Doomben hosts a huge day of racing on Saturday, with the feature Group 1 Doomben Cup accompanied by a Group 2 for fillies and mares as well as two Group 3 events.
In the Doomben Cup, it is a case of the new kid on the block up against some seasoned hard heads.
Meanwhile in The Roses, I expect the ATC Oaks form-line to hold up well and prove a strong guide to the outcome of this race.
The Doomben surface is currently rated a Soft 5 with some showers on the horizon. Given the warm weather in Brisbane over the past few days, expect the track to remain in the lower soft rating.
Backing up after last Saturday, the rail has been moved out 2 metres which won't impact racing notably given horses were able to win from all positions last time.
If there is any bias present, it will be towards those up against the rail early in the program.
Doomben Race 7 - Doomben Cup 2000m (G1)
The Map
With a lack of front runners in the race, the likely leader is Shared Ambition (6) who I expect to take up the running.
From the good gate, Toffee Tongue (3) will look to box seat behind the leader.
Of the get back brigade, look for Mugatoo (1) to settle midfield the fence and Sir Dragonet (2) will keep his rival company on his outside.
Fifty Stars (10) will need to go back from the wide barrier and you can expect Avilius (7) to be rearward also.
The Favourite
Zaaki ($2.80) was a dominant winner of the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes over 1800m.
That was the UK import's first win on Australian soil and he will be all the better for that experience.
This is a fairly steep rise in class, so the current quote looks under the odds for mine in this field.
If he produces a similar run where he ran 34.31 seconds for the last 600m, he is a big chance to take this out.
I'm siding with Sir Dragonet, who has the strongest form-line after finishing off well for a 1.6 length fifth behind Addeybb.
He edged past Mugatoo in the go to the line and clashes again with that runner under similar conditions.
He was far too good for them in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes over 2400m at the run prior.
The Cox Plate winner certainly took a while to click for his new trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, and is now back mixing it with the best at Group 1 level.
Expect him to get the right run and at his second consecutive outing at 2000m, he'll be rock hard fit and strong at the finish.
Mugatoo's form is hard to fault as he has competed at the top level. He beat Russian Camelot in the All Star Mile and although his next run in The Doncaster Handicap was a bit plain, the Donny is always a great form race.
The winner Cascadian ran a ripper in the All Aged Stakes next start.
Zaaki is going to be hard to beat again, though will need a good ride from James McDonald to have him placed handy to the speed from gate 9.
If he is within striking distance on straightening he will be amongst the action at the end..
Toffee Tongue should get a nice run from the draw and had a win at Randwick over this distance in the Group 3 Sky High, so might just run a cheeky race.
1st Sir Dragonet
2nd Mugatoo
3rd Zaaki
4th Toffee Tongue
Doomben Race 9 - The Roses 2000m (G2)
The Map
Expect Atonement (13) to carve across from the wide draw and take up the running, with some early pressure coming from Easifar (16) who will likely sit on his outside.
Those runners will need to use a bit of petrol in the early part of the race to find those forward positions. Look for Josh Parr to also push up into a handy position on his mount Bargain (3).
The back-markers Only Words (7) and Good Soize (6) will both settle in the second half of the field, whilst Grace And Harmony (14) will need to find a three wide trail midfield.
The Favourite
The Chris Waller trained Grace And Harmony ($4.40) is in great form after winning her past three runs since a spell.
The Sebring filly is a definite chance again, however she will need some luck from the wide draw.
She was impressive in the Gold Coast Bracelet over 1800m, though this is her first attempt at 2000m.
If she gets the right run, she will be around the money.
Mark Newnham trained Bargain ran an excellent third in the ATC Oaks over 2400m, and that form line stacks up very well in this Group 2 affair.
Prior to that run, she flashed home for a fast finishing second to Duais over 2000m after coming from the rear.
Bargain should settle much closer in the run this time.
Another of the Waller runners, Only Words, chased home Grace And Harmony to finish 1.75 lengths second. Only Words was strong through the line, which suggests the step up in trip will really suit.
Signora Nera was no match for Bargain on the two recent occasions they met, though from the low draw she should get a lovely run in transit.
1st Bargain
2nd Only Words
3rd Grace And Harmony
4th Signora Nera