David Thiselton

There is an interesting ten race meeting at Turffontein Standside today and the action starts as early as 11h20.

The highest rated race is a fillies and mares MR 103 Handicap over 1160 meters. Just Be Lekker should be Cherry Ripe and can go one better than last time when she went close to the useful Oxalis Gold over 1400m.  She is equally suited to this trip and is capable of carrying top weight to victory under Serino Moodley.

Poblano also has speed and class, but on the downside she has a low number two draw. Fastnet Filly is in fine form and is highly regarded, so it would be no surprise to see her win from a nice high draw under Gavin Lerena. Stablemate Artiste disappointed last time, but she has useful form in Cape Town and if bringing that form she will be a big runner from a nice high draw. Ceuta has shown good ability and is interesting dropped in trip being by Gimmethegreenlight out of Gr 1-winner over both 1600m and 2000m, Europa Point. 

The previous race is a MR-96 Handicap and has some class acts involved. Bacchus has plenty of class and this will be his easiest task for some time as he ran in all three legs of the triple crown. Back in this company he should be thereabouts despite having to carry joint top weight from a tricky draw of seven. Artist’s Model is a classy and progressive sort who is distance suited, but he does have a wide draw to overcome. Claw is a progressive sort who should be cherry ripe having his third run after layoff. He looks to have class and should rise above his 85 merit rating so he can do well from a good draw. Don’t Cry For Me has disappointed in his last two starts, but they were both in Grade 1s and he won convincingly in an Ordinary Handicap before that, so he could also be involved with Piere Strydom back aboard. Command Pilot is drawn well over a suitable trip and this will be his easiest task since his last win three runs ago.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1400m Pretty Persuasive made a fine debut in the strong centre of Cape Town and if bringing that form to this race she can win from a good draw over a suitable step up in trip under Gavin Lerena. Tuscan Romance brings some useful Cape Town form and has a chance if able to overcome a wide draw. Vipingo has been quite close up to some fair types and she should be in the shake up over a suitable trip from a fair draw. Blue Quartz was not disgraced over this trip category last time and could earn with a repeat. Hopscotch showed some improvement second time out and with further improvement could earn. 

In race 5 over 1400m the first-timer Take No Prisoners is by Vercingetorix out of the useful Gr 1 winner TakingThePeace. Scarlett Heart has run some fair races and could earn here, but does have a tricky draw. Two For The Boys is on the up and should be in the shake-up here if able to overcome a wide draw. Greenlight Racer could improve on his fair debut. Stay Tuned is by Futura out of a Var mare whose only win was at Flamingo Park and she hasn’t produced a winner to date, but he represents the powerful Sean Tarry/Craig Zackey combination, is bred by Laurence Wernars and is owned by Gerald Kalil, owner and breeder of Quid Pro Quo.

In race 6 over 2400m Mo Ment always struck as one who would get better with age and over ground and he is now proving it so he could progress again. Arlington Action has hard knocking form and is distance suited. Star Coin has some class and has won up to 2000m so is interesting tried in a staying event from a good draw. To The Rescue has consistent staying form and from pole position could be in the shake-up. Vesuvio must have a chance over a suitable trip with Lerena up.

In race 7 over 1600m Aladdin’s Lamp has shown useful form in Cape Town and should go close, although the trip is on the sharp side. Pocket Watch has shown some ability and could earn from a good draw as he is currently off a competitive mark. Pumpkin Pie won well second time out and over a suitable trip could earn if able to overcome a wide draw. Ombudsman has some reasonable form, but is another one who has to overcome a wide draw. Crescendo will relish the step up in trip on pedigree and starts handicapping off a reasonable mark but does have a wide draw.

In the first leg of the Bipot there is not much between Raceway and Jazz Pianist, but the former has a more favourable draw. 

In the first leg of the PA Balule made a good debut and is the one to beat, but Carnarvon has form and a nice high draw, whilst Mr Bright Spark is by Erik The Red and is a half-brother to the speedy and useful Chocolate Soldier.

