Doomben Cup: Pro punter preview and betting strategy

The Doomben Cup is Group 1 weight-for-age race over 2000 metres, held at Doomben Racecourse during Brisbane’s Winter Carnival. Total prizemoney is $1 million.

Read on for the full 2022 race preview from our expert punter Alfie – the man behind the Alpha Racing membership. With the Doomben Cup meeting washed out, this year’s race has been pushed back a week and will be run at Eagle Farm Racecourse over 2100 metres.

Doomben Cup: Alfie’s preview

Speed The pace is below average. Zaaki will lead the small field with Polly Grey sitting off him.

Track With the shift to Eagle Farm, things are a little more certain – the course handles the wet and although there’s no rain currently forecast for Saturday, there’s some to come on Friday. I’m working off a track in the 5-6 range. Winners came from everywhere at the last Eagle Farm meeting – it was very much tempo-related.

Runner-by-runner

Prices courtesy of TopSport at time of publication.

1 Zaaki [$1.40] is obviously far and away the best horse here – in fact the debate is really whether he is the best horse in Australia at the moment. It’s very hard to take the $1.40… but then very hard to see who possibly beats him! He’ll handle the heavy if that happens. Won this by eight lengths last year.

9 Polly Grey [$8.50] is the one you could be confident if it very wet… and if Zaaki wasn’t in the race! The weather is drying now anyway

6 Huetor [$12] is a sneaky place chance if he can get out of the barrier better.

4 Kukeracha [$15] is a much improved horse after his sixth in the Doncaster Prelude. He continues to improve his ratings, a big place chance.

3 Yonkers [$31] would require a serious failure by Zaaki to be any hope of challenging.

5 Great House [$34] is a good horse but has no wins on the Heavy and rates down on those tracks.

2 The Chosen One [$41] is another sneaky place chance but not sure how he will handle it if really heavy.

A change in date, change in track and change in weather has @ForsmanAndrew feeling positive about The Chosen One’s chances in Saturday’s Gr.1 Doomben Cup.https://t.co/DYIGYMVUMO pic.twitter.com/wtKfigf6LE

— NZ Racing News (@nzracingnews) May 25, 2022

Will be very surprised if any of of the rest can knock the top ones off: 10 Coventina Bay [$18], 7 Maximal [$26] and 8 Esti Feny [$71].

Verdict & betting strategy

It’s pretty straightforward, isn’t it?

This is Zaaki‘s race to lose and it’s all about whether you want to take a very short price.

But for an interest, I’ve outlined a couple above that might make for solid place bets.

This could be the way to play the race if you’re keen – spread your stake with place bets and a small win bet on these:

Huetor

Kukeracha

The Chosen One