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Doomben Betting Tips for May 18, 2024 - Race-By-Race preview for Doomben 10,000 day

Alex Marsh

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Last updated: 16 May 2024

Alex Marsh 16 May 2024

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The Doomben 10,000 kicks off Group 1 action for the 2024 Queensland Racing Carnival
Key support races include the Rough Habit Plate and Spirit Of Boom Classic
Detailed race-by-race preview and expert betting tips provided

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Autumn Angel heads the Rough Habit Plate market. (Getty)

The Doomben 10,000 is the first Group 1 of the 2024 Queensland Racing Carnival and a strong support card has been assembled for May 18, with the Rough Habit Plate and Spirit Of Boom Classic both key lead-up's for the Queensland Derby and JJ Atkins.

Doomben Tips May 18
Race 1 - 11:48AM U&U Recruitment Class 6 Handicap Tips (1600m)
Race 2 - 12:23PM The Star BM78 Handicap Tips (1350m)
Race 3 - 12:58PM Moreton Hire 3yo Plate Tips (1350m)
Race 4 - 1:33PM Jra Chairman's Handicap Tips (2000m)
Race 5 - 2:08PM Sky Racing Members' Handicap Tips (1600m)
Race 6 - 2:43PM Spirit Of Boom Classic Tips (1200m)
Race 7 - 3:22PM Magic Millions Bright Shadow Tips (1110m)
Race 8 - 4:02PM Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000 Tips (1200m)
Race 9 - 4:38PM Seven Rough Habit Plate Tips (2000m)

Our race-by-race preview for Saturday is included below.

Doomben Tips May 18

Race 1 - 11:48AM U&U Recruitment Class 6 Handicap Tips (1600m)

Best: 2. Bettcha Crown. This honest four-year-old brings a string of shorter starting prices and he'll strip fitter from his last outing, given he was around seven weeks between runs.

There was merit to that April 27 effort, where Bettcha Crown wasn't able to cross and be as prominent over 1300m from a wide draw but he stuck on well despite a tough run.

The blinkers go on here and with a less speed engaged, Cejay Graham should have no trouble crossing from barrier 10 and he can give a sight from there at an each-way quote.

Value: 1. Eaglemont. Ultimately, he was just a little outclassed in The Archer, however, he was far from disgraced in the Rockhampton feature and he's down in grade third-up.

The son of Camelot arrived to that Rockhampton event second-up after a nice return over 1200m here and he is suited stepping up to a mile on Saturday.

This won't be easy with 61.5kg, however, he has carried big weights in the past and Blake Shinn takes the reins, and he was aboard for his last win at Doomben on December 30.

Race 2 - 12:23PM The Star BM78 Handicap Tips (1350m)

Best: 9. Weigall Tiger. The three-year old was quickly working through the grades over his second campaign last spring/early summer before a Gold Coast Magic Millions tilt.

Although he was well held in the 3YO Guineas, Weigall Tiger was at the end of a long campaign there and he was a notable drifter in the market when resuming on May 4.

That was solid resumption with the Kelly Schweida-trained galloper, who doing his best work late and now against exposed older rivals, he looks the most progressive horse in this race.

Value: 6. Spade Tracker. Although he wasn't able to salute in his first seven outings for Annabel Neasham, the import was mostly competitive throughout his first two campaigns in Australia.

His Sydney and Melbourne form lines read well enough for a BM78 in Brisbane and first-up at Ipswich, he was unlucky when third-often, as he was held-up at key stages.

While that was only a Class 3, it was taken out by Pizarro and that winner was a genuine a Saturday class horse in Sydney, and the extra 150m is a positive here.

Race 3 - 12:58PM Moreton Hire 3yo Plate Tips (1350m)

Best: 10. McHale. Since being gelded, McHale has done little wrong in four runs this autumn, with the Chris Waller-trained galloper opening his campaign with back-to-back victories.

He loomed to win when attempting the hat-trick at Group 3 level, but 1600m on heavy ground just saw him out there before coming back in distance via the Hawkesbury Guineas.

He was terrific late in that last start attempt when making ground from off the speed in a leader-dominated race and with even luck from a low draw, he's right in this.

Value: 16. Miraval Rose. While she didn't follow up from the promise that she showed last year, I thought the Sydney return was a pass mark last month.

Miraval Rose stuck to the task in that six furlong event, where she looked short of a gallop and despite a big freshen-up here, the three-year-old has completed a solid tick-over trial.

She draws out, although The Instructor is next to her, so the likely tactics will be to cross and sit outside of the likely leader, while she's effective on both good and soft ground.

Race 4 - 1:33PM Jra Chairman's Handicap Tips (2000m)

Best: 9. Dune Forty Five. A near impossible race from a punting perspective, with a bunch of solid B Grade stayers line up and a few of them will be aimed towards the Brisbane Cup.

From their last 127 starts combined, the 15 runners in this field have produced seven winners overall, which shows how tough it is to catch any of these gallopers.

Dune Forty Five is one of those and while he's perhaps looking for something a little easier, the six-year-old won't be far away third-up and he finished second in this race last year.

Value: 11. Warning. There's rarely an in-between performance from Warning, however, he's been a grand galloper for connections, having accrued almost $2.5 million in prize money.

He won this race back in 2021 under Jim Byrne, who stays aboard the gelding after a plain Eagle Farm return, although he did have 62kg to carry there.

Warning was successful in this race with 58kg and with no standouts in the field, he's far from the worst knockout chance here, where he's down on the 54kg minimum.

