EXPERT RACING TIPS: DOOMBEN

SUMMARY

Like the adjacent Eagle Farm Racecourse, Doomben is owned and operated by the Brisbane Racing Club (BRC). Located in the suburb of Ascot, 7km north of the Brisbane CBD, Doomben and Eagle Farm are considered Queensland’s premier racetracks and between them host eight Group 1 races during the Queensland Winter Carnival. To find Doomben tips and race previews for each meeting, head to the Betfair Hub.     

KEY EVENTS

The Doomben 10,000, run in May, is Queensland’s most prestigious sprint. Originally called the Doomben Newmarket Handicap, it was renamed in 1946 after the prize fund was increased to $10,000, which at the time was a record for a sprint race in Australia. The 1200m contest has been won by such luminaries as Manikato, Chief De Beers, Apache Cat, Takeover Target and more recently Redzel and Eduardo. It is followed one week later by the Group 1 Doomben Cup, which was first held in 1933 and counts Zaaki amongst its most recent champions. Like the Doomben 10,000, the Doomben Cup (2000m) is now worth $1 million. For expert analysis and tips on the feature races as well as Doomben best bets throughout the year, the Betfair Hub has you covered. 

TRACK PROFILE 

Doomben’s oval-shaped, kikuyu turf track can handle a heavy schedule, as witnessed when it hosted all Eagle Farm meetings when that course was undergoing extensive renovations. The width of the track at Doomben measures 27m, whilst the course circumference is 1715m. Both the front and back straights are 320m long with a 2% camber, while the turns are steeper with a 5% camber. The Doomben track can cope with a fair degree of rainfall, but its drainage system is not nearly as efficient as at Eagle Farm. Heavy rainfall can lead to a choppy surface which makes it difficult to make up ground on the leaders, and our team of experts takes into account all track variables and weather conditions when bringing you their Doomben race tips.    

HISTORY

Doomben hosted its first race meeting in 1993, and underwent its most recent major renovation – which cost $3.3 million – in 1996. The land on which the racecourse is built has been passed between crown title, purchasing syndicates and registered racing organisations, and was used as a World War II army base between 1941 and 1945. Nudgee Road, which separates Eagle Farm and Doomben racecourses, was formerly nicknamed the ‘Gaza Strip’ in reference to the historical rivalry between the two venues.