Doomben hosts a huge day of racing on Saturday, with the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 highlighting a crack nine race card.
The feature event is well supported by a string of quality stakes races, including the Group 2 Spirit Of Boom as well as two Group 3 race.
In the Spirit Of Boom for two-year-olds, I am waiting with interest to see the gun gelding Prince Of Boom in action. Can he take out the race named after his dad?
Whilst in the Doomben 10,000, I can't go past the favourite who looks the class. However, I am intrigued to see if the local runners can match it with the interstate raiders.
The Doomben surface is currently rated a Heavy 9 due to a week of stormy weather, with the rail in the True position for the entire circuit.
Mostly sunny conditions in the mid 20s are predicted for the remainder of the week in Brisbane, which could produce a track upgrade by race time.
With the rail in the True position, expect the track to race fair with both on-pace and back-markers to get their chance.
If the track does stay on the softer side, they may come off the fence and veer towards the middle of the straight as the program progresses..
The Map
The early speed should come from See You In Spring (4), Maotai (2) and King Kapa 10), who will all vie for the lead.
Expect a hot battle up front, with impressive maiden winner Maotai drawing inside See You In Spring, who will also be trying to find the rail.
The back-markers Prince Of Boom (1) and Giannis (6) will both position well off the speed, while the speedsters go for it up front..
The Favourite
The Chris Waller trained Giannis ($4.50) is first-up here after finishing off well for third, 4.8 lengths behind eventual Golden Slipper winner, Stay Inside, last prep.
The Flying Artie colt should get a good sit off the pace, midfield in the run.
His form-line suggests he is right in this, however this is a hot race to be taking on fresh without a run under the belt.
Expect him to be doing his best work late over the concluding stages. First-four prospect.
Prince Of Boom was so impressive in his debut win at the Sunshine Coast last Sunday that trainer Robert Heathcote is backing him-up in under a week.
He powered to the line over 1000m on a Heavy 8, and he is also entered in the Sires Produces Stakes and JJ Atkins in the coming weeks. You would expect him to improve the further he gets out in distance.
He has drawn the rail, so will likely land midfield on the fence and will just need a good ride from Ben Thompson to get clear running in the straight.
Watch for him thundering home with big bounds and he will be the one they have to beat.
Maotai should lead or box seat and absolutely bolted in at Ipswich at his first start.
It's hard to line up that win against some of these, though he was the quickest out of the three two-year-old races on the day and won with a fair bit in hand.
Miss Hipstar excels fresh and put in a great performance to win first-up. She won her only second-up start and she has to contend with a wide gate here.
If she can find the back of runners with a nice trail, she is right in this.
Include Giannis in the mix, as he will be finishing off well at the end of proceedings.
1st Prince Of Boom
2nd Maotai
3rd Miss Hipstar
4th Giannis
The Map
Eduardo (6) will get the lead easily here and should set a nice even tempo.
Wild Ruler (2) is likely to make the most of his gate and sit outside or just off the leader, whilst Splintex (1) should be able to box seat behind Eduardo.
Vega One (3) will look to position in in the first four or five in running
Of the backmarkers, The Harrovian (8) and Trekking (10) will be hoping there is enough speed on in the race to ensure they can make their runs and launch late.
The Favourite
Eduardo ($2.20) is the deserved favourite, after defeating Nature Strip in the Group 1 Galaxy, prior to being well beaten by the same runner up to 1200m next start.
If there is a chink in Ed's armour, it is the 1200m given he has only 1 win from 5 starts at this distance (5:1-1-1).
It is worth noting though, that two of those runs were in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap and The Everest.
He is in career best form now.
I'm with Eduardo, who is clearly the one to beat due to fact that I don't see much pressure coming at him up in the lead.
Trainer Joseph Pride has certainly found the secret to this 7 year old and the opposition looks inferior to what he has been meeting of late.
Vega One who is one of the local hopes, has been threatening to win a big race and from the draw he really gets his chance.
His 0.6 lengths fourth in the Stradbroke Handicap last year definitely puts him into contention here and he has a Group 1 master rider in Glen Boss on board.
The Harrovian is Queensland racing's favourite son, and put in a massive run last start in the All Star Mile to finish fifth behind Mugatoo.
He has a great first-up record (8: 4-0-1), and has 4 wins from 5 tries at this distance.
Whilst Wild Ruler was no match for Eduardo two starts back, he did appreciate stepping up to 1200m last start and winning in Group 2 company.
He will be handy to the pace and will be pouring on the pressure on straightening.
1st Eduardo
2nd Vega One
3rd The Harrovian
4th Wild Ruler