Bart Sinclair's Doomben Preview - Sat 5 Feb, 2022
Dreamreacher has some excellent form credentials to warrant his position as early favorite for the Benchmark 85 sprint at Doomben on Saturday.
That’s if you can be forgiving of his last start 11th – beating just two horses home – in the Magic Millions sprint at the Gold Coast three weeks ago.
On balance it was an “overlook” effort. From a wide barrier (13) Dreamreacher was taken back to near last after 200 metres. He started to improve but very wide on the track from the 700 metres and it was no surprise he tired in the final 200 metres at his first run since September 11.
Dreamreacher has a gun second up record with two wins and a second from three attempts. He also likes the 1350 metres distance and is ideally drawn at gate two.
The Michael Costa-trained Sir Rocket is racing well and has to be respected on the back of two good runs at the Magic Millions carnival last month.
He won with authority against moderate grade on January 8 and backed up the next week with a handy sixth to Eleven Eleven in the Magic Millions Cup over 1400 metres.
With a win strike rate just above 11 percent Palladas is not the punters’ pin-up. Two wins from 17 attempts is not a lure.
But his three efforts this campaign justify long suffering followers to have one more fling in the Mode Plate over 1350 metres at Doomben on Saturday.
This is a class 3 sprint with set weights gauged on past performances. Last start Palladas carried 54.5kg when a strong second in a Class 6 event over the same course and distance.
While he rises 3kg to 57.kg he is well placed in Class 3 grade.
With a positive weather forecast the track should be just in the soft range and not be detrimental to the chances of any runner at this meeting.