Race 8A (Doomben) – James Boag’s Doomben 10,000 (purse = Aus $750,000), Group 1.  6 and 3/4 furlongs.  1:57 am EDT Saturday.  Picks (7-4-13-8)

Another weekend, another Group 1 sprint in Australa….This time its the Doomben 10,000, a nearly 7 furlong race for to top sprinters in the Queensland region.

Since this race is a relatively long sprint, it would make sense to focus on horses with more tactical speed, but this race on paper is nearly devoid of speed at all.  #7 OUR BOY MALACHI (7/1 ML) drew well as the controlling speed outside and should be able to get a breather in the middle stages.  He is not a “need to lead” type and if someone fires off early he can take a sit.  This horse has won 17 of 20 career starts.  Ace Group 1 jockey Tommy Berry keeps the mount.

#4 Knoydart (9/1 ML) is basically a high-class plodder that runs on well but rarely wins.  He beat the top pick last time but there was a lot more speed entered in that race than there is today.  One thing in his favor is the race is 150 meters longer so that has to help his chances, and James McDonald stays in the irons for Godolphin.

#13 Srikandi (5/1 ML) blew the start last time and showed little when I picked her on top over today’s top two picks.  She is currently the tepid race favorite at 5/1.  She drew extremely well for today’s race in post 5 and with the weight break mares get she can certainly figure into the outcome.  She is one of the few in here that can get tactical position early and figures to save all the ground.

#8 Generalife (7/1 ML) is in great form for Godolphin and typically comes with a huge run from the back of the pack.  He faced the best 7 furlong horses in Australia in his last start so today’s distance should suit him extremely well, even if the early pace figures to be a little soft.  Big race rider Hugh Bowman takes over for James McDonald.