Doomben Cup Racing Tips - Pride Of Jenni looks set to control the Group 1 feature at Doomben on Saturday.

Five of the seven runners come through the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast earlier this month and it was Pride Of Jenni that once again produced one of the performances of the carnival, rolling to the front and opening up a big break before holding off Birdman late. 

She’s A Hustler charged home for 3rd with the fastest final 200m of the race, while Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours was solid in 4th and Kovalica finished 5th.

The small field setup looks ideal for Pride Of Jenni and there appears to be very little pressure up front. The eight-year-old has built her reputation on controlling races at a brutal tempo and a compact field around Doomben looks tailor-made for her aggressive racing style. Her recent Australian Cup run over the 2000m was enormous when only grabbed late by Light Infantry Man after doing all the work on speed and she now comes into this fourth-up and full of fitness.

Half Yours is one of the key dangers stepping to 2000m third-up after his Hollindale effort. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained galloper exploded once he reached this trip range during the spring, before going on to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. 

Birdman continues to race consistently and maps to get every chance from barrier 5, while She’s A Hustler profiles as the late closer after producing the best closing sectionals in the Hollindale.

Vauban adds further intrigue after a last-start placing in the Tancred Stakes over 2400m, while Asterix comes into the race off a Gosford Cup win. Kovalica is the knockout runner at big odds. The former Queensland Derby winner draws barrier 1, maps to save ground throughout and has a strong record at Doomben.

Pride Of Jenni looks set to find the front comfortably from barrier four and should control the race from the outset in a field lacking genuine early pressure. She’s A Hustler can settle outside or just behind the leader, while Vauban and Asterix should land in handy positions midfield.

Half Yours maps to settle around midfield with Birdman likely to drift back from barrier five, while Kovalica should get the perfect economical run from barrier one tucked away on the inside.

The small field and lack of speed look a major advantage for Pride Of Jenni. If she is allowed to dictate terms through the middle stages, she may prove very hard to run down around the tight-turning Doomben circuit.

Pride Of Jenni looks ideally suited here in a seven-horse field where she should get complete control of the race. Her Hollindale Stakes win was outstanding and her recent Australian Cup performance over 2000m showed she is still capable of producing elite figures at the trip despite the queries around her overall record at the distance. She bombed out in this race last year but did pull up with a poor recovery. Write her off on that run at your peril. The small field setup plays perfectly into her racing style and there appears very little pressure to challenge her in the early stages. If she gets comfortable in front, the chasing pack may simply run out of time trying to reel her in.

Kovalica looks the overs runner in the race at double-figure odds. The former Queensland Derby winner has an excellent Doomben profile, draws barrier 1 and should secure the perfect run throughout. He was only five lengths from Pride Of Jenni in the Hollindale Stakes after settling well back in the field and produced the fastest splits from the 800m to the 200m before just peaking on his run. At the same stage of his last preparation he spiked 10 lengths on benchmark figures to place 3rd behind Lindermann in the Craven Plate (2000m), going 14 lengths faster than standard. Lindermann was absolutely flying at the time and set a strong tempo, while it is also worth noting he has excellent form in Queensland with a 3rd in this race last year before taking out the Q22 at Eagle Farm. At the odds, he appeals as the horse that can run into the placings and potentially surprise if the race shape falls his way.