Racing & Sports expert selections.

RACE 1 - The maiden babies kick us off. COOL MOON (12) finished runner-up in both starts to commence the career before being tipped out for time to furnish. Has since returned with a solid fourth around this circuit and will have taken plenty of benefit from that hit-out. Drawn to get a gun run from gate two and rates the testing material against this lot. HIT THE SWITCH (4) is facing the starter for the first time but has shown ability at the trials and is sure to be well-educated from the Hoysted yard. Respect any market confidence. BLITZWATER (11) just missed the placings over this course and distance on debut and maps well from the inside marble. Top-three aspirations with natural improvement. GOZO (3) is another at the races for the first time but won a recent trial here and gets some weight off with Lang's claim. Keep safe. CASTIGLIONE (17) strips fitter second-up from the spell and may earn some minor money.

RACE 2 - PHAROAH'S PROPHECY (4) is unlucky to still be a maiden hitting the top-four in all four career outings and strikes a very winnable contest here first-up. Revved up for this with two recent trials and trust that Vandyke has him up to the mark for this contest. Only needs some luck from the wide draw to be playing a major role in the outcome. READY FOR THE TRIP (5) has placed two from three over this distance range and gets the deadly Gollan/Jones combination. Ready to peak third-up and looms as the main danger. HE IS THE KISS (3) has had a few chances but has placed three of his past four and draws perfectly for Lerena from gate two. Sure to be thereabouts. SHIRLEY PEARLY (10) hasn't been too far away in both starts to date and gets Melbourne Cup-winning hoop Dolan in the saddle. May earn a cheque. AMADOR (1) next in line in a race with only a handful of chances.

RACE 3 - NOIRE EMPEROR (4) was a solid second here when having his first run for the new stable before not being too far off them over this track and trip last time out. Strips fitter third-up from the spell and should prove tough to hold out. CHIEF IN CHARGE (1) has hit the top-four in all three efforts to date and looks to be on the doorstep of a maiden victory. Top-three candidate. WILIAMTHECONQUEROR (11) will be better for that first-up hit-out and Mallyon sticks in the irons. Include in calculations. GAS BRIGADE (3) has placed three of six overall and may earn some minor money again. USE YOUR ILLUSION (9) has placed over this course and distance and gets some weight off with the 1.5kg claim. One for the exotics.

RACE 4 - Former USA galloper JILLAROO (4) just ran into one better at Caulfield in her first local run before getting the job done over this track and trip last time out. Drawn to get all the favours from the inside alley and can go back-to-back against this lot. The well-related PEE BEE NOIR (9) (half to G1 winner Atlante) shed the maiden tag at the latest outing and will have derived a stack of confidence from that breakthrough victory. Winning rider Du Plessis stays on top and she should be in the finish again. LOCH AWE (3) is one from one over this mile journey with his only true failure coming at Group 3 level. Cannot be discounted. LARUSSO (2) was okay when resuming at Ipswich but will have come on with that run now under the belt. Top-three credentials. COLLEANO (1) is usually thereabouts and can trouble the judge with luck in running.

RACE 5 - ZOOLOGY (4) comes out of a hot form race with the 1st, 3rd and 5th runners in that field filling the trifecta in last weekend's Listed Ipswich Cup. Draws the inside marble and strips fitter third-up from the break. Should be right there when the judge calls a halt. Former Singapore galloper OCTOBER (6) may have suffered from the dreaded second-up syndrome last time out but go on the strong Eagle Farm victory at his first local outing. Gets 1.5kg off with the claim and can make his presence felt. MISSISSIPPI PRINCE (2) has placed two of four over this course and distance and comes out of that same Zoology race. Sure to play a major role. Stayer TAPILDOODLEDO (3) resumes here but goes well for hoop Huxtable who has a win and two placings from just four steers. Should be hitting the line with gusto. ARIZONA DREAMING (8) best of the rest.

RACE 6 - JENCHICK BOOM (4) is a very consistent conveyance who has only missed a quinella spot once in seven career efforts. Goes well for Jones who has a win and two seconds from three rides and will be rock-hard fit for this. Can continue the rich vein of form. The penny dropped for PELE PRINCESS (7) when last in work stringing back-to-back wins together and was racing with a lot of confidence. A strong showing while fresh would not surprise. Former NSW galloper LIGHTS OF PARADISE (5) got the job done in her first run for the new barn and gets in well at the weights with the claim. Worth plenty of thought. DREAM LANTERN (1) will be ready to peak now third-up from the break and looks one for the exotics players. KAMARIYA (11) is a last-start winner who shouldn't be slept on.

RACE 7 - ZOUTHUR (3) has hit the frame at his past seven outings and gets plenty of weight off with the 3kg claim. Racing in a rich vein of form of late and looks ready for the step-up in trip now. Presents plenty of value. CRESSBROOK (9) has been thereabouts in all three runs this preparation and gets the services of Jones in the stirrups. Is a winner around this circuit and will be ready to peak now fourth-up from the break. In the mix. HEREDITARY (11) resumes here but is drawn to get a gun run from the inside alley and has revved up for this with a recent trial victory. Can run a race while fresh. VICTORY COMMAND (2) has placed two from two around this circuit and strips fitter with that first-up effort now in the locker. One of the main contenders. EL PENSADOR (4) next in line from the Lipp yard.

RACE 8 - GIN A TONIC (1) has hit a bit of a purple patch of late with two wins and a placing from his past three starts and does boast a win around this circuit. Will be rock-hard fit for this and gets 3kg off with Vitler's claim. Should be going very close again. SIX MORE SONGS (11) has only missed the top-four once in six career efforts, draws the inside alley and gets the reliable Gollan/Jones combination. Ticks plenty of boxes for a race like this. ALPHA BRAVO (3) doesn't win out of turn but has placed three of four here at Doomben and is usually thereabouts. Top-three hope. TIGER TIE (2) has won two of three this time in work with Fenlon being on board for both victories. Should figure in the finish. PARO (8) next best with Melbourne Cup-winning hoop Dolan on board.

RACE 9 - Former Victorian ARALETTA (13) is having her first run for the new stable but should find this assignment easier than what she has been facing down south. Tuned up for this with a recent trial placing and is drawn to get a cosy run in transit from gate two. Should prove very hard to toss. ELLIBABY (11) is another resuming but has won two from three when fresh and trust that Vandyke has her ready to go. Likely to push forward and will give backers a sight. KEEP SAFE (6) hails from the astute Heathcote barn and showed enough when last in work to warrant consideration in a race like this. Has to be respected. GREYZOUS (12) gets in well at the weights with the claim and will strip fitter second-up from the spell. In the mix. CERTAINLYCAN (5) next best in a competitive contest to close out the card.