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Doomben Betting Tips for May 23, 2026 - Race-by-Race Preview for Doomben Cup Day
Doomben hosts a major Winter Carnival meeting headlined by the Group 1 Doomben Cup. Nine races will run Saturday on a likely rain-affected but improving track. Key bets include Zealously (Race 5), Earn To Burn (Race 4), The Inflictor (Race 9 each way), and Our Gold Hope (Race 6 each way). The article provides insights and recommendations for each race, highlighting both standout contenders and value bets across the card for astute punters.
- Doomben hosts a key Winter Carnival raceday, led by the Group 1 Doomben Cup
- Track will likely be rain-affected, although upgrades are expected from the current Soft 7
- Our race-by-race preview and selections are detailed below
Expired
Doomben hosts a strong nine-race Winter Carnival program on Saturday, headlined by the Group 1 Doomben Cup. (Getty)
Doomben hosts another key Winter Carnival meeting this Saturday, headlined by the Group 1 Doomben Cup alongside a strong supporting card featuring The Roses, Chief De Beers and BRC Sprint.
- Doomben Tips May 23
- Race 1 - 11:43AM Sky Racing BM78 Handicap Tips (1600m)
- Race 2 - 12:18PM Ladbrokes Stradbroke Calcutta Book Tips (1200m)
- Race 3 - 12:53PM Ticketmaster Bill Carter Stakes Tips (1350m)
- Race 4 - 1:28PM Seven Darby McCarthy OAM QTIS 3yo Tips (1110m)
- Race 5 - 2:03PM XXXX Chief De Beers Tips (1110m)
- Race 6 - 2:38PM Magic Millions Fillies And Mares Mile Tips (1600m)
- Race 7 - 3:17PM ANZ Bloodstock News The Roses Tips (2000m)
- Race 8 - 3:57PM XXXX Doomben Cup Tips (2000m)
- Race 9 - 4:30PM Ladbrokes BRC Sprint Tips (1350m)
The track is likely to remain rain-affected, although upgrades on the current Soft 7 reading are predicted, while several progressive gallopers and established carnival contenders are engaged across the nine-race program.
For previews and betting coverage across all codes, visit Live Racing & Sports Updates.
Doomben Tips May 23
Race 1 - 11:43AM Sky Racing BM78 Handicap Tips (1600m)
15. La Cometa could be the value option in a really open affair. She was never in commission last start when specked at a big price, however, was also dragged back from a wide barrier in that May 2 attempt, while her first two autumn runs are better than they read.
She now has a fitness base, while a low draw can have her much closer to the speed. Also, her best form was found once deeper into her last campaign and she was competitive at Listed level last winter, before placing in her last Doomben attempt, which came in this grade.
11. Seven's still has upside as a lightly raced import and was a two-time winner in his second Australian prep earlier in the season. Also, there are excuses when working early and tiring late in his May 9 resumption, and he should get a few more favours here.
4. Cavalry Man is knocking on the door and was a similar quote last time out when third in a stronger affair. Back up in the weights, but certainly going well enough.
10. Larrikin Rouge did get the better of Seven's at the Gold Coast on May 9, although was entitled to off a much softer run.
Selections: 15-11-4-10.
Race 2 - 12:18PM Ladbrokes Stradbroke Calcutta Book Tips (1200m)
3. Now Is The Hour lost as an odds-on favourite fresh. But that April 18 defeat can be forgiven, where a slow recovery was detected and he was always going to derive fitness benefit from that. And it was an improved showing second-up when reeled in late on the Gold Coast.
The four-year-old was working through the grades nicely in his first campaign for Tony Gollan and will be approaching peak fitness now. Drawn out, he has the tactical speed to roll forward and overcome it, with James McDonald a notable jockey booking here.
12. Arabian Rose is kicking off a prep with no public lead-up work, but is a mare with ability. The last fresh run was better than it rates and she followed that up with a win and a third before getting home nicely via her latest in Sydney before a break, while she's tactically versatile.
14. Balance The Books improved last start when second to Esjay, who was okay in the Doomben 10,000. Down in the weights and will look to close off late.
