Doomben hosts a ten-race program on Saturday, October 31, with competitive handicaps across the card providing plenty of opportunities for established performers and progressive younger gallopers.
The meeting features several runners looking to build on strong recent form, while race fitness, favourable draws and the ability to handle testing conditions could prove decisive.
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Doomben Tips October 31
Civilpipes 0 - 65 Handicap Tips (Race 4)
Doomben Best Bet - Race 4 No. 11 Cardonette
The strong association between Ben Thompson and Tony Gollan continues to deliver, with the pair combining for 32 winners over the past 12 months and striking at almost 28% this season, including two victories aboard Cardonette.
The daughter of Exceedance had placed in her first four appearances before breaking through in a Gold Coast maiden on September 12, subsequently handling the rise to metropolitan company with a convincing Class 1 victory at Doomben.
Although unable to complete the hat-trick in another Saturday assignment here on October 17, there was considerable merit in her runner-up finish, with the winner enjoying a more favourable passage while Cardonette settled back and recorded the fastest final 200m of the race.
The rise to 1200m should suit given the way she has been finishing her races, while barrier five offers Thompson an opportunity to settle the mare closer to the speed and avoid conceding too much ground early.
Her only previous attempt over this course and distance resulted in a narrow defeat as an odds-on favourite behind Brave Monarch, who subsequently developed into a multiple stakes winner, and with that earlier form providing another strong reference, Cardonette looks well placed to atone.
Sky Racing QTIS 3YO Handicap Tips (Race 5)
Doomben Favourite - Race 5 No. 1 Kickup Rocky
Stakes-level performances throughout his two-year-old season established Kickup Rocky as a galloper of considerable ability, and his impressive return at Eagle Farm on October 10 suggests he has come back an even better three-year-old.
The Desleigh Forster-trained gelding contested stakes company in four of his six juvenile appearances, with the highlights including a second-up victory at Eagle Farm in May and a strong closing fourth in the Group 2 Sires' Produce Stakes before appearing to reach the end of his preparation in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins.
Encouraging September trial performances suggested he had made the necessary physical and mental progression, and that improvement was evident first-up when he defeated the race-fit Ashkirk over 1300m at Eagle Farm despite conceding 3kg to a rival who had completed a winning hat-trick.
The pair cleared away from the remainder, strengthening the form reference for Saturday's assignment, although Kickup Rocky rises to 60.5kg and must again concede significant weight to several promising opponents.
Daniel Moor retains the ride after establishing a productive association with the son of Better Than Ready, and despite some potential tactical complications from barrier eight, Kickup Rocky has the class and recent performance to suggest he can overcome those challenges.
Higgins Coatings Class 6 Handicap Tips (Race 8)
Doomben Roughie - Race 8 No. 11 Entrusting
Up in distance fourth-up could provide the improvement required from Entrusting, who showed considerable promise earlier in his career with the Hayes stable before joining Billy Healey ahead of his current preparation.
The former Arrowfield galloper demonstrated his ability at metropolitan level when successful over 1800m at Sandown during his three-year-old season, subsequently attracting support in the Group 2 Autumn Classic and remaining competitive in stakes company without quite fulfilling his early potential.
There has been merit in his three appearances for the new stable, beginning with a fair 1350m resumption at Doomben before producing a more competitive effort second-up at the Sunshine Coast, with neither assignment appearing ideal for the five-year-old.
His latest performance over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast on October 9 again saw him settle towards the rear from a wide draw before working home without threatening, suggesting the additional distance could prove beneficial as he approaches peak fitness.
Saturday's Class 6 represents a rise in grade, but Entrusting drops a significant 7.5kg to the 52kg minimum, and with Cejay Graham aboard from barrier nine, the son of The Autumn Sun looks capable of producing a much stronger performance at generous odds.
Ladbrokes Tote In +10% In October BM85 Tips (Race 10)
Doomben Next Best Bet - Race 10 No. 11 Chief In Charge
Few runners on Saturday's program will appreciate a return to Doomben more than Chief In Charge, who boasts four wins and two placings from seven appearances at the venue and finally draws a favourable barrier after three frustrating performances this preparation.
The Matt Hoysted-trained gelding has encountered difficult barriers throughout his campaign, with his latest effort on October 10 particularly encouraging after beginning slowly, settling towards the rear in a race lacking genuine tempo and still producing the fastest final 200m.
That closing effort was also the third-fastest final 200m recorded across the Eagle Farm meeting, suggesting the five-year-old is approaching peak fitness despite results that have yet to reflect his performances.
His course record is especially compelling, having completed a winning hat-trick at Doomben earlier this year, with all three victories coming over Saturday's 1350m distance and demonstrating his ability to take advantage when presented with a favourable race setup.
Andrew Mallyon takes the ride from barrier one, and with Chief In Charge dropping 4kg from his latest appearance, the combination of a suitable distance, excellent local record and improved map gives him every opportunity to return to winning form.