Country Music Raceday On Sale Now Plate (C1)

With the rail out +10m for the entire circuit, the track will play tighter and potentially favour on-pace runners. This rail position often makes it more difficult for backmarkers to sweep around the field on the home turn, as they have to cover significantly more ground. Fields can become compressed, increasing the importance of finding clear running in the straight. Horses drawn to save ground on the inside are at a distinct advantage.

The track is rated a Soft 5. This surface should provide fair racing and is unlikely to produce a significant track bias on its own. However, combined with the 2060m distance, it will ensure a genuine test of stamina. Horses that are strong at the end of this trip will be advantaged, and those with a query on soft ground or at the distance may be found wanting in the final 200m. The genuine pace will further test their endurance on this surface.

The 2060m start at Doomben provides a reasonable run to the first turn, but it still demands that horses drawn wide make a decision quickly. Those pressing forward, like Linas Reel, will have to commit early, ensuring a solid pace. The Doomben straight is not exceptionally long, meaning horses that get too far back can find it difficult to make up the required ground, especially if the pace slackens from the 800m to the home turn. The genuine tempo predicted should, however, give all runners a chance to finish off if good enough.

This is a Class 1 Set Weights event. The set weights structure can favour progressive horses who are on an upward trajectory, as they are not penalised for recent strong form. In a field with varied form lines, this often allows the classier or more promising individuals to rise to the top. The staying distance will separate the genuine stayers from those just stretching out in trip.