13. Without Parallel was a touch plain last start, but strips fitter third-up and has 49kg after the claim, along with a soft map.
Selections: 3-12-14-13.
Race 3 - 12:53PM Ticketmaster Bill Carter Stakes Tips (1350m)
5. Katoto is a half-sister to dual Group 2 winner Savvy Halle, and after a good debut second, broke through at Kembla Grange, where the rise to 1300m suited. Although it was only a narrow victory, she did have to reel in a leader who set a slow tempo up front.
The third-place runner from that April 29 event franked the form with a big midweek victory at his next try, and Katoto moved well in a subsequent tick-over trial at Rosehill, while champion hoop James McDonald has a low draw at his disposal for this Listed assignment.
11. La Barrita was shuffled back on debut after not having the speed to muster from a wide draw over 1000m. Still worked home with the fastest last 200m of that Warwick Farm meeting and it was a performance that suggests this rise in trip would suit.
4. Auric Star found 1000m too sharp on debut, and progressed when runner-up at Listed level last start at 1200m, running the fastest closing sectionals of that event.
1. I Am Dirty covered ground on debut before a comfortable Gosford victory, although she did have all favours there.
Selections: 5-11-4-1.
Race 4 - 1:28PM Seven Darby McCarthy OAM QTIS 3yo Tips (1110m)
1. Earn To Burn does appear the obvious as comfortably the best-rated horse in the field, who is very well in under the set weights and penalties conditions. There were excuses for his QTIS Jewel failure in March, when beaten as favourite in a much stronger race than this.
The shifting surface was against him and the gelding was freshened up as a result, with the April 25 return an encouraging one, overcoming some trouble to get home for second with the third-fastest last 200m of the program, and he's won a Deagon trial since that last outing.
5. Stardom is one of the main on-speed influencers, and this is a softer option than both autumn assignments so far, including the latest in an honest Gold Coast Guineas effort. Her career highlight was recorded third-up in spring when leading throughout for a Listed victory.
12. Sword Of Legacy got a confidence booster for the new yard when bolting in last start and had strong juvenile form in Melbourne. A fast tempo could see her arrive late.
4. Camelight is underrated. Was massive odds via a brave debut victory and there was enough to like about the May 2 resumption.
Selections: 1-5-12-4.
Race 5 - 2:03PM XXXX Chief De Beers Tips (1110m)
3. Zealously is a big, strong sprinter from the Peter Snowden yard who has worked through the grades rather comfortably and arrives here second-up after a first stakes success via his Hawkesbury resumption on May 2, when leading throughout for an easy victory.
That form has been franked through runner-up Bev's Nine, a Listed winner at Scone last Saturday. And what will bring him even further into contention is a drying surface. The Soft 7 is a little query, but a likely upgrade or two on that will have him as the one to beat.
9. Soft Love warrants respect heading north after bouncing back to winning form at Caulfield last start, and a decent Randwick tick-over trial was completed on the way up. Has a huge finish when right and if they overdo this up front, she could be dangerous swooping.
6. Pereille is the overs in this field. Just peaked late on a sound fresh outing and his last Doomben run was a second to Caballus, a Group 1 winner two starts later.
1. Hidden Wealth draws out, but will push forward under James McDonald. He was a third-up Listed winner last prep.
Selections: 3-9-6-1.
Race 6 - 2:38PM Magic Millions Fillies And Mares Mile Tips (1600m)
8. Our Gold Hope has received some pretty wild placements over the journey, although this is one of the more suitable assignments that she's found and coming back in distance is a plus. However, you can make a case for most runners in this opening leg of the quaddie.
She should have gone close two starts back when resuming off a freshen-up and while she's a long time between drinks, the daughter of Lope De Vega has measured up in stronger company multiple times, and her two Queensland runs as a late three-year-old were both strong.
1. Snitzanova was well held fresh, but had no prior first-up form. And this is a better placement back against her own sex. She did improve sharply second-up last campaign when placing at Listed level in Queensland, a prep that culminated with a Magic Millions victory.