Race 5 - 2:08PM Sky Racing Members' Handicap Tips (1600m)

Best: 4. Territory Express. He's a more talented horse than Gringotts, although the fav appears to set-up a little better with a more recent run under his belt and he also carries 3.5kg less.

I'll stick with the class runner, a four-year-old who is really starting to put it all together, having won two or three start this campaign and he was beaten a pimple second-up.

It was a strong addition of the Provincial Final this year, which he won quite easily in the end and with even luck in transit, I don't see any reason why he can't go on with it here.

Value: 2. Desert Icon. He's a better fresh horse than his first-up record indicates and that was evident last year when resuming over this trip in the Hawkesbury Cup.

Desert Icon finished second in that return outing and while he couldn't get on the winners lists in subsequent attempts, he remained competitive throughout 2023.

His prior fresh attempt was another cracker over an unsuitably short seven furlongs and in what looks an open race outside of the market elects, this is one for the exotics.

Race 6 - 2:43PM Spirit Of Boom Classic Tips (1200m)

Best: 5. Angel Capital. Clinton McDonald's has some handy youngsters at the moment and he's got a big opinion of Angel Capital, who is seemingly on a JJ Atkins path.

It was an outstanding debut victory from the son of Harry Angel, who had no favours when back over 1000m at Cranbourne and that is a hard track to circle an entire field on.

In the end, it was a soft victory and quite an arrogant performance from the Victorian and while there's obviously more depth to this, it's not a strong race for Group 2 standards.

Value: 7. President. He was simply never in calculations in the Group 2 Skyline behind Storm Boy and with the Brisbane Carnival in mind, President was sent for a little break.

There was plenty to like about the debut, where he was heavily backed at Randwick-Kensington Martin and coming from the rear, he did a lot wrong when grabbing third.

Two smart ones in Chateau Miraval and Growing Empire filled that quinella. so the form is there and he was was scratched from an easier assignment last Saturday at Newcastle.

Race 7 - 3:22PM Magic Millions Bright Shadow Tips (1110m)

Best: 5. Chinny Boom. Off a good first-up win and bringing strong spring form around Magic Time, Parisal heads the market and she's arguably the safest option.

It's worth noting that Chinny Coom defeated the fav via their last clash on December 30 and from that Nudgee Stakes, this four-year-old mates the market elects 1.5kg better off.

Lady Laguna won that race, which has been an excellent form reference over the autumn and while she's been thereabouts over further, Chinny Boom is better placed over these shorter trips.

Value: 4. Chatty Lady. Aside from back-to-back two flops a few preps back, Chatty Lady has done very little wrong and she was a Listed winner at Eagle Farm in December.

That followed an eye-catching fifth-of-twelve finish at stakes level here when given none early, while the five-year-old was competitive in deeper races before a spell.

This trip is as short as she wants in this grade, however, there's good speed and she has a low draw, while the mare did look forward via a 1050m trial on May 9.

Race 8 - 4:02PM Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000 Tips (1200m)

Best: 1. I Wish I Win. The Doomben 10,000 has been a very kind race for market elects in recent years, with favourites winning four of the last five editions of this Group 1 (including the last three).

I Wish I Win heads the betting for the 2024 edition, a galloper who last saluted in the 2023 TJ Smith Stakes more than a year ago, however, he's only had three starts since then.

The five-year-old hasn't missed the top three in those attempts, with the latest coming in the TJ Smith Stakes and I felt he was in need of that run (subsequent jump-out was strong).

Next Best: 2. Private Eye. I wouldn't mind seeing Private Eye go the way of his stablemate Think About It over next year's autumn carnival, as he is more effective in the seven-eight furlong range.

That said, class sees the Joe Pride-trained galloper in the top handful of sprinters in Australia at present, especially now that some premier ones have retired over the last year.

Without relishing a testing Heavy 10 surface, his last start performance in the All Aged Stakes was sound and if the fav finds trouble, he has the brilliance to take this Group 1 out.

Value: 9. Stei Magnetica. Interestingly, she was scratched from heavy track assignments last week and despite having softer stakes options in two states this week, she's contesting the Doomben 10,000.

On ratings, it looks a very steep climb for Stefi Magnetica, especially she climbed 20 points after her Surround Stakes second, however, we don't know what her ceiling is.

That Surround Stakes has produced Tutta La Vita, Learning to Fly and Zardozi, and while the three-year-old wasn't beaten far there, she looks better suited back to six furlongs.

Race 9 - 4:38PM Seven Rough Habit Plate Tips (2000m)

Best: 8. Port Lockroy. Autumn Angel is the proven class runner of the race, however, the fav has bigger targets in mind and she is fresh following an Australian Oaks win.

Port Lockroy is a lovely, strong colt who has had zero luck this campaign, which opened with a second in the Canberra Guineas and he was only narrowly beaten there despite a tough run.

Wide gates in two subsequent outings have forced ice cold rides from Adam Hyeronimus, but now hard-fit and with barrier five at his disposal, he looks a cracking each-way bet in the last.

Value: 19. Physicist. Whether he's mature enough to handle Queensland Derby campaign in his first prep remains to be seen, although Physicist isn't short on talent.

Following an eye-catching Wyong debut for third when heavily backed, we were with Physicist last start when he broke through at Canterbury over the 1550m.

He appeared to handle the Soft 6 going fine on that occasion and while this is a big step up in class at start three, the son of So You Think looks to have a nice future.