Doomben Preview & Best Bets – 30/12/2023

Doomben Tips for Saturday, December 30

Our form expert provides Doomben tips for Saturday’s horse racing at Doomben Racecourse and gives his best bets.

BEST BET 🏆

Race 8:  No.1  COMRADE ROSA  ($4.20 with Picklebet)

The Tony Gollan-trained COMRADE ROSA is third-up here and ticks all the boxes to suggest she is the one to beat in this contest. Last start, the Capitalist mare was second-up and found her mojo quickly as she easily accounted for them in the Listed Tattersall’s Classic, here over 1200m. She posted good time that day, covering the trip in 1:09.7 on a Soft 6 surface. Ryan Maloney steered her home that day and sticks with her for this assignment. She will settle back in the field but be storming home when it matters most.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 9:  No.17 FREEDOM RALLY  ($5.25 with Bet Right)

Tony Gollan saddles-up FREEDOM RALLY here who is on a seven-day back-up and gaining a start after scratchings, looks a genuine winning chance again in this contest. Last start, the Rubick gelding drew the outside gate (13) and still gave them a hiding in a BM85 over 1400m in the last of the day at Eagle Farm. Crossed to sit outside the leader and on straightening, took over and left the rest to argue over the minors as he crossed the line two lengths clear of the pack. We listed him as a QLD Blackbooker last week and already a three-time winner over the trip and the winner of five of his nine career starts to date, he should take a ton of beating here.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 4:  No.6  HARDWARE LANE  ($7 with bet365)

In top-shelf form this preparation, the John Smerdon-trained HARDWARE LANE has found form at the right time and looks a major contender in this contest. Last start, the Scissor Kick gelding made it back-to-back wins when he finished best to claim a Class 6 victory over 1100m at Ipswich. He sees Doomben for the first time here but boasts six wins at the distance and gets the services of Ryan Maloney for the first time. Ideally drawn in gate three, he maps to settle in the first half dozen and in frame of mind he is in currently, he should prove hard to beat.