Bart Sinclair's Doomben Preview - Saturday 13 November

 
The Doomben meeting on Saturday highlights many of the variables which confront punters.

Track conditions – the rating is going to end up between soft and heavy – barrier draws, and fitness coming back from a racing break have to be assessed in a lot of the races on a nine event card.

The Keith Noud Quality over 1200 metres traditionally is the summer carnival launch pad for some of the better performed sprinters.

This year is no exception. Seven of the 13 runners are first up into this sprint. Included in this group well credential horses Niccanova, The Harrovian and Baller. They also have the added challenge of big weights.

If the track tips into the heavy range, as is predicted, the ground will be fitness-testing for the first up horses.

That’s not to say they can’t win. But the percentage play is to rate them a bit lower.

The runner with race fitness and proven wet track performances is Tambo’s Mate. He is a last start winner at Doomben over 1050 metres but his record is better at 1200 metres.

Significantly Tambo’s Mate is unbeaten in three tries on soft and heavy tracks.

It’s a similar story in Three-Year-old Handicap over 1200 metres. Two of the top fancies Me Me Lagarde and Putontheredlight bring contrasting credentials.

Both are lining up for just their third race start and neither has been tested in wet ground.

Putontheredlight had two starts in October, the latest being a most unlucky third at Doomben three weeks ago while Me Me Largarde has not appeared since finishing fifth behind Rhapsody Rose at Doomben on May 21.

Me Me Lagarde shaped encouragingly when a strong finishing second in a Gold Coast trial over 1000 metres on October 18. And she has barrier 4 against 11 for Putontheredlight.

Again punters have to choose between race fitness of several fancied runners in the Cascade Benchmark 80 over 1050 metres. At least the level of fitness is not so important in a short sprint.

Eloquently put together a string of six wins before being spelled after her latest success at Eagle Farm on July 31. And Palaisipan also has not been to the races since mid-July.

Late market moves can be a good guide under these conditions. Money in the market might help punters choose a late selection.

This is going to be a very interesting meeting. Summer hopes for a lot of Doomben runners will become clearer after Saturday.