In the first race  Tempranillo is by Querari and is a half-sister to the like of Barbaresco, so is interesting.

In the last race Hong Kong has ability and can bounce back.

Race 1 

10 TEMPRANILLO 1 ALTA CAPITANA 4 EMERALD FORGE 3 CHERICHERILADY

Preview: 10 TEMPRANILLO is by Querari and is a half-sister to the like of Barbaresco. 1 ALTA CAPITANA is by Captain Of All out of a Fort Wood mare. 4 EMERALD FORGE  has run two fair races and is drawn on the right side. 3 CHERICHERILADY was not disgraced on debut and could improve being by Vercingetorix out of a Var mare. (David Thiselton 10-1-4-3)

Race 2     

7 RACEWAY 5 JAZZ PIANIST 11 TOP SHELF TEDDY 1 BABY RED

Preview: 7 RACEWAY improved second time out and went close and now is drawn on the right side. 5 JAZZ PIANIST made a good debut and on form lines is close to Raceway. 11 TOP SHELF TEDDY is by Master OF My Fate out of a Captain Al mare who has produced a few winners. 1 BABY RED is by Talk Of The Town out of a Dynasty mare who has produced  a few winners. (David Thiselton 7-5-11-1)

Race 3     

2 BALULE 3 CARNARVON 6 MR BRIGHT SPARK 7 SHADOWFAX

Preview: 2 BALULE made a fine debut and should be in the shake-up. 3 CARNARVON is an improving sort and he is drawn on the right side over a suitable trip. 6 MR BRIGHT SPARK is by Erik the Red out of a Pathfork mare and he is a half-brother to the speedy Chocolate Soldier. 7 SHADOWFAX  is by One World out of a Flower Alley mare. (David Thiselton 2-3-6-7) 

Race 4     

11 PRETTY PERSUASIVE 2 TUSCAN TROMANCE 13 VIPINGO 4 BLUE QUARTZ 9 HOPSCOTCH

Preview: 11 PRETTY PERSUASIVE made a fine debut and should enjoy this step up and trip from a good draw. 2 TUSCAN ROMANCE disappointed last time but if bringing his best Cape Town form he has a chance if able to overcome a wide draw. 13 VIPINGO  has shown plenty of ability and should be in the shake-up from a good draw. 4 BLUE QUARTZ  has run some fair races and has a fair draw over a suitable trip. 9 HOPSCOTCH improved last time and from a good draw with a four kilogram claimer could earn. (David Thiselton 11-2-13-4-9)

Race 5     

11 TAKE NO PRISONERS 13 SCARLETT HEART 1 TWO FOR THE BOYS 7 GREENLIGHT RACER

Preview: 11 TAKE NO PRISONERS is by Vercingetorix out of the useful Gr 1 winner TakingThePeace. 13 SCARLETT HEART has run some fair races and could earn here but does have a tricky draw. 1 TWO FOR THE BOYS is on the up and should be in the shake-up here if able to overcome a wide draw. 7 GREENLIGHT RACER  could improve on his fair debut. (David Thiselton 11-13-1-7)

Race 6     

8 MO MENT 7 ARLINGTON ACTION 1 STAR COIN 3 TO THE RESCUE

Preview: 8 MO MENT  is an up-and-coming stayer and he could improve and win again. 7 ARLINGTON ACTION  has hard knocking form and is distance suited. 1 STAR COIN could be in the shake-up here from a good draw too. 3 TO THE RESCUE has consistent form and from pole position could be in the shake-up. (David Thiselton 8-7-1-3)

Race 7     

9 ALADDIN’S LAMP 1 POCKET WATCH 3 PUMPKIN PIE 7 OMBUDSMAN

Preview: 9 ALADDIN’S LAMP has shown useful form in Cape Town and should go close. 1 POCKET WATCH has shown some ability and could earn from a good draw. 3 PUMPKIN PIE won well second time out and over a suitable trip could earn if able to overcome a draw. 7 OMBUDSMAN has some reasonable form but is another one who has to overcome a wide draw. (David Thiselton 9-1-3-7)

