Hey Mav,

Pretty good days racing at Doomben today with some nice horses going around. The depth may not be there in some of them, but overall its decent. Great day too, lots of sunshine

Race 1 - Well, Our Private Jet has been perfectly placed here. Doesn't have to be very good to beat these. On the strength of his last effort at EF, and from the reasonable alley, i think he will win this. He'll be very short though. Aerosol has just been going too hard out in front and leaving himself a sitting shot in the last 100m or so. If JB can hold him up in front a little, then maybe he is a chance. Lindholme is fit and might be able to sneak a place at good odds too. Has been known to run well in town when he wants to. The 3 off his back wil help too - these need all the weight relief they can get .

Race 2 - Don't mind Way of the World here. Although she is way way up in class she finished off OK at Ippy the other day and is bred to get ground. The only issue (and it is a pretty big one) is the lack of speed. A field of 8 is always a worry with regards to speed, but i'll just hope. Princess Norma just about got there last time and the extra 200m appears ideal. The only drawback is the short Doomben straight, she needed a while to wind up last time. My Centurion, who beat Princess Norma at EF, won very well at big odds, but has paid for that win by going up in weight. Will go forward, i just think he'll be found wanting in the last 50m when the swoopers are coming.

Race 3 - Maybe Hooker Road here. Has been racing pretty well at the Sunny Coast and the extra ground here will probably suit him. The 3 off and the 4 alley are great too. Alan Jones has had a few winners over here lately too, which is encouraging. Sunday Adieu has a horror gate but this isn't the strongest field, so she has to be given a great chance on the back of a nice run last time. She'll improve with every run she is given against these sort of horses. La Bella Mer is a tough horse to catch from my perspective but has talent and one of the better win rates in the field. For that reason, she can't be dismissed. Morris can ride too, and the 3kgs he still gets is a massive plus.

Race 4 - Well i tried to find one to beat Rock on Bye but i couldnt. She is the lightly raced one on the up, but she has already achieved figures that some of these havent seen. Given natural improvement, and from the 4 with Colless, i think she will probably win. Stepping was a very nice effort last time, in better class, and so can't be dismissed....especially when you look at the weights. She gets 1 over the minimum after the claim. Persuades was wide behind Spur Me On last time at EF and so the run can be forgiven. Will be much better suited here at Doomben. Although the 11 alley is bad, she'll press forward and hope that some good luck comes her way.

Race 5 - Two questions. Can Mitanni finally win one of these 1600m races? Does Step Right In get a solid 1600m? I've gone with Step Right In because the price will be better, although personally i think this will be Mitanni's day. Step Right In was a great preformance last time, at nice odds too. He seems like the type who would appreciate the 1600m, especially around the softer Doomben course. As i said above, i think this is Mitanni's day, but he'll be odds on, and given that he has let punters down in the past, i'm not willing to gamble on him. He'll be on pace though, and be given every possible chance. Whatever you want for 3rd. Maybe Tycoon Rose, although she needs it wet. That was the name that jumped off the form guide first .

Race 6 - This is just plain impossible. Maybe Cetenn, who has been racing well at the Coast. Beat Polaris comfortably last time, and that horse has been competitive in various 3yo town races recently. The 3 alley here ensures that he will get a nice run in transit too. Instructed has a really bad alley and if he had drawn in 5 or 6 he'd be my top pick, no doubt. His form lately has been great and if Byrne can manage to get some sort of cover, then he'll be there at the death. Common Knowledge has put in some OK runs lately and if given some luck, and some speed on up front, should given backers a good run.

Race 7 - This is a good race, clearly the best on the card. Having said that, its not clear cut. Starlactic seems like he will be weighted on potential the whole way through his career now. He is carrying 0.5kgs more than Sir Breakfast who has won a G2 and a listed race (the Ramornie from memory) and been placing in 2 group 1's, whereas Starlactic has won a few ordinary town races and the Lightning (barely a black type race).

That aside, i won't go against Starlactic because he has such a nice turn of foot. I just hope they ride him from behind and not dig him up and get into a speed battle. I'm convinced he can be better when ridden about 4th or 5th and let to settle a bit. But connections would have a better idea of his abilities there, i guess. Spur Me On will lead here and has a sensational 2nd up record, but that was no doubt achieved in easier races than this. That being said, it was a nice win first up and the 1 alley around Doomben will play into this bloke's hands. Anca was a good effort to beat subsequent winner Suubird and the extra 100m here will suit her down to the ground, you'd imagine. The speed should be hot here too, with some real speedsters engaged.

Race 8 - Don't like the race, so i've gone rough. Manilla Boy has not won a race yet, out of 15 goes, but he has been placed in tough company all the way through. If you have a look at his last 3 starts, Grecolo, Nova Star and Rasmussen won the races...not exactly puch-overs. Given that he is dropping back to this sort of race, i'll given him a nice chance at good odds - especially with the 3kgs off and the good gate. Charvicky won a race at Doomben at huge odds a few months back in a 3yo town race, so she must have good ability and shouldn't be discounted here. Nexgen will be fav, and will be short, but it was a nice effort behind Step Right In last time at EF - the problem is the wide alley.

Looks like i've picked a few favs, which doesn't bode well for those favourite punters, but we'll see what happens .

Have a good day all, and good luck with whatever you fancy.

Sven