The Listed Keith Noud Stakes headlines Saturday's racing at Doomben on November 14, with a strong Brisbane program featuring a mix of sprinting contests and competitive handicaps.
The prospect of rain-affected ground adds another dimension to the meeting, with wet-track form, favourable draws and tactical positioning likely to play important roles across the afternoon.
Doomben Tips November 14
Century Pools No Metro Wins Handicap Tips (Race 6)
Doomben Roughie - Race 6 No. 9 Zouthur
There is an element of speculation involved with Zouthur given some lowly early preparation form references, although the John Wallace-trained galloper has produced several competitive performances and could be dangerous at big odds.
The gelding was building into his preparation before a disappointing latest effort at Doomben, where he covered ground throughout in a race won by Cardonette, making that performance easier to forgive than the finishing position might suggest.
Although he has failed in both appearances on Heavy ground, those performances came earlier in his career, while four victories and another three placings from 12 starts on Soft tracks provide a much stronger indication of his ability when there is give in the surface.
A previous victory over the Doomben 1350m is another positive, and the return to a familiar track and distance should give him an opportunity to improve considerably if he can settle into a better rhythm rather than being forced to work.
There are no standouts in this field, and with the prospect of securing a more prominent position in running, his proven Soft-track credentials make him an interesting roughie.
CBT Keith Noud Stakes QTISx Handicap Tips (Race 8)
Doomben Feature Bet - Race 8 No. 7 Now Is The Hour
Now Is The Hour has been well identified by the early market following an outstanding first-up victory, although that was always likely given the authority of his return and the favourable circumstances awaiting the Tony Gollan-trained gelding in Saturday's Listed Keith Noud Stakes.
He resumed in open handicap company over 1110m at Doomben, overcoming a tricky barrier to establish control in front before accelerating clear for a dominant victory by more than two lengths, producing an excellent performance against seasoned opposition.
Among those comfortably beaten was stablemate About To Explode, who has previously been competitive in stronger company and returns as one of his rivals, providing a useful indication of the level Now Is The Hour has already reached this preparation.
The handicap conditions are another major positive, with the gelding rising just 2kg from his resumption victory to carry 54kg, while barrier one gives Angela Jones the opportunity to control proceedings against opposition that includes the progressive King Of Minto, who has drawn wide.
With a clear tactical advantage, a suitable weight and a strong record at Doomben, Now Is The Hour looks ideally placed to repeat his latest performance, and he may only need to hold that level of form to collect another victory.
Higgins Coatings Class 6 Plate Tips (Race 9)
Doomben Value Bet - Race 9 No. 12 Street Chase
A change of stable appears to have Street Chase heading back in the right direction, with both performances for Jack Bruce this preparation containing merit after the gelding had struggled to reproduce his earlier form.
There was very little separating him from Spiethtacular when resuming over 1200m at Doomben on September 30, finishing third by just under a length despite beginning awkwardly, and he now enjoys a significant weight swing on that rival under the Class 6 conditions.
A gap between runs suggested there may have been a minor interruption to his campaign, with a Deagon trial on October 30 preceding his return at Eagle Farm on November 7, where he finished fourth behind Noble Decree in BM85 company.
That latest performance was encouraging given he was beaten only a length and a half, and with another run under his belt, the drop to 55.5kg and a kinder draw in barrier five provide a stronger platform for his third-up assignment.
Street Chase also boasts a solid Doomben record, including two victories at the circuit and a previous success on Heavy 10 ground, and with further improvement possible from his two spring appearances, he looks capable of measuring up at an attractive each-way price.
Ladbrokes Mega Multi BM85 Handicap Tips (Race 10)
Doomben Best Bet - Race 10 No. 9 All Kinds Of Folk
All Kinds Of Folk gets an excellent opportunity to bounce back in Saturday's concluding BM85, having performed well when rising sharply to open handicap company at Eagle Farm on October 24 despite finding Brindavan too strong on a Heavy 10 surface.
The Todd Pollard-trained mare had returned to winning form over the Doomben 1600m at her previous appearance, and although she was beaten two and a half lengths at Eagle Farm, that latest effort was far from disappointing against stronger opposition.
The form has subsequently held up particularly well, with Brindavan remaining competitive in the Group 3 Five Diamonds at Rosehill last Saturday, while third-placed Cunnamulla Fella returned to Eagle Farm on the same afternoon and won an open handicap over 1815m.
A drop back into BM85 company is significant, while her 56kg impost is hardly prohibitive given she carried 58kg when winning second-up at this circuit, and Ben Thompson reunites with the mare after partnering her to that victory.
Testing ground is another major positive given her proven ability in rain-affected conditions, and with a favourable draw in barrier two, a suitable distance and a race that lacks the depth of her latest assignment, All Kinds Of Folk looks extremely well placed to return to winning form.