Race 8     

1 BACCHUS 5 ARTIST’S MODEL 10 CLAW 2 DON’T CRY FOR ME

Preview: 1 BACCHUS has a lot of class and this is his easiest task for some time so he should be in the shake-up. 5 ARTIST’S MODEL has a lot of class and should start improving now but does return from a layoff of close to three months. 10 CLAW is a progressive sort who should be coming into his own. 2 DON’T CRY FOR ME is better than his last couple of starts. (David Thiselton 1-5-10-2)

Race 9     

1 JUST BE LEKKER 2 POBLANO 4 FASTNET FILLY 9 ARTISTE

Preview: 1 JUST BE LEKKER has plenty of ability and is a distance suited here but does have a tricky draw of five. 2 POBLANO is a useful sort who is distance suited but she does have a tricky low draw. 4 FASTNET FILLY is knocking on the door and should go close here under Gavin Lerena. 9 ARTISTE is drawn on the right side and has shown enough ability to be right there. (David Thiselton 1-2-4-9)

Race 10    

1 HONG KONG 3 FULLY COMMITTED 4 ROAMING SPIRIT 5 BLIZZARD SNOW

Preview: 1 HONG KONG  is a useful sort and he can bounce back from a disappointing run last time as he has a good draw over a suitable trip. 3 FULLY COMMITTED was not disgraced first time out the maidens and should make his presence felt. 4 ROAMING SPIRIT won well last time over 1100 and stays further so should make a bold bid. 5 BLIZZARD SNOW is drawn on the right side and it would be no surprise to see her going close. (David Thiselton 1-3-4-5)

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Three of the last Doomben 10,000 winners have gone on to claim the Everest, that’s the kind of elite company we’re talking about as the Queensland Racing Carnival hits full throttle this week with one of the planet’s premier sprint showdowns: the $1.5 million Group 1 Doomben 10,000.

This is no ordinary race. Its honour roll reads like a hall of fame: the explosive Apache Cat (twice), crowd favourite Hot Danish, international flyer Falvelon (twice), local legend Chief De Beers, and a name that still echoes through Australian racing folklore, the one and only Manikato. The Doomben 10,000 isn’t just the feature race of the world this week; it’s a true global benchmark for sprinters at this time of year.

And this year? The 2025 edition might just be the best yet.

Headlining the field is Overpass, a Group 1-winning gelding and previous Quokka champion for Bjorn Baker, a horse and stable who have made a habit of shining on the big stage. He’ll face off against Schwarz, the explosive winner of the Group 1 William Reid Stakes, with top jockey Craig Williams aboard. Mazu, the 2022 Doomben 10,000 champion and Everest placegetter, returns with Rachel King in the saddle. Add to that the 2024 George Ryder winner Veight, New Zealand’s Group 1 hero Desert Lightning, and Queensland’s homegrown superstar Rothfire, a King of the Mountain and former Group 1 champ.

But that’s just the start. Golden Mile, last year’s Golden Eagle placegetter and a Group 1 winner for global powerhouse Godolphin, is in the mix. And then there’s Sunshine In Paris, winner of the Group 1 Champions Sprint during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, teaming up again with none other than James McDonald, the best jockey in the world.

Stacked doesn’t even begin to describe this field.

The winner of Saturday’s Doomben 10,000 won’t just pocket a hefty cheque, they’ll be catapulted into sprinting superstardom, a serious contender for feature races across the remainder of the Queensland Carnival and indeed for races like The Everest, the Champions Sprint, and global recognition as one of the fastest on turf.

But that’s not all on offer at Doomben. The undercard is equally mouthwatering. The Group 2 Spirit of Boom Classic launches the QLD two-year-old Triple Crown, setting the stage for the stars of tomorrow. Then there’s the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate, a critical form guide for the Queensland Derby, now just two weeks away.

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Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Hamilton and York (UK) – 16 May 2025