Warwick Farm horseman Bjorn Baker heads to Brisbane this weekend with a smart contingent of livewire chances across the Doomben Cup Day card including his mare Selita who jumps favourite in the Chief De Beers Handicap 2016 first-up on the card.
Selita (inside) is favourite for the first at Doomben on Saturday – the 2016 Chief De Beers Handicap in Brisbane. Photo: Steve Hart.
Kicking off racing at the latest Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival meeting, the $100,000 Listed IPG Connect Chief De Beers Handicap (1050m) runs as Doomben Race 1 at 12:10pm (AEST) and has attracted a 10-starter field.
Sitting top of the current Chief De Beers Handicap odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $3.40 for the win is Shaft four-year-old Selita who James McDonald jumps back aboard from barrier seven.
A winner of four of her nine career starts in Sydney in easier company, she is out to atone for a last start eighth over 1400m at Randwick in early February.
She has been freshened-up since and brought-on fitness-wise with back-to-back trial wins in May, the latest by 3.5 lengths at Kembla Grange over 800m.
In a close top half of the markets there are another three single-figure hopes in Chief De Beers Handicap betting including the $4 second elect Straturbo drawn a treat in gate three.
A six-year-old son of Stratum prepared by Gary Portelli, Straturbo comes off a Doomben run from April 30 when narrowly beaten by Into The Red in the Listed Bribie Handicap (1050m).
All six of his career wins to date have been over the 1050m distance, which he sees again on Saturday, and he gets in on the same 55kg minimum weight (raised 1kg) on Saturday.
At an equal $5 in the markets are then the 58kg top weight Office Bearer who is first-up from the inside alley and early market mover Wicked Intent (backed in from $7).
Jason Collett rides Jason Coyle’s Officer stallion Office Bearer who returns to racing not having run since a close mid-field finish when under two lengths off the winner Durendal at Flemington in the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) on New Year’s Day.
It has been a long time between drinks however as he hasn’t won a race since the 2014 Bel Esprit Stakes and giving the weight away on the weekend makes the task of breaking the drought a tough one.
Wicked Intent meanwhile carries 55kg from barrier five with apprentice Luke Dittman riding the Chris Munce-trained Wicked Style colt.
The three-year-old has had nine previous runs at the Doomben track for a tidy record of three wins, two seconds and a third.
His latest win was at this track / distance in March, while his latest run saw him finish second to Divine Centuri over 1050m at Doomben again with 58.5kg on his back last Saturday.
Other notable hopes at more generous odds include Sunshine Coast galloper Divine Service ($12) the four-year-old son of Haradasun after his second win from 10 runs t Doomben and the Peter Robl-trained Shamardal mare Glenbawn Dame ($13) out to improve on a Bribe Handicap seventh last start.
Check out the full Chief De Beers Handicap 2016 field, barriers, jockeys, weights and current Fixed Win odds below – prices courtesy of our preferred online sportsbook Ladbrokes.com.au!
