?!" -2.2 at the 800 when 5.5 lengths from the lead, +1.4 in the mid race, before +3.6 last 400. The context is the best last 800 and the 2nd best last 400 of the day. If she only holds this figure - this was her 4th run for the prep - she simply has to break through soon!

Subsequently: Spelled. 3rd up winner Gold Coast 22/05

Returned from an *ambitious* placement in Sydney in the Epsom and King Charles, and with 3 trials and just 84 days between runs clearly turned up fit enough to perform near his best. Stalked the speed going -1.1 at the 800, before -0.6 in the mid race and +4.2 last bit best bit when asked over the last 400 which was the 10th best of the meeting. This is the perfect building tempo race shape to avoid flatness if on the quick back up which he will be at time of writing. This matches his Stradbroke figure when 2nd in June, and has him near his +2.0 to +2.4 of 2023 and 2024. 

Subsequently: Unplaced Magic Millions Day and Spelled. First up $1,000,000 Archer winner Rockhampton 05/05

First Australian run and this is a very serious "marker" for the upcoming spring. -8.3 at the 800 when 3.3 lengths from the lead, before -10.1 mid race in the slowest part of the track. But it was his close that underlined his class. -0.7 last 400 which was -1.5 from the 400 to 200, before +0.7 last 200. Two things: This was the 3rd best last 200 of the day which was blistering, and he was the only runner at the meeting to break benchmark over the last 200 on the wet track. Is now spelled and set for the Melbourne Cup and he looks a real player.

Subsequently: 2nd Randwick 06/09 then winner Group 1 Underwood 20/09. Autumn Queen Elizabeth winner Randwick

Remains unbeaten making it four from four with this first up win, and has dragged his adjusted IVR best up from -2.4 in doing so. Stalked the lead going -3.6, before -6.5 in the mid race, but a big lift when asked out of the slowdown with -3.8 last 400. The last 200 was the 5th best of the day and that closing strength gets an extra tick given this was his first run out of the "1000 metre bubble" and he did so resuming. We look forward to seeing what he can do on clean ground as he works through the grades.

Subsequently: Winner Canterbury 27/02. Spelled. Resumed 2nd at Hawkesbury 02/05 then winner Scone 16/05

Cracking veteran still racing at his high level, elevating from +0.3 first up when coming off just a -17.7 first section. Here improved his early speed 17.5 lengths in going -0.2 at the 800, before -1.8 mid race and +4.1 last 400. Note was put 2nd line from the inside barrier due to the way the track was playing on the day with the tailwind in the home straight, compared to his usual midfield spot. Further improvement into the Northerly is likely, but the caveat is that some flatness can't be ruled out at this stage of his career, and he hasn't produced a big IVR figure beyond a mile since 2021. That could be circumstantial!

Subsequently: 3rd Northerly 06/12 and unplaced Gold Rush 13/12 and spelled. First up Belmont Group 3 winner 16/05.

Back on track! Won his first Australian start with +0.1 Flemington March 2000 metres in a soft tempo where unleashing a brilliant +7.1 last 400 with +4.9 just the last 200 in isolation. Gave a hint of that this time in with -0.4 back there in the Turnbull where producing a booming +25.4 length mid race squeeze which was the 2nd best of the day, but in a race that effectively "started" at the 800 where he was out the back and out of play. In the contrasting brutal Caulfield Cup he had to go 19 lengths faster early when just -4.0. Here -3.1, +5.1 and +2.9 meant a solid, sustained chase. Ready to run boldly in the Melbourne Cup.

Subsequently: 3rd Melbourne Cup at $8 the place! 2nd up Doomben Group 3 Winner 16/05

Quality mare with a big finishing burst, but a get-back style that sees her having won just 5 races from 26 starts often finding traffic and race shapes against. Here the planets aligned on a very wet track where getting wide off the fence was A1 which elite rider Tommy Berry executed. -4.0 at the 800 was OK speed, but she was 4.2 lengths from the lead. -3.7 in the mid race and -8.1 last 400. Best last 800 of the day and the 2nd best last 600 showed the sustained nature of her close. Her all time PB is +1.7 winning at Eagle Farm June 2024. Is only 4th up here, and if she gets luck and avoids traffic going forward she can win again.

REPOST AFTER DOOMBEN WET TRACK LISTED WIN 16/05/26