2. Pinito backed up an excellent return when saluting second-up, but her form then fell off a cliff. Freshened and is more than capable in a race of this strength.
3. Blindedbythelight pushed a smart Idle Flyer fresh, who was a Group 1 winner at her next start, and this mare was then luckless in Adelaide.
Selections: 8-1-2-3.
Race 7 - 3:17PM ANZ Bloodstock News The Roses Tips (2000m)
4. Grand Omaha wasn't all that well in under the scale of The Coast, a three and four-year-old feature at Gosford that had plenty of depth, but she more than held her own at a big price, working through an initial flat spot when remaining at the mile for that fourth-up tilt.
She chased home hard to place, with the second-fastest last 200m of that event and could be looking for the 2000m now based off that last run, with her prior form also consistent, and she's now against her own age and sex for this Queensland Oaks lead-up.
11. Chispa is arguably the pick of the three Chris Waller acceptors, with the champion trainer aiming for his fourth win in The Roses, and this daughter of Savabeel relished the rise in trip when bolting in at Randwick-Kensington, while getting to 2000m shouldn't pull her up.
12. Tarntanya broke through fresh before being beaten a pimple by Highvol, a galloper who had good two and early three-year-old references. She looks a very progressive stayer.
14. Crathie Kirk is sharply up in grade, but has always shown class and is starting to put it together now arriving off back-to-back wins.
Selections: 4-11-12-14.
Race 8 - 3:57PM XXXX Doomben Cup Tips (2000m)
1. Half Yours returned well in the All Aged Stakes when getting home over 1400m, a trip that is too sharp at this level, and perhaps it was not the workout he needed to be a serious winning contender in the Hollindale Stakes last start, and it showed when Pride Of Jenni ran them off their feet, but he can spike off that.
There is now a platform to springboard from with that 1800m effort under the belt, while stepping to 2000m on Saturday, combined with rain-affected ground, only brings him further into contention, although he will face further examination on race morning due to lameness concerns on Friday.
2. Vauban is a contender who did not contest the Hollindale Stakes, which could hold him in good stead, while a testing 2000m could play into his hands. Keeping him on the fresh side could be the key as an older horse now, as both Australian wins have come first-up at this trip and he's back in journey from the Tancred Stakes.
7. She's A Hustler could be peaking third-up off a really nice platform, having caught the eye late fresh before her third in the Hollindale. She's as genuine as they come, with the eye-catching Queen Of The Turf fourth her only time missing the top three.
6. Pride Of Jenni, as always, the exciting front-runner will give them something to catch. Maybe left on the flat side now, with 2000m and soft ground also queries, but ran a similar field off their feet only a fortnight ago.
Selections: 1-2-7-6.
Race 9 - 4:30PM Ladbrokes BRC Sprint Tips (1350m)
7. The Inflictor is building into the campaign well, with the prep kicking off at Group 3 level in Sydney where he made ground in an eye-catching fourth when unsuited by the race shape and meeting pattern on April 28, while the latest in The Archer should top him off nicely.
He ran the second-fastest last 200m of that Rockhampton feature and brings a good profile. His only three third-up attempts at Doomben have resulted in a second and then a pair of victories via his last two, with both of those triumphs being recorded over this distance.
8. Abounding has had somewhat of a stop/start prep, and getting to 1350m suits, as does a firmer track than the Heavy 8 she saw at Eagle Farm. Her only time finishing outside of the money at Doomben was a sixth-of-16 finish in this race last year, where she still closed off well.
12. Metalart is a bolter worth including. Never saw daylight first-up and has terrific Doomben stats, with four wins and three placings from seven tries here.
4. Sweynesday was good on Australian debut at Gosford, where he didn't have favours and this is no harder. Has drawn out again, though.
Selections: 7-8-12-4.
Verdict
Our best & value bets for Doomben Cup Day are:
Zealously
To Win
$3.20 - 4 Units
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Earn To Burn
To Win
$3.60 - 4 Units
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The Inflictor
Each Way
$10.00 - 1 Unit
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Our Gold Hope
Each Way
$19.00 - 1 Unit
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